What do you think?
Rate this book
Until You Say Stay
He's the reckless Formula One driver with a viral scandal. She's the bartender-musician afraid to take the stage. Fake dating was supposed to be simple. Falling for each other was never part of the deal.
Jack Midnight returns to Dark River with his racing career on the line. One viral scandal has his sponsor doubting him and his future in Formula One slipping away. Lark Reyes bartends at the Black Lantern while building her music career online. She's finally caught a label's attention, but they need proof she can build a massive social media presence before they'll sign her.
When Lark's ex shows up and threatens an awkward scene, Jack intervenes, claiming to be her boyfriend. What starts as a rescue sparks a deal: fake date through summer. His followers boost her music, her presence repairs his reputation. Come September, they walk away clean.
But the more they play the part, the harder it gets to separate performance from reality. He's not supposed to care this much. She's not supposed to let anyone this close. They're lying to the world about their relationship, but the biggest lie might be the one they're telling themselves. And September's approaching like a finish line neither of them wants to cross.
Until You Say Stay is a steamy contemporary romance featuring fake dating, sizzling banter, and the kind of electric chemistry that'll keep you glued to the page—the next addictive installment in The Midnight Men series.
The Midnight Men Series:
Until the Storm Breaks (Book 1)
Until You Stay Say (Book 2)
Until the Stars Fall (Book 3)
Jack Midnight returns to Dark River with his racing career on the line. One viral scandal has his sponsor doubting him and his future in Formula One slipping away. Lark Reyes bartends at the Black Lantern while building her music career online. She's finally caught a label's attention, but they need proof she can build a massive social media presence before they'll sign her.
When Lark's ex shows up and threatens an awkward scene, Jack intervenes, claiming to be her boyfriend. What starts as a rescue sparks a deal: fake date through summer. His followers boost her music, her presence repairs his reputation. Come September, they walk away clean.
But the more they play the part, the harder it gets to separate performance from reality. He's not supposed to care this much. She's not supposed to let anyone this close. They're lying to the world about their relationship, but the biggest lie might be the one they're telling themselves. And September's approaching like a finish line neither of them wants to cross.
Until You Say Stay is a steamy contemporary romance featuring fake dating, sizzling banter, and the kind of electric chemistry that'll keep you glued to the page—the next addictive installment in The Midnight Men series.
The Midnight Men Series:
Until the Storm Breaks (Book 1)
Until You Stay Say (Book 2)
Until the Stars Fall (Book 3)
- GenresRomance
406 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 13, 2025
58 people are currently reading
50 people want to read
About the author
Nate Wilder
6 books8 followersNate Wilder writes small-town romance—steamy, emotional, and full of the kind of chemistry that keeps you reading past midnight. A former journalist and chef, he's a devoted romance reader who believes the world needs more love, more steam, and more happily-ever-afters. He writes from Washington state, where he is supervised in all matters by his opinionated cat, Nala.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 4, 2025
Until You Say Stay is a fun, high-gloss small-town-meets-celebrity romance with a fake-dating setup I genuinely enjoyed at the start—especially because both leads feel like adults with real lives and real pressures. But while the chemistry is strong and the premise is addictive, the emotional pivot (and the trust issues that follow) left me unconvinced this couple could actually survive the reality of distance, fame, and two high-stakes careers.
Jack Midnight is Dark River royalty: a hometown hero turned Formula 1 star, sidelined after an accident and fighting to claw his way back onto the Ferrari team. Unfortunately, his playboy reputation—and a party video where drugs are clearly present—has him in sponsor limbo. Lark is a bartender and singer/songwriter with a mean case of stage fright, still recovering from the long-term emotional damage inflicted by her cruel ex-husband, Brandon. When Brandon shows up at the bar with the woman he cheated with and publicly needles Lark until she panics and claims she’s dating someone, Jack steps in and plays the role of boyfriend like he was born for it.
From there, the two strike a mutually beneficial deal: fake-date to rehab Jack’s image and boost Lark’s social media presence so a record label will take her seriously. The small-town ripple effect is delicious—everyone knows, everyone watches—and the “we’re pretending but…are we?” tension builds nicely. Wilder also does a great job showing how their worlds collide: Lark at racing events, Jack at music-industry spaces, and both of them discovering they have more in common than either expected. The forced proximity moment in Miami (hello, one bed) and the way Lark charms the Ferrari team were especially fun.
Where the story shines most is in the quieter middle: Lark finding her voice again and Jack showing flashes of steadiness beneath his image. The LA record-label plotline also adds an interesting layer—Lark being asked to sand down everything distinctive about herself, from her sound to her look, in favor of something more marketable. The Banff escape is peak romance fantasy: a luxury cabin, a storm, walls coming down, and “I love you”s that feel honest in the moment.
But then the second half hinges on a conflict that didn’t work for me. Jack’s communication starts to crumble under pressure and insecurity, and a longer cut of the party video drops—one that includes him kissing another woman while Lark believed his version of events was harmless and brief. Lark’s spiral and immediate jump to the worst conclusions, without real conversation or space for Jack to fully explain, made the emotional logic feel shaky. I understand why she’s sensitive—Brandon has spent years destabilizing her—but the intensity of her reaction and the lack of trust (especially given the realities of Jack’s very public, very scrutinized life) made it hard for me to buy into a satisfying long-term HEA.
The Vegas showcase finale is undeniably cinematic: Lark choosing herself and singing her songs as written, a brand-new and more prestigious label noticing her, Jack hearing Until You Say Stay and realizing what he almost lost, and that thrilling 18th-to-1st race that lands him back on the team. It’s a big, emotional, crowd-pleasing ending…even if it felt more like a movie montage than a believable relationship resolution.
Overall, Until You Say Stay is entertaining, romantic, and easy to devour, with a heroine I rooted for creatively and a hero who almost feels ready. I just couldn’t fully believe this relationship would hold once the spotlight (and distance) really did what it always does: test every weak seam.
Jack Midnight is Dark River royalty: a hometown hero turned Formula 1 star, sidelined after an accident and fighting to claw his way back onto the Ferrari team. Unfortunately, his playboy reputation—and a party video where drugs are clearly present—has him in sponsor limbo. Lark is a bartender and singer/songwriter with a mean case of stage fright, still recovering from the long-term emotional damage inflicted by her cruel ex-husband, Brandon. When Brandon shows up at the bar with the woman he cheated with and publicly needles Lark until she panics and claims she’s dating someone, Jack steps in and plays the role of boyfriend like he was born for it.
From there, the two strike a mutually beneficial deal: fake-date to rehab Jack’s image and boost Lark’s social media presence so a record label will take her seriously. The small-town ripple effect is delicious—everyone knows, everyone watches—and the “we’re pretending but…are we?” tension builds nicely. Wilder also does a great job showing how their worlds collide: Lark at racing events, Jack at music-industry spaces, and both of them discovering they have more in common than either expected. The forced proximity moment in Miami (hello, one bed) and the way Lark charms the Ferrari team were especially fun.
Where the story shines most is in the quieter middle: Lark finding her voice again and Jack showing flashes of steadiness beneath his image. The LA record-label plotline also adds an interesting layer—Lark being asked to sand down everything distinctive about herself, from her sound to her look, in favor of something more marketable. The Banff escape is peak romance fantasy: a luxury cabin, a storm, walls coming down, and “I love you”s that feel honest in the moment.
But then the second half hinges on a conflict that didn’t work for me. Jack’s communication starts to crumble under pressure and insecurity, and a longer cut of the party video drops—one that includes him kissing another woman while Lark believed his version of events was harmless and brief. Lark’s spiral and immediate jump to the worst conclusions, without real conversation or space for Jack to fully explain, made the emotional logic feel shaky. I understand why she’s sensitive—Brandon has spent years destabilizing her—but the intensity of her reaction and the lack of trust (especially given the realities of Jack’s very public, very scrutinized life) made it hard for me to buy into a satisfying long-term HEA.
The Vegas showcase finale is undeniably cinematic: Lark choosing herself and singing her songs as written, a brand-new and more prestigious label noticing her, Jack hearing Until You Say Stay and realizing what he almost lost, and that thrilling 18th-to-1st race that lands him back on the team. It’s a big, emotional, crowd-pleasing ending…even if it felt more like a movie montage than a believable relationship resolution.
Overall, Until You Say Stay is entertaining, romantic, and easy to devour, with a heroine I rooted for creatively and a hero who almost feels ready. I just couldn’t fully believe this relationship would hold once the spotlight (and distance) really did what it always does: test every weak seam.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 16, 2025
loving these Midnight Men
This is the second of the Midnight Men series, and I enjoyed it as much as the first - solid follow up. I know a lot of women out there might be hesitant about a male author writing romance novels, but Wilder’s FMCs are strong and relatable, and the spice is women forward and hot! This book needs another edit in some places, and the argument leading to the third act breakup was a bit weak, but I enjoyed the growing love story and the last fourth of the book is very satisfying! I’m looking forward to Theo’s story next!
This is the second of the Midnight Men series, and I enjoyed it as much as the first - solid follow up. I know a lot of women out there might be hesitant about a male author writing romance novels, but Wilder’s FMCs are strong and relatable, and the spice is women forward and hot! This book needs another edit in some places, and the argument leading to the third act breakup was a bit weak, but I enjoyed the growing love story and the last fourth of the book is very satisfying! I’m looking forward to Theo’s story next!
November 26, 2025
I loved this book. I liked how pretend turns into real attraction. Their pursuit of their passions are similar. Lots of interesting events and how they fall into place at the end. I can’t believe these are first books. I’ve read over 200 books and was really impressed with both of these. I rarely write reviews but I’m hoping this author keeps delivering great stories like these.
November 29, 2025
Enjoyed the character growth, an epilogue without pregnancy, strong FMC.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews