Fool's Gold

Mis-shapes

by Fearne Hill

When all your friends have plus-ones but you’re still figuring out step one.

From the 2025 winner of the Lambda Literary Award for LGBTQ Romance comes a tale of two housemates in love. If only they realised.

Alaric: Turning thirty doesn’t mean you have to grow up and be boring, right? Except if you ask all my friends, it does. They’re all busy coupling up and settling down, while I’m stuck cuddling up to strangers for a shot at a good night’s sleep. Only this state of utter desperation would lead me to move to middle-of-nowhere Sutton Common with the world’s most peculiar, boring man. He even walks an imaginary dog!

Gerald: I never thought I would want a housemate, and after meeting Alaric, I’m even more convinced. The man’s a walking disaster who sleeps on the floor and won’t stop making fun of my book club reads. I could never trust him with my secrets, like my dream to dance with my neighbour’s dog at the prestigious Crufts dog show. I should be glad when he decides to move back out as soon as possible, right?

Only it turns out Alaric might appreciate a firm hand… and I might like being the one holding the leash.

This is book 2 in the Mis-Shapes series but works perfectly as a standalone.

Genres: M M Romance

270 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 26, 2026

About the author

Fearne Hill resides far from the madding crowds in the county of Dorset, deep in the British countryside. She likes it that way.
Her novel, Oyster, is a 2025 Lambda Literary Award winner. Two Tribes is a 2023 Lambda Literary Award finalist..
Her popular Rossingley series was nominated in nine separate categories of the 2021 Goodreads M/M Romance awards and received an Honourable Mention in the 2021 Rainbow Awards.

Be sure to follow her on Bookbub for the latest sales and releases! https://www.bookbub.com/profile/fearn...

Join her Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/11724...

On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fearnehill_...

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/FearneHill

She also writes very brief and not especially insightful book reviews here on GR...

Finally, she also writes straight contemporary romance under the pseudonym Coco Chambers.

Reviews

[Showarst · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant

Fool’s Gold by Fearne Hill is book 2 in the Mis-Shapes series. I had such a roller coaster of a ride with this book. At the beginning I absolutely hated Gerald. He was so mean to Alaric (for no reason). Then something began to happen. Gerald started to open up and see that he had been unfair to his roommate who was his opposite in every way. Alaric was such a sweetheart. You could see that he needed something, but couldn't really figure out what that was. Then he thought he didn’t deserve it. My favorite part of every book is watching the characters fall in love. These two idiots (said with such affection-lol) loved each other fiercely, and I thought for a moment that they would never admit it. They were the perfect complement to each other. The side characters were amazing and the dog dancing was so cute. I am a huge Fearne Hill fan. She has such a way of making me feel what the characters were feeling. I loved this one a lot.

I received an ARC from GRR for my honest review.

[Kathleen in Oslo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series isn't hitting the spot for me the way the Rossingley series (past and present) does. In this case, I liked both Alaric and Gerald, but Alaric in much smaller doses: his voice was just too over-the-top. I like him better in his professional doctor mode than in his "drooling over my landlord" mode, yet -- unlike the first book in this series, which had a fair amount of workplace content -- we get very little of that in this one.

I think my main issue is that, even though this isn't really insta, it kind of is: we go from mutual dislike to both being head-over-heels (albeit not admitting it to each other) at warp speed. I liked the hurt/comfort aspect that sparked this change, but I missed any sense of ambivalence or doubt. It felt like extreme emotional whiplash on both sides, whereas I prefer more of a gradual transition from acquaintance-to-attracted-to-adoring. ymmv.

I also kind of wish that the story didn't legitimate the whole "being an adult = being boring and in a relationship in suburbia" narrative that Alaric is actively pushing against for most of the book. I'm a city girl -- although fair enough, I don't live in London, which is a much more advanced degree of city-ing -- and I was really hoping that Alaric would stay true to that part of his identity that embraces city life. It seems that the appeal of citydom boiled down to going out on the piss and a slightly shorter commute, which: yes! But it's much more than that, and it felt too one-dimensional (and, therefore, easily shed) to satisfy.

Loved the dog dancing, though.

Not my fave of Fearne Hill's outings, but still a solid, cozy read.

I got an ARC from the author via GRR in exchange for an honest review.

[Edga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alaric is such a stand out 💯 and Gerald... complete plot twist! 🤯👬✨

If you love British humour and a grumpy/sunshine romance that is wonderfully weird, you'll love this. Fool’s Gold is easily one of my top reads this year! It’s the perfect mix of 'laugh until you cry funny' and 'I'll probably cry because of the sad'.
I adored both Alaric and Gerald. Alaric is a loud, spontaneous, no boundaries whirlwind, with a heart of gold. Gerald is a grumpy, routine loving hermit, with some very specific (and hilarious) quirks.
Their chemistry is electric from the start. What starts as affectionate sniping, the sort you use with your best friend, and the slamming of doors, slowly simmers into heavy, genuine heat. I also loved that as they get to know one another , they don't try to actually change each other, they just changed how they saw each other.
Despite Gerald dealing with trauma related grief and being estranged from his dad (all of which ends well), Fool’s Gold is incredibly amusing. As I would expect, Fearne's writing is sharp and looks for humour in practically everything. Gerald and the dog dancing had me laughing out loud. I loved how Alaric embraces Gerald and his charming dancing dog, and spurs him on all the way.
I always get the feeling that Fearne really pours her soul into her writing. The story is a stubborn, messy, beautiful journey from 'stay away from me, I can't stand you' to 'I can't live without you'. Their relationship doesn’t 'just happen', it blossoms. l loved the humour, and the sublime eccentricity of both Gerald and Alaric. I do hope we get Luke's story. Thanks for a lovely read Fearne.

I received an ARC from the author.

[True Loveislovereview · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Alaric Alvin works as a urologist at the urology department, he uses his income to party, so he’s in debt. He also needs a place to stay.
Enter Gerald Mason, an optometrist and book fanatic who needs his space and quiet. He has a lot of bills and needs to rent out a room for more income. One plus one, problem solved.

After meeting Alaric, Gerald knew this would be a disaster. The guy doesn’t shut up.
It’s ditto for Alaric, Gerald is no fun, he has no vibes, he’s boring, and rude. He should look for another place to stay, asap!

Ha! Wait till they get to know each other better. There’s so much to discover about the other, something absolutely fantastic is blooming.

What a fabulous story, the humour, the tension, the arguments, what a great read! The characters and their characteristics are so well developed! The environments and circumstances, the celebrations of all things, it’s just… yes fabulous!

[Seraphina Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fools Gold
Mis-Shapes Book 2
Fearne Hill

Alaric & Gerald

Grumpy/Sunshine
Reluctant Housemate
Opposites Attract
Found Family

I really love this author's style of writing. Humor, plot, sweetness and British slang… I love it.

I adored the first book in the series and knew I had to read this one too.

Absolutely did not disappoint. I laughed so much, I thoroughly enjoyed this.

These two were fantastic together. Alaric was hilarious, he brought so much life to Gerald's world.

Also… shoot, these two were hot like fire.

This is just a feel good, sweet, funny, spicy book.

So glad they got their hea

Cannot wait to read more from this world and this author.

[fortheloveofmmromancebooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arc review

Dr. Alaric Alvin is being evicted from his lovely apartment he shares with his best friend, Stefan. Stefan’s boyfriend, Marcus is moving in and he doesn't want Al around. Being a Dr, Al should have money to get himself a new flat, but he prefers cocktails to saving.

Gerald Mason is very set in his ways, and likes living alone, but he needs an extra income to help pay for Elsa. Elsa is his neighbour dog, who he borrows to do freestyle dancing with. He wants to enter competitions with her.

Alaric and Gerald are such opposites that neither enjoy the others company. After a week of living together, Al decides to look for something else, but nothing quite hits the spot. In the meantime, Gerald starts to surprise Al and finds he wants to stay, falling for Gerald in the process.

This is my first novel from Fearne Hill, the author reached out to me, and I am so glad they did. This book was joyous and well written. I loved the British humour too.
Gerald’s ‘stuck in his ways’ attitude was funny to read. Al with a mile a minute mouth made me laugh. I could feel the moment that Al changed his mind about Gerald and his feelings jumped off the page.
This is the second book in the Mis-shaped series, and I now want to read the first one.

[Bess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another five-star Fearne Hill book! These books are the perfect thing when I am looking for a book about people that feel real, that has plenty of hurt/comfort, and that breaks you a little bit before putting you back together again. This book was fabulous, and I'm always delighted to see a new Fearne Hill read!

[Caz]

Review to follow.

[Dieter Moitzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the author. The review below will also be published soon on Rainbow Book Reviews.

Take two secondary characters from Fearne Hill’s first book in this series, “Maybe”, make them as different as humanly possible, like Yin and Yang, throw them into a quiet flat in a quiet London suburb, create an almost hostile tension between them from the get-go, add a neighbour’s dancing dog for a touch of unexpected colour, and watch the result. The highly enjoyable result, I’d like to add. That’s how you write a successful “Fool’s Gold.”

On one side, we have Dr Alaric Alvin, the elflike, sparkling human equivalent of a rainbow-coloured unicorn who, in book 1, was working in the same emergency department as Isaac Fitz-Henry. Alaric has specialised in urology in the meantime, but he’s still “living the vida loca.” Adulting isn’t something he even remotely plans to do any day soon. It’s much more fun taking off the edge of a difficult working day by giving a PS5-game a go with one’s bestie, getting drunk, hitting the dance floors, and hooking up with strangers. A lifestyle choice made easy by the fact that he’s living in the only place a person of sound mind would want to live in: central London. But it seems those happy times are over. Because his best mate Stefan, who shares his flat with him, has recently met Mister Right (who isn’t Mister Right, but Stefan isn’t asking). And the new boyfriend isn’t keen on having a third party in his new “home, sweet home.” Which means Alaric needs to find a new place to stay, and that ASAP.

The problem is, London, and more specifically central London, is expensive. Too expensive for Alaric’s means, anyway. That’s when someone suggests he might want to move in with one of his remote acquaintances, Gerald Mason. Yes, I’m talking about the very same Gerald, quaint, nerdy, quiet, unremarkable, and stiff, with whom Isaac used to go on a couple of hapless dates in book 1. Gerald, who seems to have been born already a fully-formed responsible adult, owns a flat with a room to let, and he’s looking for a flatmate because, for unspecified reasons, he needs some extra money. The rent sounds good, the whereabouts, not at all. In fact, Gerald’s flat is situated in—Sutton Common, a tranquil suburb a long, long, looooong way from central London. Hardly London, actually. Yet Alaric runs out of options, so he finally moves to—shudder—Sutton Common, bringing all his belongings, his glitter, his sass, and his words. Oh, so many words! Unsurprisingly, Gerald’s welcome turns out rather chilly, if not outright alarmed. He’s an introvert man, a bookish man, a tidy man, a man who cherishes rules and principles and allotted places in the dishwasher for each specific cup, plate, and fork. To accept a whirlwind such as Alaric in his sanctum is challenging, to say the least. If only he didn’t need the money for his little, secret side-activity…

Well, this book was “such fun,” as Miranda Hart’s TV-show-mum in “Miranda” would have exclaimed. The whole novel is very British, very Londony (much to my delight), and an entertaining take of the opposites-attract trope. One could also say it’s flatmates-to-lovers, even enemies-to-lovers. A real Yin-Yang situation as I wrote in the first paragraph. Where Alaric is witty, sassy, glittery, lively, loud, unfiltered, and extremely verbal (his flow-of-consciousness monologues are too funny), Gerald is exactly not that. He likes the calm and quiet of his suburb, of his immaculate flat, of his perfectly planned-out life. The arrival of this exotic… hobbit, as he calls his new flatmate, is a constant test for his patience. Why would anyone wish to share so many private, even intimate things? Why would anyone ask so many indiscrete questions—and expect honest answers? Gerald doesn’t get it. And yet, he realises something draws him inexorably to this unexpected addition to his existence.

Because here lies the exquisite pleasure of Fearne Hill’s plot: the two main characters could have turned out stereotypes, mere caricatures. But they both have depth and warmth. They genuinely care for other people, even for people whom they intitally find irritating. Gerald and Alaric take quite a while (half the book, in fact) to realise they not only manage to live with each other without mutual homicide constantly looming over their heads, but that they even like each other. That’s when they accidentally hook up in a sizzling hot scene. And from there it takes the rest of the book for them to become aware of the fact that they have fallen for each other. All perfectly timed, perfectly paced, perfectly written, with little twists and turns, no unnecessary drama (just what one needs to be satisfied, actually), and loads of silly-funny conversations that made me love the two men a bit more with each chapter.

A highly entertaining romance with lots of British flair and flavour, a cute book that warmed my heart.

[Maryann Kafka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alaric Alvin is in his thirties, lives in Landon with his roommate and oldest of best friend, Steffan Henderson. Alaric is very smart, well educated and has worked his way to being a Doctor of Urology. Now, Alaric is in a situation, he has to move out of his comfortable spot with Steffan. Steffan has a fiance, Marcus, and now they want a second room for a work study.

Alaric, talking with his friend Luke, suggests renting a room from Gerald Mason. Alaric isn’t too excited about that. He thinks he was living the life at Steffan’s and he doesn’t want to move. But he knows he has to, there is no other choice.

Gerald Mason has things he wants to do, but finances and expenses have gone up. He would really like to save for a bigger place. Renting out his spare room is his only choice. He really, doesn’t want to. He likes living alone and his solitude is something he really loves. He’s very content, organized, works as an optometrist, making special lenses for those who had invasive eye operations. He also conducts a reader book club. He has something special he’s working out with a sweet dog named Elsa.

When Alaric moves in Gerald has no idea what he’s getting into, but neither does Alaric. They are the most opposite personalities to try and survive each other. Alaric is another kind of hyper, a flashy dresser, loud, he talks constantly, asks questions, doesn’t clean up after himself, and he never stops to think before he talks. Gerald is grumpy and always seems stern, but his life has been filled with grief from a trauma. Dealing with trauma and grief led to the estranged relationship with his father.

Will Gerald and Alaric be able to gradually learn and understand each other or will it lead to the parting of two men whose hearts are filled with love?

Fearne Hill brings another outstanding story to warm the heart with “Fool’s Gold” the second story in the “Mis-Shapes” series. I’ve read many a book by Fearne Hill and she always brings the humor and heart warming moments no matter what country she takes us too. With “Fool’s Gold” she presents readers with the British humor that comes, especially, with Alaric. She gives Gerald that strong commitment that he placed on himself. No matter the humor or the seriousness of life she pours her heart into all her stories. The first story in the “Mis-Shapes” series is “Maybe”, and worth the read. I’m hoping Fearne Hill will be giving Luke his own story, soon. Fearne Hill never disappoints! Wonderful story!

[Ella · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really is GOLD! A love story to be treasured. It got to my heart… and my mind can’t shut up remembering all these teeny tiny little things in it - the quotes I cherish and the lovely way the MC’s interact with each other.

I can feel Alaric right now - he is a figety,
giddy, sexy, loud, shiny, always talking young man who has trouble sleeping because his thoughts keep him up at night. He thinks and talks about everything and nothing - Gerald is annoyed at first but soon Alaric’s energetic behavior and stories relax him like white noise in a dark bedroom.

Alaric enjoys his life fully, nearly turning thirty and starts to question his „party the nights away“ lifestyle. He is very grown up at his job as a doctor after all… He can be a bit much…

Gerald - oh still waters run deep - is grumpy and closed of at first.
In the beginning he felt like a shy side character - yes shiny Alaric took over their story!!! Gerald is intelligent, structured, unapologetically true to himself - he knows exactly what he wants - but also stubborn and maybe a bit too set in his daily routines. I never saw his depth coming…

He is so quiet but once he starts talking - oh boy - every word out of his mouth has a meaning, he even is sarcastic, witty and funny to the point. He awaits for the perfect moment to let it all out and then it’s so hilarious… just the right inserted dry comment.

He also is lonely, wants a partner and craves a relationship but doesn’t want to keep up appearances or wouldn’t be content with anything less then the love of his life.

Gerald is hot in his granddad pyjamas and very dominating in bed… always wants to pleasure Alaric into sheer oblivion and then some.. oh he is a great great lover 💖 - pleasure, praise and touch is definitely Gerald‘s love language.

Alaric is a force of nature. Gerald grows very fond of him little by little and never wants to let him go again.

Oh these two… I can‘t decide which one I love most… they are so very different characters but together they just fit… they are the perfect combination and yeah I want them both.

The start -and truly all- of their relationship and interactions are so lovely - you are up for a special treat with this one.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Mal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I swooooon reading anything Fearne Hill writes (I haven't read her grocery list but I suspect I would swoon reading that too embarrassingly enough). So it’ll come as no surprise that I oohed and aahed and awwwed and essentially swooned all over the place when I read Gerald and Alaric’s story. What I did not expect to find was my all time favourite character of all time - Alaric stole my heart! He is precious and smart as a whip and humble and kind and just everything that must be protected. And Gerald omg - first of all I see glimpses of myself in a lot of characters but Gerald delighted me with his introvertedness - I know.. that is a very strange thing to be delighted by but I felt like omg yes there it is that makes all the sense. And also with the organising and cleaning 🤣 - my eating habits would though be far closer to Alaric.. anyway I digress- this is a review not a this or that match up but that’s what happens when you read characters crafted by Hill, you belive they are real and you know them and you are fully and completely invested.

This is such a lovely fall into love. Alaric is a chaotic ball of energy living on vibes and happens to need to move into new accommodations immediately which lands him as Gerald’s housemate. Gerald is.. going through a complicated time. These two do not hit it off (that is an understatement). This is where Hills witty writing shines. I was chortling through a lot of this book. It is hilarious.

Anyway, they obviously find their footing but it happens in such an organic way the emotions just snuck up on me. They also snuck up on them - they are the definition of idiots in love towards the end. The sexing (Alaric’s nomenclature not mine) is hot even though it’s a slow burn , like hot hot, really hot.

The end is especially lovely ahhh swoon again.

The found family is lovely and the family is lovely too. All in all an addictive read - want a love story that’ll stay with you, isn’t grandiose but is grand read this.

Ps personal highlight was Alaric calling Ezra Issac brother - boyfriend repeatedly hehehehe

[ivanareadsalot · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank GRR for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

I am such a fan of Fearne Hill's immersive and layered characters, who never fail to capture my heart, and my absolute full attention, from page 1. Alaric was the most precious motormouth I have ever read in my entire life. And just thinking about him being roommates with the very serious and scrumptious darling, Gerald, is still making my heart squeal. He was such a delightful menace, and Gerald was his most perfect, strong and silent foil, and I'm still giggling from their "opposites attract" romance that delivered tons of sweet and sexy fun!

Fool's Gold was fairly low-angst, and was more of a series of bright, joyful moments, where a steady hand + unbridled effulgence, fell in love while navigating the ups and downs of living with their polar opposite. This was all kinds of charming and I really enjoyed how lovely and fun this was! I cannot wait for whatever comes next in the Mis-shapes series because it's been a marvellous good time so far and I can read Fearne Hill's brilliance forever!

[SNik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second in series (Mis-shapes), but can be read as a standalone. Housemates. Adversarial to lovers. Opposites attract. Slow burn. Dual POV.

Desperate for a new place to live, surgeon Alaric deigns to move to the outskirts of London and in with the boring guy that once dated his friend. Gerald is a book loving, dog dancing, optometrist, that likes things clean, healthy, and quiet - the total opposite of talkative and chaotic Alaric.

This book has a rough start as Alaric and Gerald do not get along and aren’t very kind to each other, but gosh it’s worth sticking it through as these two slowly begin to appreciate the other in profound ways. I enjoyed that this was not an immediate fall or even a lust driven one, as Alaric and Gerald learn about each other and begin to see all the ways their differences make their lives better. As opposites they balance each other, and their interactions from the banter to the spicy times were all entertaining. Both men are clueless that they have fallen into a relationship that neither wants to leave, and it was so funny and sweet. 4.5 rounded up

[Janniemac · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Mis-Shapes series but can be read as a standalone, if you really want (trying to figure out why you would though). We do get to see Ezra and Isaac again in this book and catch up a little bit on their lives.

Fearne Hill is an instant buy for me and when I saw the blurb of this book I knew it was for me. I have worked in Urology for many years and I’m sure I know Alaric. Fearne’s writing style is so easy to read, flowing beautifully and the fact that she knows her subject clearly shows through. I was laughing out loud so many times reading this book as the humour, both medical and in general, was ‘spot on’. We Brits are a strange lot and it is a real treat to get a quality book set in Britain, with familiar locations, by a British author.

I honestly can’t recommend this book enough and I am now eagerly awaiting the next in the series.

I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest and freely given opinion.

[Chloë✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fool’s Gold by Fearne Hill

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Rating: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Releasedate: February 26th of 2026

💛 Grumpy/ sunshine
💛 Housemates
💛 Opposites attract

This is book 2 in the Mis-shapes series, This book is about Alaric and Gerald.

This was the first time I read something by Fearne Hill and let me tell you that I loved It, At first I had to get used to one of the main characters but when you start to find out why he is acting like he is, he will start to grow on you.

I do love that Alaric was biting back he didn’t let others treat him poorly just because he was present and very talkative.
When he started living with Gerald because his bestfriends fiance didn’t wanted him living with them anymore, Gerald had to get used to him but they quickly started to spend more and more time together.

Thank you for letting me read the Arc read and I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

[Roma Sars · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fool’s gold is a slow burn romance between two completely opposite characters who shouldn’t really match, but who actually fit together perfectly.

Gerald is quiet, introverted and, at first look, a bit dull. He lives a regimented life and, except for an unexpected and lovely hobby, seems quite predictable.

Enter Alaric - a busy motormouth with a sunny personality and an active imagination, who forces Gerald out of his routine and brings him to life.

After a difficult start at being flatmates, they slowly settle in to a caring and romantic relationship.
Since they are friends with Ezra and Isaac, it’s great to see those two appear from time to time in this book.

Fearne has excelled yet again in creating two authentic and lovely men; guys that one would want to meet in real life and have a drink or a meal with. I enjoyed every page and was thrilled to receive an ARC.

[Ana Nimity · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was already a Fearne Hill fan, and Fool's Gold simply added another gem to the long list of wonderful stories she's written.

When I was growing up, we had 3 basic tv channels, sometimes a UHF channel, and then PBS, which gave small-town Texas a glimpse at shows from the UK and Australia. I loved watching the British sitcoms - though I can't recall a single one of them now.

Reading Fool's Gold took me back to those days and I didn't want to stop reading, even when the book ended!

Neither of these characters are conventionally handsome, nor are they rich and famous, but they suit each other perfectly. I fell in love with both Alaric and Gerald. Elsa, too.

You could read this as a standalone, but there many mentions of the couple from Maybe, so you may want to read it first. That story is a bit heavier, but also an excellent read.

[Kirstin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant.

Alaric was intriguing. He was quirky and funny and he never shut up, but in the sweetest way possible.

And then there was Gerald the optometrist. From the start, he was your typical boring doctor. When Alaric moved in, he drove him crazy with his eating habits, spoke constantly, asked too many questions, and basically was a pain. Until he wasn't. Because Alaric saw the other Gerald. Big G. The one who danced in secret and held his heart too close to his chest.

And boy, wasn't the real Gerald a surprise. I'm so glad that I read this, and saw Gerald out of his shell, and was able to see their witty banter together, and how silly they could be.

All the stars on this one.

[Splash · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, this book surprised me in a really really good way. It had been some time since I read book 1, but honestly, I think this one can easily be read as a stand-alone.

I have to be honest. The blurb didn’t really seem that interesting to me. I was actually quite reluctant to start reading it. But then came the pleasant surprise. This book is practically the perfect description of grumpy/sunshine and with - maybe? - some neurodivergence on top? (It’s never really talked about, but it seemed a bit that way).

So, if you’re just as reluctant: don’t hesitate, it’s really a great book. And I hope we get Luke’s book next 😍

This is my honest review in exchange for an ARC provided by the author.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holy slow burn, ohhh so worth it!! Like all of Fearne’s books this one is beautifully written. Gerald and Alaric are funny and quirky and the true definition of opposites attract. I loved that these characters are very much real and not fluffed up, it made this story so much more real and inviting. This book is also very British and as an American reader I can admit to having to google some words but I love it. I don’t know if there are plans for more books in this series but I hope Luke and Stefan get one, either together or separate.

I received this book as an ARC from GRR and these are my honest opinions!

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quirky, lovable characters!

Alaric is a chaos gremlin, when he's not being a doctor and Gerald, lives up to his stoic, older name.... at least on the surface (Alaric w wears him down a bit 😊)
Ms. Hill writes such fun people, Alaric never met a thought he didn't blurt out, complete opposite of Big G (Gerald), who kept all his thoughts to himself. The story is multi-layered, dealing with friendships, family ties and finding your person in your complete opposite. Added bonus learning about dog dancing.
I love Ms. Hill's style of writing, lush with humour and and real characters you can relate to. Loved it!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

Slow burn romance with British humour and wit.

Alaric and Gerald are such opposites on page, but they work so well together it’s very sweet. Gerald balances Alaric’s (I’m almost positive) ADHD impulsive nature with calm thinking. Alaric brings Gerald out of his self-imposed loneliness and helps him to bring his dad back into his life. Yin and Yang.

The author is very good at making her characters feel real. There’s nothing over the top or fantastical. They’re normal blokes, with normal jobs, and normal problems. But their magic comes from that and how they navigate their way through their differences to make something special together.


………………………………………………………….
I got an ARC from GRR, and this is my honest review.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read, which was welcome in this moment. I thought the way the two MCs' personalities were revealed was effective, and I enjoyed the cameos from the MCs from book one. I'll look forward to the next book in the series!

My thanks to Gay Romance Reviews for an advance copy of this book.

[Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fool’s Gold by Fearne Hill is delightful, bubbly like champagne, snarky like Ted Lasso characters, and sweet like honey. Alaric needs a new place to live and Gerald’s is available, although only their mutual friends think they’re a good housemate match. This slow burn rom com was a great read. I’m hoping Alaric’s best mate from childhood gets his own book next.

[K-Me · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a refreshing read! I adored Alaric and his reluctant Gerald. Alaric was fabulously filter free and had me snort laughing. Gerald reminded me of myself a bit. He just liked things to be orderly and consistent each day. That was the last thing Alaric was which pure dynamic chemistry for these two. I feel special for getting to read this in advance!

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did I read this in one day, yes, yes I did! Did I love it, yes, yes I did! Do you need to read this, YES YOU DO! While we met Alaric and Gerald in Maybe, our Fearne does such a great job with background, you can totally read this as a standalone. These two’s HEA journey was really not that angsty. They both had some growing to do, not changing but rather becoming true versions of themselves. I loved the domesticity of this story. We do get cameos of our favs from Maybe but don’t overwhelm the story. And, whew, the smexy times…! But also how can you not love “a sound-part dolphin, part banshee, and all joy, sharp, exuberant and utterly uncontainable” or “a pterodactyl being mauled by a pack of starving Fabrizios and their pampered pugs.” Can’t you hear that? Also this scene so needs a picture! We got the most interesting book club, Gerald’s passionate hobby, Alaric’s stream of consciousness, , just so good. The whole “unzipping my heart”? Sigh, just read this.

[Molly Otto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fearne Hill once again brings their quirky humor into Fool's Gold. You have two uniquely different men with an undeniable chemistry learn in time to love and appreciate each other as they are, no pretense, no change, just acceptance. Sure, it takes some work but that is what makes these two men so perfect for each other to have a lasting love. You feel the growth of their relationship throughout and when it all works out it works out as it was meant to. Alaric is one of those characters you can't help but want to snuggle and cherish for his quirks, then you have Gerald it may take a little more to open up to him but once you get him you love him for all that he is. Another great piece of writing from Fearne, they have a way of blending humor and heart with real men you can feel they put their heart and soul into bringing to you in their voice.

[Lady Macbeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

RTC

[Sarah☀️ Somerville · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of fun.