Engaged, Apparently

by Amy Andrews

A sassy fake-dating-with-a-twist, friends-to-lovers, laugh-out-loud romance for readers of Rachael Johns, Beth O'Leary and Marian Keyes.


When Finn and Sweeney return to their hometown to surprise their mothers at Ronnie and Connie's joint sixtieth birthday party, they expect to be the biggest bombshell of the evening. And they are-just not in the way they'd assumed. Because they're ... engaged?

Apparently?

Sick of hearing everyone else's exciting news of weddings and grandbabies, Ronnie and Connie spontaneously fabricated their own fairytale. Their absent children are engaged ... to each other.

Finn and Sweeney will absolutely not pretend to be engaged. Just coming home is giving them both plenty of emotional baggage to unpack. But they have vastly underestimated their mothers and soon find themselves reluctantly agreeing to the fake engagement so their pillars-of-the-community mums aren't exposed as big fat lying liars.

However, when their new relationship goes viral-not just in their small town of busybodies, but internationally-Finn and Sweeney realise that the lie is completely out of control. Will they ever be able to untangle themselves from its clutches?

And what if the biggest lie they've been telling is to themselves?

PRAISE FOR ENGAGED, APPARENTLY

'A cheeky, fun and deeply Australian rom-com about childhood friends, small towns, big dreams and meddling mums. Amy Andrews writes loveable characters with heart and humour.' Clare Fletcher, author of Five Bush Weddings

'Heartwarming and charming. Reading this small town romance feels like a warm hug - filled with hilarious characters, fizzing chemistry and a community, team and couple to cheer on!' Steph Vizard, author of A Smart Girl's Guide to Second Chances

'Cheeky, saucy, and an absolute romp - Engaged, Apparently is rom-com perfection. With toe-curling tension, flirty banter, and a fake engagement that spirals into something deliciously real, Amy Andrews delivers scorching chemistry and a quirky, lovable cast.' Holly Brunnbauer, author of What Did I Miss?

'Bubbly and endlessly romantic, Engaged, Apparently is equal parts heartwarming and hilarious. With banter that pops and sizzles and a delicious slow burn, the messiness of falling in love with your best friend has never been so delightfully sexy.' Amy Hutton, author of Ghosted

'Amy Andrews delivers a delicious slow burn fake engagement romance that will have you cheering, cackling and kicking your feet. Engaged, Apparently hit me in all my feels and stole my heart.' Emma Mugglestone, author of In the Long Run

355 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication January 28, 2026

About the author

Amy is an award-winning, USA Today best-selling Aussie author who has written eighty-five contemporary romances in both the traditional and digital markets.

Her books bring all the feels from sass, quirk and laughter to emotional grit and panty-melting heat.

She loves good books and great booze although she'll take mediocre booze if there's nothing else. For many, many years she was a registered nurse which means she knows things. Anatomical things. And she’s not afraid to use them!

She recently took a sea change and lives by the ocean with her husband of 33 years.

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Reviews

[Amy Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

.....📚 𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 📚.....

Engaged, Apparently by Amy Andrews is a contemporary romance that blends small‑town charm, freinds to lovers with a classic fake‑engagement setup. If that didn’t win you over, did I mention this is set in Australia! Put 28th Jan in your calendar and this book in your shopping cart!

When childhood best friends Finn and Sweeney head home to surprise their mums at a joint sixtieth birthday party, the last thing they expect is to walk into a celebration of their engagement. An engagement they definitely did not agree to.
Turns out their mums, Ronnie and Connie, tired of everyone else’s wedding bells and baby news, decided to create some excitement of their own by announcing that their long‑absent, jet-setting children are engaged… to each other.
What starts as a wild misunderstanding quickly spirals into a full‑blown fake‑engagement pact, all to protect their mums from being exposed as the town’s newest rumour‑spreaders. But when the story goes viral far beyond their small‑town borders, Finn and Sweeney realise the lie has taken on a life of its own.
As they navigate nosy neighbours, unexpected attention, and the emotional weight of coming home, the biggest question becomes: can they untangle themselves from the chaos? And do they even want to?

Amy Andrews delivers a story that feels light on its feet while still offering emotional depth, character growth, inclusivity, and a strong sense of place. It’s the kind of romance that invites you in with familiarity but keeps you invested through thoughtful character work and well‑paced tension. The emotional beats land well, and the chemistry is written with a subtlety that makes their progression satisfying. Readers who enjoy fake‑dating stories that balance humour, heart, and authenticity will find a lot to appreciate here. Those (like me) that adore friends to lovers won't be able to put it down.

A heartfelt, funny, and surprisingly tender story about family expectations, second chances, and the truths we hide from others, and ourselves.
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Thank you to @harlequinaus and @amyandrewsbooks for this copy in exchange for my honest review

[Bec · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaged, Apparently offers a fresh and entertaining take on the friends-to-lovers trope. Childhood best friends Sweeny and Fin return to Ballyshannon to surprise their mothers for their 60th birthdays, only to discover the entire town believes they are engaged—to each other—thanks to a rumour started by their mums.

While I found the story a little drawn out in places, it’s ultimately a sweet and layered novel. Set in a small country town in Victoria, it captures a strong sense of community, particularly through the town’s passion for children’s Gaelic football and how everyone rallies together. The story also explores deeper themes, including the loss of both Sweeny’s and Fin’s fathers. Although these losses happened at different stages of their lives—Sweeny was just 12, while Fin was an adult—the novel thoughtfully shows how each of them processed grief, guilt, and loss in their own way, and how they come to better understand each other through it.

The inclusion of a young girl who communicates using Auslan adds real depth to the story. I especially liked how the community supports her after the tragedy she’s experienced, which reinforces the novel’s themes of care and connection.

As Sweeny and Fin reassess the paths they thought they wanted, the story becomes one about growth, priorities, and recognising what truly matters. The humour woven through the heavier moments keeps the tone balanced and makes it an engaging, enjoyable read overall.

[Karren Sandercock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fin Murphy and Sweeney Bailey return to Ballyshannon to surprise their mothers Rhonda and Constance who are holding a joint sixtieth birthday party and they’re the ones who get a big shock! The best friends are tired of hearing their peers bragging about upcoming weddings and dress fittings, pregnancies and grandchildren and they tell a big fat lie that Fin and Sweeney are engaged and they didn't expect them to walk in the door.

Ronnie and Connie convince them to pretend to be engaged just for a week or so and so they’re not the laughing stock, and who would think two librarians and regular church attendees could be so ruthless and conniving?

Fin and Sweeney grew up together, are best friends and do they want to ruin this by becoming romantically involved and yet the longer their together the harder it is for them to ignore the chemistry and keep their hand off each other. Fin starts coaching the kid’s Gaelic football team, Sweeney a photographer is clicking away and sharing the images with the parent’s permission on Instagram and they become a hit on social media.

I received a copy of Engaged, Apparently by Amy Andrews from NetGalley and Harlequin Australia in exchange for an honest review. What an engaging read, the characters are wonderful, and the narrative has both a funny side and a series one.

From fake dating and becoming engaged, the two mother’s conveniently moving in together, making sure their adult children are living the same house and on their own, and have their fingers and toes crossed they will fall madly in love and make cute babies.

The death of a parent or parents and impact this has, how you can’t run away from your problems for ever and have to face them eventually, family and expectations, ties and staying in one place, people who are hearing impaired, and Auslan Australia's form of sign language.

Based around the Irish communities in country Victoria, this book will have you laughing out loud on minute and reaching for the tissues next, perfection between the pages and five stars from me and I highly recommend.

[Narelle Richards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweeney and Finlay, lifetime friends who have grown-up in Ballyshannon in country Victoria, Australia, but are now citizens of the world living in New York and Dublin respectively, think they are going to surprise their mothers, Ronnie and Connie for their joint sixtieth birthdays. However, the surprise belongs completely to Sweeney and Finlay, for when they arrive in town they discover their mothers have just invented a fake engagement for them - an engagement to each other. Through a large amount of motherly guilt, Sweeney and Fin agree to play along with the lie temporarily. Not only are they now fake engaged but they also find themselves committed to helping with one of the local Gaelic football teams made of five and six year olds - Fin as coach and Sweeney as official photographer. In no time at all they are absorbed in the small town community that they thought they had left behind. Oh, and they are also sharing Fin's family home as Ronnie and Connie decide to leave the lovebirds to spend private time together to help convince the town that that 'Feeney' is a real thing.
This is a laugh out loud book that makes you want to quickly book at trip to Ballyshannon and take up coaching Gaelic football It is so charming - every character is a definite treat to meet. There is absolutely nothing about this book that isn't to like - it is full of heart. The use of Auslan, Australian sign language, within the story developed through a little girl, Winnie, and Fin's family is absolutely something that captures you emotionally - there was a moment towards the end of the book where I had to break out the tissues - it was so lovely..
I really enjoyed this book - it was a one sitting read - the best way to end 2025. Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Australia for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Pousali Ghosh (thispandareads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an absolutely adorable cute fun and hilarious book! I’ve never read a friend to lovers trope before and I’m going to read so many more of these. Sweeney and Fin not only were very well written, the development of their relationship was totally swoon worthy. And what made it even better, that it’s set in Australia! There’s so much more to the story than just a normal love story as well! There’s overcoming grief, guilt, societal pressures and the obvious but very important urge to not ruin the friendship. All the cute moments had me going awww and that letter scene had me bawling my eyes out!

Sweeney is returning home after a long time for her mums and her mums best friend’s joint sixtieth birthday party. Fin her childhood best friend (also the son of her mums best friend) made all the plans to return home to surprise them together! But when they reached the venue, it was their turn to be surprised. Because apparently their mums just told everyone a little white lie. And these two are now….apparently engaged! Everything is now thrown into turmoil because it’s a small town and everyone knows. They have to keep appearances and keep up the ruse. And it doesn’t help that their moms are guilt tripping them and they are dealing with nostalgic sad memories too. But things start getting heated between them. Will they end up choosing to save the friendship or take the next step?

This book is everything that will remind you why you love a good old romance story. Thank you so much HarleQuin Aus for sending me the ARC of this awesome book!

[Anita D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaged, Apparently by Amy Andrews
⭐️ 4.5 / 5
🌶️ 3 / 5

Amy Andrews doesn't miss!

Sweeney and Fin are back in their hometown for their mums' joint sixtieth birthday party. Only they arrive to find out their mums have just announced to all their mates that Sweeney and Fin are engaged.

Amy's writing is engaging (ha!) and easy to follow. Sweeney, Fin, and their families all felt so full of life. While this book dealt with some heavier topics (hello death of a parent being a major part of three characters' lives), it was lighthearted, hopeful, and funny.

I adored Sweeney and Fin's relationship. Childhood friends who rarely kept in touch felt so realistic to me - even though they hadn't spoken in an age, they fell back into their friendship so easily. The build-up from friends to lovers was frustrating and perfect.

I was kind of devastated that this book came to an end, but I enjoyed how the book opened and ended with a peep into the way that the mums were thinking about their own lives, and Sweeney and Fin. It was a fantastic way to intro and close out the book.

You should read this if you love a rom-com! It's definitely going on my wishlist for my birthday next year.

I received an eARC of Engaged Apparently. I was not incentivised to read or review. Thank you to Amy Andrews, Harper Collins, and NetGalley.

Tropes:

Fake dating / engagement
Only one bed
Childhood friends to lovers
Forced proximity

[Siegrist · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed all the way through this delightful book.

Although Engaged, Apparently is most definitely a rom com (of the friends to lovers persuasion) the hero characters for me were definitely Ronnie and Connie, the mother characters to their clueless-in-love adult children. Most romantic comedies are comedies in that they generate smiles, but this one generates belly laughs. These mostly come from Ronnie and Connie who get the best lines. I won’t quote them here so you can have the joy of discovering them yourself.

I was describing this book to a friend and she thought it would make a great TV show. I definitely agree. It has - for those who remember it - slightly Seachange vibes but with the benefit of more women with agency and a team of cute 5 year old Gaelic footballers.

It’s a witty book with meta moments - ‘what was one more juicy trope’ and also deals with serious issues like grief, career transitions and adult parent child relationships. Often parent characters in rom coms are flat at best or horrendous sexist cliches at their worst but Amy Andrews allows both parents and children to be complex human beings capable of growth.

Thanks so much to Amy Andrews for writing this excellent book, to Netgalley and Harlequin Australia for the arc copy. I hope you guys are hard at work selling the film and TV rights.

[Maree Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book by Amy Andrews but it certainly won't be the last. I will be keeping my eyes peeled for her back catalogue after reading this gem.

I started reading this book yesterday while I was at the hospital having my 3-weekly immunotherapy treatment and had nurses and other patients giving me funny looks because from the get go I was laughing out loud and had a wide grin on my face. There should be a warning to not read this in public places!

Then today's reading, when Fin and Sweeney got into some really deep and meaningful conversations, I was glad that I always keep tissues on my side table as I certainly needed them. At times I had to pause, take off my glasses and wipe my face as I was crying so much.

Amy has created some wonderful main characters in the mothers, Ronnie & Connie, and their offspring, Finn and Sweeney, the newly engaged couple, apparently!
There is also a great supporting cast of relatives, town busy bodies who mean well, and a team of cute kids who play footy.

I absolutely adored this book and can't say thank you enough to NetGalley and Harlequin Australia for the digital ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Lyn Brownlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my! Loved this!
Engaged, Apparently was not only hilariously fun in parts but was also emotionally beautiful at other times.
I loved Amy’s story so much and enjoyed the way Fin and Sweeney’s mother’s, after telling the most epic untruth about them, manipulated the two into spending more alone time with each other.
The mum’s Ronnie and Connie were absolute crack ups making this story so much fun to read.
This friends to lovers, fake engagement, slow burn, steamy at times story was set in a little town in Victoria, Australia.
It touched on some emotional moments of their childhood, the couples growing feelings for each other and their electric chemistry.
With plenty of interactions with the townsfolk and a cute group of 5 year olds this was a pleasure to read.
I highly recommend reading this book.
Thank you to Amy Andrews, NetGalley and Harlequin Australia for the opportunity to read this story.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

What happens when two childhood best friends return home to surprise their mothers at their birthday party? A lot!

Finn and Sweeney's mum's have 'accidently' told their friends their children are engaged due to jealousy! They reclunctanely agree to the charade, only for the duration of their visit.

Naturally the whole small town is eagerly invested in this relationship and delight in seeing the two together and even get a couples hashtag. Can the new couple convince the whole town including their families and of course the local gossip/stickybeak.


While there are plenty of laughs, the book also explores the immense grief of losing a parent as Finn and Sweeney support each other.

Thank you to Netgalley and HQ Au for a copy in exchange for a fair and hoest review.

[Chanel Mullen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this read! Not only are there some great tropes, throw in some meddling parents and town and you have a disaster waiting to happen (In the best way). I really loved the deeper themes of loss, family relationships and AUSLAN representation.

☘️Friends to Lovers
☘️Small town romance
☘️Fake engagement
☘️Slowburn

Childhood friends Fin and Sweeney return to their hometown to find out they are engaged, apparently, to each other. Thanks to their meddling parents and nosey town they have to live a forced proximity, fake engagement lie. It’s chaos with a FINALLY ending.