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Oaks Sisters #2
No Place Like You
Not yet published
Expected 10 Mar 26Childhood 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.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication March 10, 2026
8194 people want to read
About the author
Jillian Meadows
3 books842 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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November 24, 2025*Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an E-Arc in exchange for an honest review!*
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!!! 😩
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!!! 😩
December 8, 2025
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, +
| 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, +
| IG | TikTok |
Thank you Avon for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
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!
December 1, 2025
i’m in SHAMBLES OVER MY LOVE FOR THEM
remind-me-once-out
July 30, 2025I'm going to need an arc of this, Miss J. (I'm manifesting).
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!
November 10, 2025
Thank you Netgalley for the arc of this book -- I love a good fake dating trope and the characters had realistic problems and the pacing of the book was perfect . This was a cute feel good book and definitley will be reading more from this author.
synopsis: 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.
Genres
synopsis: 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.
Genres
November 27, 2025
This was such a cute read!!! As my first Jillian Meadows book i'm definitely interested in reading more of her books!
No Place Like You is a charming, small-town romance that delivers exactly what it promises: sweetness, spice, and a whole lot of heart. Fable and Theo’s dynamic, childhood friends turned rivals forced into a fake dating scheme, makes for an irresistible blend of tension, banter, and slow burn chemistry. Their history adds emotional depth, and watching those old wounds shift into something tender is incredibly satisfying.
Loved the cozy small town feel to the book!
I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author and publisher!
No Place Like You is a charming, small-town romance that delivers exactly what it promises: sweetness, spice, and a whole lot of heart. Fable and Theo’s dynamic, childhood friends turned rivals forced into a fake dating scheme, makes for an irresistible blend of tension, banter, and slow burn chemistry. Their history adds emotional depth, and watching those old wounds shift into something tender is incredibly satisfying.
Loved the cozy small town feel to the book!
I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author and publisher!
December 24, 2025
This was very cute. The story itself was a little bit of a slow burn but it made for a really down bad mmc. He had it so bad for fable and didn’t even realize it but I loved how descriptive Jillian meadows was about the realization.
You could really feel what he was going through and I loved all of his sweet gestures.
Overall this series has been very entertaining and I’d love to read some more of it! Keep it coming!
You could really feel what he was going through and I loved all of his sweet gestures.
Overall this series has been very entertaining and I’d love to read some more of it! Keep it coming!
Want to read
October 4, 2025Still can’t resist a gorgeous cover 🌸🤭
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
sat with this more and upgraded to a 5⭐️
Arc read! Thank you Netgalley🤍
This was just a sweet wholesome romance and literally everything I needed! Childhood friends to rivals/enemies to fake dating (only for one person🤣 everyone else knew it was fake which was funny) to friends with benefits to lovers! I love the progression of the book, it felt so real, the tension and banter was great and I just loved this story so much! If you want a sweet romance with not much tension and just a feel good love story this is for YOU!! It was just written so well, hooked me in and I didn’t want to put the book down! Both the main characters had their own personal struggles and there was a plot outside the romance which I really loved!! I just really LOVE her writing style 🩷
Arc read! Thank you Netgalley🤍
This was just a sweet wholesome romance and literally everything I needed! Childhood friends to rivals/enemies to fake dating (only for one person🤣 everyone else knew it was fake which was funny) to friends with benefits to lovers! I love the progression of the book, it felt so real, the tension and banter was great and I just loved this story so much! If you want a sweet romance with not much tension and just a feel good love story this is for YOU!! It was just written so well, hooked me in and I didn’t want to put the book down! Both the main characters had their own personal struggles and there was a plot outside the romance which I really loved!! I just really LOVE her writing style 🩷
Want to read
June 12, 2025ahhhh I can't wait for Fable & Theo 😍😍😍
I LOVED Give Me Butterflies and am so excited for more from the Oak Sisters series 💜
I LOVED Give Me Butterflies and am so excited for more from the Oak Sisters series 💜
September 24, 2025
This one snuck up on me. How could I not love a FMC who loves reading and playing soccer and opens up her own bookstore????
November 16, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the eARC!
What a perfect second Oaks Sisters book! Jillian Meadows became an auto buy author for me after I read Give Me Butterflies and this story just proves that decision!
This story follows Theo and Fable as they fake date to hopefully allow Theo to buy the vet practice he works at. Fable meanwhile has agreed with the stipulation Theo helps her fix up her A frame home. These two were best friends when they were younger, but had a falling out. The story explores this and their adult relationship and it was wonderful.
I loved that, while this is the second in a series, it can truly be read as a complete standalone. (Though Millie and Finn do make appearances!) I also loved Theo and Fable’s romance and how it stemmed from friendship, but also Theo being so far gone for her from the very beginning. If you’re looking for a sweet romance (with some spice) this is the one!
5 ⭐️ must read!
What a perfect second Oaks Sisters book! Jillian Meadows became an auto buy author for me after I read Give Me Butterflies and this story just proves that decision!
This story follows Theo and Fable as they fake date to hopefully allow Theo to buy the vet practice he works at. Fable meanwhile has agreed with the stipulation Theo helps her fix up her A frame home. These two were best friends when they were younger, but had a falling out. The story explores this and their adult relationship and it was wonderful.
I loved that, while this is the second in a series, it can truly be read as a complete standalone. (Though Millie and Finn do make appearances!) I also loved Theo and Fable’s romance and how it stemmed from friendship, but also Theo being so far gone for her from the very beginning. If you’re looking for a sweet romance (with some spice) this is the one!
5 ⭐️ must read!
December 22, 2025
thank you netgalley & harper collins for the arc!
this was a six star read for me. i loved every second of this book, every tiny detail. i don’t reread books but i think i might have to reread this one. i will be buying the physical copy of this as well.
i loved fable’s character. i loved that she failed, and failed and failed again. i thought it made her feel that much more real.
i absolutely adored theo. everything about him. the way his trauma shaped him into the person he became, the fact that he had insecurities and fears, the way he cared so deeply about the ones he loved. his character was written so, so beautifully.
the plot of this book was perfect. it explores grief, trauma, insecurity and doubt, love, friendship and family. i laughed, i kicked my feet, i cried. i highly, highly recommend this one. it was fantastic. six stars. please read it as soon as you’re able to.
i was gifted a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review, all opinions are my own.
this was a six star read for me. i loved every second of this book, every tiny detail. i don’t reread books but i think i might have to reread this one. i will be buying the physical copy of this as well.
i loved fable’s character. i loved that she failed, and failed and failed again. i thought it made her feel that much more real.
i absolutely adored theo. everything about him. the way his trauma shaped him into the person he became, the fact that he had insecurities and fears, the way he cared so deeply about the ones he loved. his character was written so, so beautifully.
the plot of this book was perfect. it explores grief, trauma, insecurity and doubt, love, friendship and family. i laughed, i kicked my feet, i cried. i highly, highly recommend this one. it was fantastic. six stars. please read it as soon as you’re able to.
i was gifted a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review, all opinions are my own.
November 23, 2025
High school rivals and former childhood friends find themselves entangled in a fake dating scheme in their small town. Fable never considered returning to Fern River to live with her parents, but memories of her beloved grandfather, the ruined photos from the flood, and the book she cherished so much have resurfaced, reigniting her dream of building a bookshop. Despite self-doubt, Theo's encouragement reminds her that she can make this dream a reality.
Theo journey comes to end when his boss Arthur announces that he is selling his veterinary practice it felt like the proper opportunity to show he is in sticky around for good.
I love books that talk about books and honestly this book does not disappoint very nostalgic heart warming it’s been so long since I actually enjoyed reading this books and Jillian did such an amazing job with this novel and I hope to read more of her work in the future.
Theo journey comes to end when his boss Arthur announces that he is selling his veterinary practice it felt like the proper opportunity to show he is in sticky around for good.
I love books that talk about books and honestly this book does not disappoint very nostalgic heart warming it’s been so long since I actually enjoyed reading this books and Jillian did such an amazing job with this novel and I hope to read more of her work in the future.
November 5, 2025
Thank you so much to Avon for this ARC! I have been absolutely desperate to have another Jillian Meadows book!
Theo and Fable were childhood best friends turned rivals. Now, Fable is trying to fix up her grandpa’s A frame. Theo is back in town working as a veterinarian with hopes of buying the practice.
When a photo of Fable and Theo causes the town to believe they’re dating, they use it to their advantage. Neither are looking for a relationship, but their fake relationship starts feeling real. They’re both dealing with some heavy traumas that threaten their happiness.
As always, this was so cute with some spiceeee!
Theo and Fable were childhood best friends turned rivals. Now, Fable is trying to fix up her grandpa’s A frame. Theo is back in town working as a veterinarian with hopes of buying the practice.
When a photo of Fable and Theo causes the town to believe they’re dating, they use it to their advantage. Neither are looking for a relationship, but their fake relationship starts feeling real. They’re both dealing with some heavy traumas that threaten their happiness.
As always, this was so cute with some spiceeee!
November 6, 2025
This small town romance did not disappoint!! Our main character Fable is figuring herself out and what she wants to do with her life. In the short term she gets wrapped up with her hs rival back in the day, and they start fake dating. This book had minimal spice which was nice as someone who doesn’t care too much for it. This storyline felt quite realistic and had great pacing. I didn’t feel snubbed from any plot points, or stuck on one for too long. This book was so cutesy, and I love a good hgtv moment in a book. If you liked The Christmas Fix by Lucy Score this one has similar vibes. Highly recommend this book when it comes out next year!!!
November 12, 2025
♾️⭐
I'll come back to review this later but it is incredible. I lost count of how many times I cried. Jillian put her soul in this book.
I'll come back to review this later but it is incredible. I lost count of how many times I cried. Jillian put her soul in this book.
December 10, 2025
⭐️ ARC Review ⭐️
Thank you to Harper Collins and Net Galley for an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. I love Jillian Meadows so I was thrilled about getting selected!
This was a really nice follow up to Give Me Butterflies (GMB), and I will say, if you don’t want to read that book, No Place Like You is a true stand-alone. Millie and Fin (GMB) are in the story mostly at the end and it’s not critical to know their backstory. Millie is the FMC’s sister. There are some little sparks of joy for those of us who loved GMB.
The FMC for No Place Like You is Fable, which by the way, is a great name for a protagonist. The MMC is Theo, which by the way, is a tough name for a character because there were a handful of typos (“The” instead of “Theo”) because of it. They were childhood friends turned high school rivals turned strangers turned 30-somethings who fake date turned it’s always been you (sorta). There was a lot going on trope-wise! But it worked!
I liked that Fable grew a lot in this book, both within a grief landscape but also in her own confidence. She carries a lot of shame for not living up to the potential she saw in herself and she is determined to fix up her beloved grandfather’s A Frame cabin by herself and figure out her path. Along the way and with Theo’s help, she repairs the house and find signs guiding her to professional and person fulfillment without running when the going gets hard. This part of the book was very sweet.
Theo’s story carried a lot of depth as he was the survivor of childhood abuse at the hands of his Dad. As an older brother, he carries deep shame for not protecting his sister and mother, and he sees parallels (that nobody else sees) between him and his Dad. That has meant he throws up barriers in relationships and never pursues love (though he harbors a lifelong crush on Fable). In an effort to prove to his boss that he can/should be able to buy the Vet practice he works at, he tries to prove to him that he’s serious about the community. A random photo of Fable and Theo in an embrace (he caught her from falling) makes its way through town, and boom, a fake relationship is born! The exchange is his help with the A Frame. Theo’s scenes and bravery in confronting himself were perhaps my favorite parts of the story.
🔥 Their chemistry was fire. Enough said on that. 🔥
There were a few things that weren’t as well developed in the story, namely that the incident that led to the rift between the teenage characters and for Theo to escape town, just really wasn’t that big of a deal. I also think that the third act breakup wasn’t necessary. How powerful if she hadn’t run (for once). Abandoning him was a little cruel.
All in all, I really liked this!
Thank you to Harper Collins and Net Galley for an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. I love Jillian Meadows so I was thrilled about getting selected!
This was a really nice follow up to Give Me Butterflies (GMB), and I will say, if you don’t want to read that book, No Place Like You is a true stand-alone. Millie and Fin (GMB) are in the story mostly at the end and it’s not critical to know their backstory. Millie is the FMC’s sister. There are some little sparks of joy for those of us who loved GMB.
The FMC for No Place Like You is Fable, which by the way, is a great name for a protagonist. The MMC is Theo, which by the way, is a tough name for a character because there were a handful of typos (“The” instead of “Theo”) because of it. They were childhood friends turned high school rivals turned strangers turned 30-somethings who fake date turned it’s always been you (sorta). There was a lot going on trope-wise! But it worked!
I liked that Fable grew a lot in this book, both within a grief landscape but also in her own confidence. She carries a lot of shame for not living up to the potential she saw in herself and she is determined to fix up her beloved grandfather’s A Frame cabin by herself and figure out her path. Along the way and with Theo’s help, she repairs the house and find signs guiding her to professional and person fulfillment without running when the going gets hard. This part of the book was very sweet.
Theo’s story carried a lot of depth as he was the survivor of childhood abuse at the hands of his Dad. As an older brother, he carries deep shame for not protecting his sister and mother, and he sees parallels (that nobody else sees) between him and his Dad. That has meant he throws up barriers in relationships and never pursues love (though he harbors a lifelong crush on Fable). In an effort to prove to his boss that he can/should be able to buy the Vet practice he works at, he tries to prove to him that he’s serious about the community. A random photo of Fable and Theo in an embrace (he caught her from falling) makes its way through town, and boom, a fake relationship is born! The exchange is his help with the A Frame. Theo’s scenes and bravery in confronting himself were perhaps my favorite parts of the story.
🔥 Their chemistry was fire. Enough said on that. 🔥
There were a few things that weren’t as well developed in the story, namely that the incident that led to the rift between the teenage characters and for Theo to escape town, just really wasn’t that big of a deal. I also think that the third act breakup wasn’t necessary. How powerful if she hadn’t run (for once). Abandoning him was a little cruel.
All in all, I really liked this!
November 7, 2025
Fable is 28, living in her grandpa’s old A-frame behind her parents’ house, and she’s cycled through countless jobs over the past few years. When Theo returns to town, Fable agrees to fake-date him in exchange for help with the A-frame—because she finally wants to follow through on something as an adult. But as attraction and tension rise… will their fake dating turn into the real thing?
I absolutely adore Jillian Meadows’ books, so I impatiently checked my email on repeat waiting for this ARC. When it finally arrived, I cried tears of joy—the anticipation was worth it. The plot is perfection: a lovable, slightly hot-mess 28-year-old (because who isn’t a little bit of a hot mess at 28?) and a back-in-town rival who’s also a vet? Swoon. And he’s handy? Sign me up—I want a Theo.
I really related to Fable as a 29-year-old—turning 30 can feel so scary. You feel like you no longer have your entire life ahead of you, and it’s so easy to look at other people’s lives and feel like yours is coming up short. And Theo? He’s such a sweet protector with issues that will actually melt your heart.
The writing flows so smoothly that once you get into the rhythm, you forget you’re even reading—you’re just in the story. From the sweet temple kisses to the spicier scenes, I got all the good dopamine hits and couldn’t stop smiling. And the cover? Omfg, perfection. Every aspect of this book is cozy, like a warm hug after coming in from the cold. I’m already looking forward to the final sister’s story.
Highlights:
Fake dating
Enemies to lovers
Back in town
Vet?!?
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely adore Jillian Meadows’ books, so I impatiently checked my email on repeat waiting for this ARC. When it finally arrived, I cried tears of joy—the anticipation was worth it. The plot is perfection: a lovable, slightly hot-mess 28-year-old (because who isn’t a little bit of a hot mess at 28?) and a back-in-town rival who’s also a vet? Swoon. And he’s handy? Sign me up—I want a Theo.
I really related to Fable as a 29-year-old—turning 30 can feel so scary. You feel like you no longer have your entire life ahead of you, and it’s so easy to look at other people’s lives and feel like yours is coming up short. And Theo? He’s such a sweet protector with issues that will actually melt your heart.
The writing flows so smoothly that once you get into the rhythm, you forget you’re even reading—you’re just in the story. From the sweet temple kisses to the spicier scenes, I got all the good dopamine hits and couldn’t stop smiling. And the cover? Omfg, perfection. Every aspect of this book is cozy, like a warm hug after coming in from the cold. I’m already looking forward to the final sister’s story.
Highlights:
Fake dating
Enemies to lovers
Back in town
Vet?!?
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 21, 2025
Huge thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!
This story centers around Fable, an employee at a hardware shop who is juggling the emotional journey of remodeling her late grandfather’s a-frame house. Theo, a local veterinarian, who’s not just your typical small-town hunk but also Fable’s best friend’s brother. They have known each other for years but had a falling out that kept them at a distance from each other for a while. But, soon the chemistry between them is electric, and their journey from enemies to lovers is intermingled with fake dating and working together to remodel the old a-frame.
What I loved most was how Fable navigates her grief while also finding herself again, with Theo right there pushing her to heal and open up. The author put enough emotion into the character that I was feeling so deeply for her as her inner dialogue expressed her anxieties and sadness. Theo was her rock and kept her rational whilst she dealt with the highs and lows of grief; I find that beautiful. As someone who’s been through tough grief with an amazing partner to keep me stable, I related to them so much.
It's refreshing to see their relationship rooted in friendship, showing how that bond can evolve into something deeper. Meadows does a fantastic job of capturing the nuances of their love story, making it feel both real and magical. Swooning I was!
A few little things/mentions:
I loved were her ford bronco…I’ve always wanted one!
The drive in? Omg 🌶️
I don’t want to say much about the flowers but I loved that symbolism. 🌷🌷🌷
Theo with the surprise in the bedroom? 🥹 That detail alone made my heart melt!
This story centers around Fable, an employee at a hardware shop who is juggling the emotional journey of remodeling her late grandfather’s a-frame house. Theo, a local veterinarian, who’s not just your typical small-town hunk but also Fable’s best friend’s brother. They have known each other for years but had a falling out that kept them at a distance from each other for a while. But, soon the chemistry between them is electric, and their journey from enemies to lovers is intermingled with fake dating and working together to remodel the old a-frame.
What I loved most was how Fable navigates her grief while also finding herself again, with Theo right there pushing her to heal and open up. The author put enough emotion into the character that I was feeling so deeply for her as her inner dialogue expressed her anxieties and sadness. Theo was her rock and kept her rational whilst she dealt with the highs and lows of grief; I find that beautiful. As someone who’s been through tough grief with an amazing partner to keep me stable, I related to them so much.
It's refreshing to see their relationship rooted in friendship, showing how that bond can evolve into something deeper. Meadows does a fantastic job of capturing the nuances of their love story, making it feel both real and magical. Swooning I was!
A few little things/mentions:
I loved were her ford bronco…I’ve always wanted one!
The drive in? Omg 🌶️
I don’t want to say much about the flowers but I loved that symbolism. 🌷🌷🌷
Theo with the surprise in the bedroom? 🥹 That detail alone made my heart melt!
December 1, 2025
Theo and Fable have known each other for 18 years. They were childhood best friends, and then, they became high school rivals. She is also best friends with his sister, and their moms are best friends. Theo has been down bad for Fable for years, and his crush is unrequited. When Theo moves back home, he wants to prove that he is here to stay, and he wants to chance to be a part owner of the veterinarian practice where he currently works. When the whole town sees a picture of Fable and Theo together, they speculate that they are a couple. This leads Theo to come up with the idea to fake date Fable to show that he is committed to staying in their hometown.
Fable agrees because she needs help fixing up her grandfather's cottage where she lives. Fable has been struggling to find her place, and she wants to prove that she can complete a task that she starts. As they fake date, they sort of become friends with benefits, which leads to so much more.
There are forehead kisses, use of toys, so much banter, and a slow burn that leads to him getting there in his pants! I loved the tension too. He calls her sweetheart, and he is such a good boy for her.
Part of the story is about Theo's traumatic past because had an abusive father that affected him being in relationships. It was handled in a way that made sense and didn’t focus on the abuse- it focused on the effects of it on Theo and his sister and mom. This part of the story was handled with care, and I appreciated that so much.
Overall, I loved Theo and Fable! This is book 2 in the series. Fable is Millie's sister from book one, and you get to see her and Finn together in this book.
Fable agrees because she needs help fixing up her grandfather's cottage where she lives. Fable has been struggling to find her place, and she wants to prove that she can complete a task that she starts. As they fake date, they sort of become friends with benefits, which leads to so much more.
There are forehead kisses, use of toys, so much banter, and a slow burn that leads to him getting there in his pants! I loved the tension too. He calls her sweetheart, and he is such a good boy for her.
Part of the story is about Theo's traumatic past because had an abusive father that affected him being in relationships. It was handled in a way that made sense and didn’t focus on the abuse- it focused on the effects of it on Theo and his sister and mom. This part of the story was handled with care, and I appreciated that so much.
Overall, I loved Theo and Fable! This is book 2 in the series. Fable is Millie's sister from book one, and you get to see her and Finn together in this book.
November 14, 2025
This was a really fun romance and I loved the fixer upper house plot! It was really fun and I enjoyed it!
I really enjoyed this romance and had a lot of fun! I always love a good fake dating plot! I just always find them so much fun. I really enjoyed the plot of Fable (FMC) fixing up the A frame and working through her grief at the same time. I enjoyed getting to see her grow through the experience.
The small town vibes were really fun and the town sounded cute! I could picture it all so well! I also thought that Theo (MMC) was a really great character. I would have really enjoyed getting to learn more about his background though. I wanted more details about what him and his family had gone through because I thought it was a strong part of the story.
I really liked the romance between the characters and its development was really enjoyable. It didn’t feel to rush and flowed well. One thing though is, I just could not get behind the nickname sweat heart. He kept calling her sweat heart during spice too and it just felt super weird to me. I’m also not a nickname fan though so it might not bother others.
Overall this was a fun and enjoyable romance!
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Multiple descriptive open door spice scenes
I really enjoyed this romance and had a lot of fun! I always love a good fake dating plot! I just always find them so much fun. I really enjoyed the plot of Fable (FMC) fixing up the A frame and working through her grief at the same time. I enjoyed getting to see her grow through the experience.
The small town vibes were really fun and the town sounded cute! I could picture it all so well! I also thought that Theo (MMC) was a really great character. I would have really enjoyed getting to learn more about his background though. I wanted more details about what him and his family had gone through because I thought it was a strong part of the story.
I really liked the romance between the characters and its development was really enjoyable. It didn’t feel to rush and flowed well. One thing though is, I just could not get behind the nickname sweat heart. He kept calling her sweat heart during spice too and it just felt super weird to me. I’m also not a nickname fan though so it might not bother others.
Overall this was a fun and enjoyable romance!
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Multiple descriptive open door spice scenes
November 9, 2025
Thank you to Net Galley for providing me with this arc. I loved Give Me Butterflies so I was so excited to get the arc to book 2 of the Oak Sisters!
If you have not read the first book, this can be read as a standalone but some things will make more sense if you’ve read the first book! This story follows Fable Oaks who is unsure about her future and what to do next. She works at a hardware store while fixing up her late grandfather’s house. All it takes is reconnecting with her high school rival/former best friend, Theo, to ignite that passion and resilience that she once had. They both find themselves in trouble when the town mistakes them as a couple.. working to both of their benefits.
I felt so many different emotions reading this book. I found myself connecting to Fable so easily and genuinely found myself in my feels as she described her grief and loss (loss of her grandfather, loss of her personal identity) as well as that struggle with mental health. Honestly, it was the perfect description of loss and the feelings that came with it. I found myself tearing up at some of her inner monologues, but loved watching her open up to Theo. Theo was also experiencing this loss and confusion of self identity which was depicted pretty accurately. I loved watching them lean on each other for support while also growing individually.
I absolutely loved the Oak Sisters books so far and can’t wait for the next book in the series.
November 19, 2025
No Place Like You is a good feel novel.
When a photo of Theo and Fable is misconstrued, Theo has an idea that could help them both - fake dating. Theo will help Fable fix her grandpa’s place and their fake relationship will endear Arthur to consider Theo in the selling of his vet clinic.
Dating missions one after another, you can tell that the bantering between these characters are so
genuine and lighthearted. They bring out the best in each other and love each other‘s flaws. They both have cute animals and their interactions with animals got me going awww. The spice! Definitely some spicy spice.
And lord their family is sooo precious. We get to see cameo of Millie and Finn and the girls! I love a good story with strong family bonds. The fact that they had a groupchat talking about these two was hilarious.
I could not stop smiling reading this book!
Definitely cannot wait for this book to be out!
When a photo of Theo and Fable is misconstrued, Theo has an idea that could help them both - fake dating. Theo will help Fable fix her grandpa’s place and their fake relationship will endear Arthur to consider Theo in the selling of his vet clinic.
Dating missions one after another, you can tell that the bantering between these characters are so
genuine and lighthearted. They bring out the best in each other and love each other‘s flaws. They both have cute animals and their interactions with animals got me going awww. The spice! Definitely some spicy spice.
And lord their family is sooo precious. We get to see cameo of Millie and Finn and the girls! I love a good story with strong family bonds. The fact that they had a groupchat talking about these two was hilarious.
I could not stop smiling reading this book!
Definitely cannot wait for this book to be out!
November 15, 2025
3.75 ⭐️
I really liked this book! The chemistry between the main characters pulled me in right away— I always appreciate a second chance romance 🥰 . I especially enjoyed the character development of the FMC; watching her evolve, confront her fears, and grow into herself was one of the strongest parts of the story.
Another element I loved was the way the book wove in references to therapy and personal coping. It treated healing as a real, ongoing process, and I appreciated how the characters were shown learning to deal with things both together and on their own.
That said, something didn’t 100% click for me. I can’t even pinpoint exactly what it was, so it might have been more about my reading mood than the book itself. Still, it was an enjoyable, heartfelt read—and definitely worth picking up!
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!
I really liked this book! The chemistry between the main characters pulled me in right away— I always appreciate a second chance romance 🥰 . I especially enjoyed the character development of the FMC; watching her evolve, confront her fears, and grow into herself was one of the strongest parts of the story.
Another element I loved was the way the book wove in references to therapy and personal coping. It treated healing as a real, ongoing process, and I appreciated how the characters were shown learning to deal with things both together and on their own.
That said, something didn’t 100% click for me. I can’t even pinpoint exactly what it was, so it might have been more about my reading mood than the book itself. Still, it was an enjoyable, heartfelt read—and definitely worth picking up!
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!
November 14, 2025
Thank you so much to Avon and Netgalley for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review!
5/5 stars!
No Place Like You is the sequel to Give Me Butterflies, one of my favorite books I’ve read this year! It follows one of Millie’s sisters from that book, Fable Oaks, and her friends to rivals to lovers relationship with Theo Nikolaou. Because of how long they’ve known each other, they have really well-established banter that is fun to see on the page, and it really adds to the chemistry they have in the story. It kind of gives me similar vibes to Dahlia and Julian in Love Redesigned by Lauren Asher, and I really like seeing this type of dynamic lately! Fable’s and Theo’s story also has sweet messages about grief and finding your path on your own timeline that can really resonate with readers.
I don’t have a lot to say beyond absolutely loving everything about this story, from the characters to the writing to the cozy vibe that feels like you’re wrapped in a warm blanket! I’d definitely recommend this book in particular if you like a friends to lovers romance with a bit of rivalry in the mix and adorable animal sidekicks! I also think fans of Love Redesigned would be really into this book too!
5/5 stars!
No Place Like You is the sequel to Give Me Butterflies, one of my favorite books I’ve read this year! It follows one of Millie’s sisters from that book, Fable Oaks, and her friends to rivals to lovers relationship with Theo Nikolaou. Because of how long they’ve known each other, they have really well-established banter that is fun to see on the page, and it really adds to the chemistry they have in the story. It kind of gives me similar vibes to Dahlia and Julian in Love Redesigned by Lauren Asher, and I really like seeing this type of dynamic lately! Fable’s and Theo’s story also has sweet messages about grief and finding your path on your own timeline that can really resonate with readers.
I don’t have a lot to say beyond absolutely loving everything about this story, from the characters to the writing to the cozy vibe that feels like you’re wrapped in a warm blanket! I’d definitely recommend this book in particular if you like a friends to lovers romance with a bit of rivalry in the mix and adorable animal sidekicks! I also think fans of Love Redesigned would be really into this book too!
November 11, 2025
Absolutely adorable! I was so happy to return to the Oaks family and meet Fable and Theo in this book. It was full of banter, emotional moments, cute pets, fake dating, and so much more. There were so many fun scenes and details of their story that were so well balanced to create a beautiful slow burn love. I’m obsessed with this author and I need more books immediately!
I love a book that can make me laugh and cry, and this one was the perfect example. It balanced so many funny and tender moments and I had so much fun reading it and learning these characters. Fable and Theo were so entertaining and I loved seeing them together in so many different settings! This was the best kind of love story and I can’t wait to start recommending it to everyone!
I love a book that can make me laugh and cry, and this one was the perfect example. It balanced so many funny and tender moments and I had so much fun reading it and learning these characters. Fable and Theo were so entertaining and I loved seeing them together in so many different settings! This was the best kind of love story and I can’t wait to start recommending it to everyone!
November 18, 2025
I absolutely adore Jillian and her books and Fable and Theo’s story just might be my favorite yet! This book felt like a little love letter to those of us who carry pieces of a grandparent throughout our lives. Fable’s relationship with her grandfather was adorable and I loved how she wanted to cling to pieces of him by shaping her future into their shared memories. I related to Fable so much in how she felt adrift and lost as an adult as she navigated what her future could be. Fable and Theo’s respective struggles had me tearing up and cheering them on from page one.
If you like fake dating, yearning, small town vibes, found family, and friends-to-rivals-to-strangers-to-lovers, then this book is for you! Plus Theo is a veterinarian who is a volunteer firefighter and kids soccer coach on the side. Need I say more? The banter, the tension, the story, and of course the characters will have you in a chokehold as Jillian tugs all your heartstrings and have you wishing you lived in Fern River. Releasing March 10, 2026, this is one you definitely want to be on the lookout for!
Thank you to Avon for the eARC & physical ARC in exchange for an honest review!
If you like fake dating, yearning, small town vibes, found family, and friends-to-rivals-to-strangers-to-lovers, then this book is for you! Plus Theo is a veterinarian who is a volunteer firefighter and kids soccer coach on the side. Need I say more? The banter, the tension, the story, and of course the characters will have you in a chokehold as Jillian tugs all your heartstrings and have you wishing you lived in Fern River. Releasing March 10, 2026, this is one you definitely want to be on the lookout for!
Thank you to Avon for the eARC & physical ARC in exchange for an honest review!
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