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Mis-shapes #2
Fool's Gold
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.
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.
254 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 26, 2026
About the author
Fearne Hill
30 books378 followersFearne 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
June 26, 2026
~4.5~
So Fearne Hill went ahead and wrote this book for me.
How else do you explain:
~ a sassy, slutty, twinky urologist (Alaric) with a runaway mouth and quips for days
~ a stoic, introverted, anal-retentive optometrist (Gerald) with a big dick and some serious Salsa moves
But that's not all. Hill also threw in:
~ oodles of snarky humour
~ properly British dialogue
~ bossy/celebratory/awesome/amazing/super/top-level/best-in-breed SEXING (Alaric is not at a loss for adjectives when it comes to Big G and sex lol)
~ only one teeny-tiny, sort-of-but-not-really breakup that's resolved when the MCs (GASP!) communicate and then have celebratory (see adjective list above) sexing on-camera during Gerald's virtual bookclub ... ooops
~ plus the crème de la crème of all possible MC hobbies:
DOG DANCING (specifically musical canine freestyle)!
I pretty much swooned (and laughed) from beginning to end.
Thank you, Ms. Hill, for this gem of a book (my favorite MM romance of 2026 thus far).
P.S. I work with an accountant named Gerald, who's a sweet man but has all the allure of a beige wall. Then I read this book and met Big G, and now that name positively drips with sexual magnetism.
So Fearne Hill went ahead and wrote this book for me.
How else do you explain:
~ a sassy, slutty, twinky urologist (Alaric) with a runaway mouth and quips for days
He's the plot twist I never saw coming, the course I never imagined steering.
~ a stoic, introverted, anal-retentive optometrist (Gerald) with a big dick and some serious Salsa moves
It's crazy that he thinks he's the background music when he's the whole fucking song.
But that's not all. Hill also threw in:
~ oodles of snarky humour
~ properly British dialogue
~ bossy/celebratory/awesome/amazing/super/top-level/best-in-breed SEXING (Alaric is not at a loss for adjectives when it comes to Big G and sex lol)
~ only one teeny-tiny, sort-of-but-not-really breakup that's resolved when the MCs (GASP!) communicate and then have celebratory (see adjective list above) sexing on-camera during Gerald's virtual bookclub ... ooops
~ plus the crème de la crème of all possible MC hobbies:
DOG DANCING (specifically musical canine freestyle)!
I pretty much swooned (and laughed) from beginning to end.
Thank you, Ms. Hill, for this gem of a book (my favorite MM romance of 2026 thus far).
P.S. I work with an accountant named Gerald, who's a sweet man but has all the allure of a beige wall. Then I read this book and met Big G, and now that name positively drips with sexual magnetism.
February 23, 2026
B+ / 4.5 stars
This second book in Fearne Hill’s Mis-Shapes series is a funny, sexy and poignant romance between two reluctant and very different housemates that really ticks those grumpy/sunshine, odd-couple boxes! We met Alaric Alvin in the first book ( Maybe ). He’s a urologist/surgeon and is good friends with Isaac Fitz-Henry; he’s an upbeat, flirty motormouth for whom adulting is still a far-off thing (despite just turning thirty) who works hard and plays harder, preferring to work a hard day out of his system by drinking, dancing and hooking up with strangers. When the book begins, he’s just found out that he’s going to have to move out of the comfy and convenient flat he shares with his bestie Stefan because Stefan’s smarmy boyfriend is moving in and doesn’t want Alaric around.
Alaric gets it (mostly) but it’ll be a wrench; not only is the flat home, it’s in a great location in central London – for commuting to work and for staggering back after nights spent partying – it was affordable (mate’s rates) and Alaric is going to be hard-pressed to find somewhere else that ticks all those boxes. Another friend points out that he knows someone who is looking for a housemate, but Alaric isn’t keen. Gerald Mason (whom we also met in Maybe when Isaac went on a couple of dates with him) is, in Alaric’s view, a stuffed shirt and then some, and his place is on the very fringes of London – it’s not even technically in London going by the post code – but time is running out and Alaric has to live somewhere. So Sutton Common and Gerald will have to do while he looks for something else.
Gerald is quiet and reserved, and likes things to be just so. He likes living alone and is happy with his own company, but he needs to make a bit of extra money, hence his wanting to find a lodger. He and Alaric are total opposites and their first few weeks of sharing space don’t go well at all. Alaric bursts into his life like a whirlwind; he’s a sparkly, sassy chatterbox who seems to feel the need to voice every thought that comes into his head, but Gerald doesn’t do well with chaos and needs space and regular downtime. Things go downhill very quickly and harsh words are exchanged, leading Alaric to accelerate his search for somewhere else to live – until he comes home from work one day to find Gerald seriously unwell and badly in need of his help.
This helps to clear the air between them a bit, and afterwards, they both start to let down their guards and to allow the other to get to know them a little beyond the personas created by their first impressions. Each had acknowledged a vague sense that the other was attractive from the start, but it hadn’t gone beyond that because they were both so turned off by the other’s personality. Yet as a greater understanding starts to develop between them, that vague sense becomes stronger as their chemistry crackles and attractattraction starts to really simmer.
Unlike Maybe, which had a fair bit of workplace content, Fool’s Gold doesn’t spend a lot of time with Alaric at the hospital, so the story focuses completely on the romance (and avoids being repetitive, I suppose, although I can’t deny that I would have liked to have seen a bit more of Doctor Alvin!) and on Gerald and Alaric slowly coming to see each other for who they really are. I liked that neither of them tries to change the other, or feels that they need to change for the other; what changes is their perspective as their understanding of the other’s wants and needs grows and for Alaric, realising that the life he’d been living wasn’t really what he wanted any more.
As always with Fearne Hill, the characters are engaging, flawed and three dimensional. Both Gerald and Alaric can be hard to like at times; Alaric has no filter and sometimes goes out of his way to be a little shit, while Gerald can come across as stuffy and unyielding, but they’re ultimately good for each other and provide something they’ve each been lacking. Alaric needs stability and a way to switch off (his hamster-wheel brain keeps him awake at night) and Gerald wants to be able to let someone see the real him, the man with a very precise, dry sense of humour and a penchant for being bossy in bed. I especially liked the way Alaric encourages Gerald to re-think his relationship with his Dad, which has become fractured since his mum died, and how he completely embraces Gerald’s hobby – freestyle dog dancing (yes, it’s a real thing, and is an event at Crufts! Musical canine freestyle) and encourages him all the way, from helping him choose outfits to cheering him on at the competitions.
The romance has the odd feel of being both a bit insta and a slow-burn; while it takes weeks for Alaric and Gerald to stop actively disliking each other, when they do, it feels like they go from dislike to not-dislike quite quickly. But it works – there’s a genuine emotional connection building between them by the time they start with “the sexing” (Alaric’s term!) and I do so enjoy the idiots-in-love-without-realising-it trope.
One thing that isn’t mentioned in the text is that the way Alaric talks about his mind never shutting off kind of points towards his having ADHD; but I’m certainly not an expert and given that the author is a medical professional, I assume she’d have made a point of that if she’d wanted to.
Fearne Hill always brings the funny - Alaric’s stream of consciousness thoughts and word vomit is often hilarious – and her characters are wonderfully grounded; ordinary blokes with ordinary jobs, families, and problems. Fool’s Gold is a great example of an opposites-attract romance; Alaric and Gerald are very different, but those differences, and what they each bring to the relationship, are what make them fit together so well. It’s fun, charming and thoroughly entertaining, and I’m happy to recommend it.
This second book in Fearne Hill’s Mis-Shapes series is a funny, sexy and poignant romance between two reluctant and very different housemates that really ticks those grumpy/sunshine, odd-couple boxes! We met Alaric Alvin in the first book ( Maybe ). He’s a urologist/surgeon and is good friends with Isaac Fitz-Henry; he’s an upbeat, flirty motormouth for whom adulting is still a far-off thing (despite just turning thirty) who works hard and plays harder, preferring to work a hard day out of his system by drinking, dancing and hooking up with strangers. When the book begins, he’s just found out that he’s going to have to move out of the comfy and convenient flat he shares with his bestie Stefan because Stefan’s smarmy boyfriend is moving in and doesn’t want Alaric around.
Alaric gets it (mostly) but it’ll be a wrench; not only is the flat home, it’s in a great location in central London – for commuting to work and for staggering back after nights spent partying – it was affordable (mate’s rates) and Alaric is going to be hard-pressed to find somewhere else that ticks all those boxes. Another friend points out that he knows someone who is looking for a housemate, but Alaric isn’t keen. Gerald Mason (whom we also met in Maybe when Isaac went on a couple of dates with him) is, in Alaric’s view, a stuffed shirt and then some, and his place is on the very fringes of London – it’s not even technically in London going by the post code – but time is running out and Alaric has to live somewhere. So Sutton Common and Gerald will have to do while he looks for something else.
Gerald is quiet and reserved, and likes things to be just so. He likes living alone and is happy with his own company, but he needs to make a bit of extra money, hence his wanting to find a lodger. He and Alaric are total opposites and their first few weeks of sharing space don’t go well at all. Alaric bursts into his life like a whirlwind; he’s a sparkly, sassy chatterbox who seems to feel the need to voice every thought that comes into his head, but Gerald doesn’t do well with chaos and needs space and regular downtime. Things go downhill very quickly and harsh words are exchanged, leading Alaric to accelerate his search for somewhere else to live – until he comes home from work one day to find Gerald seriously unwell and badly in need of his help.
This helps to clear the air between them a bit, and afterwards, they both start to let down their guards and to allow the other to get to know them a little beyond the personas created by their first impressions. Each had acknowledged a vague sense that the other was attractive from the start, but it hadn’t gone beyond that because they were both so turned off by the other’s personality. Yet as a greater understanding starts to develop between them, that vague sense becomes stronger as their chemistry crackles and attractattraction starts to really simmer.
Unlike Maybe, which had a fair bit of workplace content, Fool’s Gold doesn’t spend a lot of time with Alaric at the hospital, so the story focuses completely on the romance (and avoids being repetitive, I suppose, although I can’t deny that I would have liked to have seen a bit more of Doctor Alvin!) and on Gerald and Alaric slowly coming to see each other for who they really are. I liked that neither of them tries to change the other, or feels that they need to change for the other; what changes is their perspective as their understanding of the other’s wants and needs grows and for Alaric, realising that the life he’d been living wasn’t really what he wanted any more.
As always with Fearne Hill, the characters are engaging, flawed and three dimensional. Both Gerald and Alaric can be hard to like at times; Alaric has no filter and sometimes goes out of his way to be a little shit, while Gerald can come across as stuffy and unyielding, but they’re ultimately good for each other and provide something they’ve each been lacking. Alaric needs stability and a way to switch off (his hamster-wheel brain keeps him awake at night) and Gerald wants to be able to let someone see the real him, the man with a very precise, dry sense of humour and a penchant for being bossy in bed. I especially liked the way Alaric encourages Gerald to re-think his relationship with his Dad, which has become fractured since his mum died, and how he completely embraces Gerald’s hobby – freestyle dog dancing (yes, it’s a real thing, and is an event at Crufts! Musical canine freestyle) and encourages him all the way, from helping him choose outfits to cheering him on at the competitions.
The romance has the odd feel of being both a bit insta and a slow-burn; while it takes weeks for Alaric and Gerald to stop actively disliking each other, when they do, it feels like they go from dislike to not-dislike quite quickly. But it works – there’s a genuine emotional connection building between them by the time they start with “the sexing” (Alaric’s term!) and I do so enjoy the idiots-in-love-without-realising-it trope.
One thing that isn’t mentioned in the text is that the way Alaric talks about his mind never shutting off kind of points towards his having ADHD; but I’m certainly not an expert and given that the author is a medical professional, I assume she’d have made a point of that if she’d wanted to.
Fearne Hill always brings the funny - Alaric’s stream of consciousness thoughts and word vomit is often hilarious – and her characters are wonderfully grounded; ordinary blokes with ordinary jobs, families, and problems. Fool’s Gold is a great example of an opposites-attract romance; Alaric and Gerald are very different, but those differences, and what they each bring to the relationship, are what make them fit together so well. It’s fun, charming and thoroughly entertaining, and I’m happy to recommend it.
August 21, 2026
I don't know how the pair of them can stand each other, but I guess opposites DO attract! This was absolutely adorable, and another win for Fearne Hill. 😄
February 18, 2026
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Author
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Author
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.
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.
February 26, 2026
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!
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!
June 21, 2026
Every soul deeply scarred by insta-love needs to read this story immediately for a much-needed cleanse!
Fearne Hill pulls off the "enemies-to-lovers" trope with such wit and charm. Watching the MCs navigate their transition from mutual dislike to deep affection is a slow-burn journey that feels earned and perfectly paced.
I was cracking up at their sharp, witty banter, blushing at their sizzling sex, and ultimately completely melted by their heartfelt confession.
Needless to say how much I love Fearne Hill’s writing. 4.5⭐️
Fearne Hill pulls off the "enemies-to-lovers" trope with such wit and charm. Watching the MCs navigate their transition from mutual dislike to deep affection is a slow-burn journey that feels earned and perfectly paced.
I was cracking up at their sharp, witty banter, blushing at their sizzling sex, and ultimately completely melted by their heartfelt confession.
Needless to say how much I love Fearne Hill’s writing. 4.5⭐️
February 26, 2026
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!
February 9, 2026
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.
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.
July 10, 2026
A-
Lovely story of two very different and imperfect men, both living a sort of half-life but not really being aware of it, although Gerald was probably more aware than Alaric. Ms. Hill does an amazing job with the characterizations here. I had a great visual of both characters and their personalities.
Alaric needs an inexpensive place to live and Gerald needs a little help with expenses. They are a very mismatched pair and really don't hit it off for a while. Alaric has no filter between his brain and his mouth, and Gerald is a person of few words and a lot of opinions about how things should be done. Almost immediately both want the roommate situation to cease. But life has a way of softening our edges and bringing joy in unexpected places.
This book is funny and poignant, and I enjoyed it very much! It gets a A- from me if only because it made me care about a the characters so much.
Lovely story of two very different and imperfect men, both living a sort of half-life but not really being aware of it, although Gerald was probably more aware than Alaric. Ms. Hill does an amazing job with the characterizations here. I had a great visual of both characters and their personalities.
Alaric needs an inexpensive place to live and Gerald needs a little help with expenses. They are a very mismatched pair and really don't hit it off for a while. Alaric has no filter between his brain and his mouth, and Gerald is a person of few words and a lot of opinions about how things should be done. Almost immediately both want the roommate situation to cease. But life has a way of softening our edges and bringing joy in unexpected places.
This book is funny and poignant, and I enjoyed it very much! It gets a A- from me if only because it made me care about a the characters so much.
March 15, 2026
5 quirky stars! ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Such a delightful read! I loved both characters with all their quirks and differences. Fearne Hill never disappoints!
June 7, 2026
4.5 stars rounded up. This was great! Funny and sweet and just what I needed to read. I’m very much looking forward to Luke next!
Review of advance copy received from Author
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.
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.
March 6, 2026
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.5 stars
Fool’s Gold follows Maybe in the Mis-Shapes series and can be read as a standalone. Alaric was mentioned in the first book, but his relationship with Gerald is new to this story and there is little crossover. It also has a completely different feel than the first book.
This is an opposites-attract story, as there is the outgoing Alaric paired with the more reserved, stoic Gerard. Their relationship is contentious from the start. Alaric didn’t want to move to a new location and he didn’t want to move in with Gerard, and even though Gerard was looking for some additional income renting a room, Alaric is way more than he can handle in his space—but he thinks Alaric is sure nice to look at.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
3.5 stars
Fool’s Gold follows Maybe in the Mis-Shapes series and can be read as a standalone. Alaric was mentioned in the first book, but his relationship with Gerald is new to this story and there is little crossover. It also has a completely different feel than the first book.
This is an opposites-attract story, as there is the outgoing Alaric paired with the more reserved, stoic Gerard. Their relationship is contentious from the start. Alaric didn’t want to move to a new location and he didn’t want to move in with Gerard, and even though Gerard was looking for some additional income renting a room, Alaric is way more than he can handle in his space—but he thinks Alaric is sure nice to look at.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
March 2, 2026
FUNNY, SWEET AND ENGAGING!💕
The second book of the Mis-Shapes series delivers a heartfelt, emotional yet compelling sometimes funny story!
“my mum always says it’s the quiet ones you have to watch out for.”
We met Dr. Alaric Allen as a pure annoying motor mouth 30 year old Urologist/surgeon who did not want to grow up- dancing, hooking up with strangers was his favourite pastime…
Gerald Mason 34 was mentioned a couple of times in book 1- a stoic book loving optometrist who went on a couple of dates with Isaac… in search of his Mr Right…
When Alaric needs a place to stay Gerald offers a room at an affordable rate in Sutton Common- the most boring, quiet part of London- but these two total opposite characters do not hit it off at first until Gerald needs him as a dr and a friend one night after a bad argument and they start to bond… but then Alaric starts looking at other apartments…
I loved Alaric as a character that showed emotional growth and helped Gerald come out of his shell and show his other wilder possessive, dominant side- such a dark horse…
Alaric’s best friend and ex roommate Stefan was not very supportive but when he needed his bestie’s emotional support, Alaric was there in a blink of an eye!
“He’s the plot twist I never saw coming, the course I never imagined steering.”
Will these two idiots who have actually been dating after starting a landlord with benefits situationship and “celebrating” 🍆 anything they can, realise it before it’s too late?
A sweet, poignant yet funny slow burn love story about not seeing what’s been right in front of you all along…your perfect imperfect person…
I wonder if we will get a story concerning Luke?…
I voluntarily received an ARC from the author and GRR for an honest non biased review.
The second book of the Mis-Shapes series delivers a heartfelt, emotional yet compelling sometimes funny story!
“my mum always says it’s the quiet ones you have to watch out for.”
We met Dr. Alaric Allen as a pure annoying motor mouth 30 year old Urologist/surgeon who did not want to grow up- dancing, hooking up with strangers was his favourite pastime…
Gerald Mason 34 was mentioned a couple of times in book 1- a stoic book loving optometrist who went on a couple of dates with Isaac… in search of his Mr Right…
When Alaric needs a place to stay Gerald offers a room at an affordable rate in Sutton Common- the most boring, quiet part of London- but these two total opposite characters do not hit it off at first until Gerald needs him as a dr and a friend one night after a bad argument and they start to bond… but then Alaric starts looking at other apartments…
I loved Alaric as a character that showed emotional growth and helped Gerald come out of his shell and show his other wilder possessive, dominant side- such a dark horse…
Alaric’s best friend and ex roommate Stefan was not very supportive but when he needed his bestie’s emotional support, Alaric was there in a blink of an eye!
“He’s the plot twist I never saw coming, the course I never imagined steering.”
Will these two idiots who have actually been dating after starting a landlord with benefits situationship and “celebrating” 🍆 anything they can, realise it before it’s too late?
A sweet, poignant yet funny slow burn love story about not seeing what’s been right in front of you all along…your perfect imperfect person…
I wonder if we will get a story concerning Luke?…
I voluntarily received an ARC from the author and GRR for an honest non biased review.
February 26, 2026
Lots of fun.
March 6, 2026
Fearne Hill brings it home again with another enchanting tale of two beautiful, flawed men who find their way to forever love. Alaric is the sunshine to Gerald's grumpiness. As the book opens, we find that Alaric is a 30 year old urologist who love the London nightlife, but is also stuck in his youth as all of his friends pair up. Looking for a new roommate, his friends recommend Gerald to him. Gerald lives his suburban life in an exact, well-disciplined way and he's not looking to change anything. Alaric is a bubbly, social butterfly who usually goes from hook-up to hook-up. The two men don't hit it off initially, but each of them slowly grows on the other, finding healing along the way.
Great character development, snarky banter, and tender, unspoken emotions make this book enjoyable. I found myself rooting for these two to find their forever love, which they surely did in an outstanding epilogue.
Great character development, snarky banter, and tender, unspoken emotions make this book enjoyable. I found myself rooting for these two to find their forever love, which they surely did in an outstanding epilogue.
March 30, 2026
Absolutely bloody wonderful!
A fantastic second book, i adored these 2 characters. It was beautifully written, very witty and charming. Thank you so much, i really enjoyed it.
A fantastic second book, i adored these 2 characters. It was beautifully written, very witty and charming. Thank you so much, i really enjoyed it.
February 26, 2026
5 stars
These two oblivious twats frustrated me in the most delicious way and made me long for their HEA so much.
Alaric, fashionably messy, charmingly smart, preciously attractive, sweetly flirty and Gerald, unconventionally handsome, quietly competent, softly dominant, dancer extraordinaire will be forever two of my favourite characters written by this author.
They could be so perfect for each other (Luke was so right in suggesting this arrangement!) but they don't give themselves enough credit and both of them think they're not worthy of being loved.
There's also the tiny detail that they are complete opposites and, for the first days of their cohabitation, they're not able to find a common ground: Alaric is too sparkly and beautiful for boring Gerald, while Gerald is too accomplished and levelheaded for immature Alaric. Luckily as the days pass, they find themselves more and more drawn to each other, they crave contact and closeness, they just can't stay apart and, definitely, they can't stop the feelings blossoming and growing.
I adored how their physical relationship evolved: their first dance was fire! And when Gerald shushed Alaric, making his brain press pause on all his insecurities? It was complete perfection!
I appreciated how the author handled the grief, it wasn't too overwhelming and Gerald was able to let go of all his regrets found thanks to how Alaric helped him to build back his relationship with his father.
Now, Fearne, would you give us Luke's HEA? Pretty please? He's the most precious of the gang and he definitely needs it.
I received an ARC of this book from the author and this is my honest review.
These two oblivious twats frustrated me in the most delicious way and made me long for their HEA so much.
Alaric, fashionably messy, charmingly smart, preciously attractive, sweetly flirty and Gerald, unconventionally handsome, quietly competent, softly dominant, dancer extraordinaire will be forever two of my favourite characters written by this author.
They could be so perfect for each other (Luke was so right in suggesting this arrangement!) but they don't give themselves enough credit and both of them think they're not worthy of being loved.
There's also the tiny detail that they are complete opposites and, for the first days of their cohabitation, they're not able to find a common ground: Alaric is too sparkly and beautiful for boring Gerald, while Gerald is too accomplished and levelheaded for immature Alaric. Luckily as the days pass, they find themselves more and more drawn to each other, they crave contact and closeness, they just can't stay apart and, definitely, they can't stop the feelings blossoming and growing.
I adored how their physical relationship evolved: their first dance was fire! And when Gerald shushed Alaric, making his brain press pause on all his insecurities? It was complete perfection!
I appreciated how the author handled the grief, it wasn't too overwhelming and Gerald was able to let go of all his regrets found thanks to how Alaric helped him to build back his relationship with his father.
Now, Fearne, would you give us Luke's HEA? Pretty please? He's the most precious of the gang and he definitely needs it.
I received an ARC of this book from the author and this is my honest review.
March 5, 2026
Another enjoyable read by Fearne Hill.
I really enjoyed this book. Alaric's constant chatter and Gerald's staid personality hide two very interesting and entertaining characters. They are both funny but in different ways. I liked Alaric in Maybe, which I highly recommend, but he really shines here. Gerald is so much more behind his introverted personality. I recommend reading this if you enjoy MM romance with humor and a small bit of angst. Fool's Gold is much funnier and has less angst than Maybe. Both are worth reading. Especially if you like imaginary dogs.
I really enjoyed this book. Alaric's constant chatter and Gerald's staid personality hide two very interesting and entertaining characters. They are both funny but in different ways. I liked Alaric in Maybe, which I highly recommend, but he really shines here. Gerald is so much more behind his introverted personality. I recommend reading this if you enjoy MM romance with humor and a small bit of angst. Fool's Gold is much funnier and has less angst than Maybe. Both are worth reading. Especially if you like imaginary dogs.
March 3, 2026
This was great.
A quirky opposites attract, reluctant roommates to lovers story with a very British vibe.
It's high heat with a very toppy Gerald, but it was Alaric and his runaway mouth that had me eagerly reading those scenes.
Alaric is funny and irreverent but also kind and caring, and so very excitable.
The story was perfect paced with no third act break up to ruin the story.
Highly recommended.
A quirky opposites attract, reluctant roommates to lovers story with a very British vibe.
It's high heat with a very toppy Gerald, but it was Alaric and his runaway mouth that had me eagerly reading those scenes.
Alaric is funny and irreverent but also kind and caring, and so very excitable.
The story was perfect paced with no third act break up to ruin the story.
Highly recommended.
February 27, 2026
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!
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!
February 27, 2026
Alaric, friend of Ezra and Isaac, is a urologist sadly in need of a place to stay. Another friend lines him up to stay with Gerald, an optometrist. But they are chalk and cheese; oil and water; outgoing, verbal chatterbox and introverted, anal, uptight stiff. Yet they are meant to be, over and over in steamy, seductive, draw you in activities. Bite your lip, breath holding, steam the paint off the walls- YES! Loved it!
February 28, 2026
Fearne’s done it again!
Characters I want to spend time with, rabbit holes I disappear in looking for more information on something mentioned, less than perfect folk to love … I was supposed to be doing important other things. Fool’s Gold published here in USA yesterday & despite being a slow reader & spending hours watching videos & reading commentary, I’ve actually finished my first read today. Love, love this book!
Characters I want to spend time with, rabbit holes I disappear in looking for more information on something mentioned, less than perfect folk to love … I was supposed to be doing important other things. Fool’s Gold published here in USA yesterday & despite being a slow reader & spending hours watching videos & reading commentary, I’ve actually finished my first read today. Love, love this book!
September 1, 2026
Laughed All The Way Through
Alaric looks so serious on the cover, and while he had his moments, he was 99% pure sunshine and sass. A "human confetti cannon" to be more precise. And then beige, bland Gerald turned out not to be so boring after all. Lol.
*book club, disco ball, dancing dog, Pringles (crunch, crunch, crunch), dad jokes 😂, and coco pops* ❤️❤️❤️
Alaric looks so serious on the cover, and while he had his moments, he was 99% pure sunshine and sass. A "human confetti cannon" to be more precise. And then beige, bland Gerald turned out not to be so boring after all. Lol.
*book club, disco ball, dancing dog, Pringles (crunch, crunch, crunch), dad jokes 😂, and coco pops* ❤️❤️❤️
February 11, 2026
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.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I received an ARC from the author. The review below has also been published 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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Author
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. I have to defend Gerald, he's not really grumpy, he's just set in his ways from being alone too long. And I think he has a touch of DOM in him and Alaric likes it! LOL! No matter the humor or the seriousness of life Fearne Hill 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!
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. I have to defend Gerald, he's not really grumpy, he's just set in his ways from being alone too long. And I think he has a touch of DOM in him and Alaric likes it! LOL! No matter the humor or the seriousness of life Fearne Hill 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!
May 10, 2026
Grumpy-meets-sunshine when Alaric Alvin careens into the path (and house) of Gerald Mason because he really needs a place to live after being booted out by his bestie in favour of the latter’s new boyfriend taking up space and time. And so the housemates-situationship begins, except that Alaric and Gerald can’t stand each other for a while—that much of opposites are they as people that Alaric vows immediately to find a new place to stay where he can resume his frenzied, party-boy lifestyle that he has built around his work. Because Gerald likes his quiet space, his steady, boring life and his interests neatly compartmentalised.
Gerald and Alaric just don’t gel; the pages of how they clash prove it, until a sudden medical emergency turns things around and then it’s more uphill and tentative steps forward from there.
Still, Alaric is frankly alarming, and unexpectedly funny in the ways he quite literally says everything on his mind….and more. Yet he is also a character so over the top that it gets exhausting to go through the rambling monologues and the never-ending stream of one-sided conversations he’s more than happy to have. It’s harder even, to reconcile his twink aesthetic and new adult-ish behaviour/speech with the seriousness of his work—a surgeon/urologist at a hospital—because he seems to always be a step closer to teenagehood rather than adulthood.
Gerald on the other hand, is like an unmovable wall whose emotions are so closed off that even his very unusual dog-dancing hobby barely makes a crack in his otherwise-stoic demeanour. He often seems as though he’s just barely tolerating it all until he gets used to Alaric’s shenanigans and then finds that he can’t live without. Familiarity breeds comfort in Gerald’s case perhaps—and on the other side, Alaric’s frantic search for a new rental space slows as he learns that there is comfort in a slower and steadier albeit unfamiliar way of living. (I’m surprised that Alaric’s potential neurodivergence seems to go unaddressed.)
Going through the progression of their relationship however, is both tedious and charming where the last twenty or so pages make the most progress and probably accounts for the numerous times I picked up and put the book down. Maybe it just feels as though ‘Fool’s Gold’ has gone past opposites attract to idiots not knowing they are actually in love, to trying to get extremes together.
Either way, I did have sort of a fun time with some of the the laugh-out-loud dialogues, but finished the entire read still unable to quite decide how I actually feel about it all.
Gerald and Alaric just don’t gel; the pages of how they clash prove it, until a sudden medical emergency turns things around and then it’s more uphill and tentative steps forward from there.
Still, Alaric is frankly alarming, and unexpectedly funny in the ways he quite literally says everything on his mind….and more. Yet he is also a character so over the top that it gets exhausting to go through the rambling monologues and the never-ending stream of one-sided conversations he’s more than happy to have. It’s harder even, to reconcile his twink aesthetic and new adult-ish behaviour/speech with the seriousness of his work—a surgeon/urologist at a hospital—because he seems to always be a step closer to teenagehood rather than adulthood.
Gerald on the other hand, is like an unmovable wall whose emotions are so closed off that even his very unusual dog-dancing hobby barely makes a crack in his otherwise-stoic demeanour. He often seems as though he’s just barely tolerating it all until he gets used to Alaric’s shenanigans and then finds that he can’t live without. Familiarity breeds comfort in Gerald’s case perhaps—and on the other side, Alaric’s frantic search for a new rental space slows as he learns that there is comfort in a slower and steadier albeit unfamiliar way of living. (I’m surprised that Alaric’s potential neurodivergence seems to go unaddressed.)
Going through the progression of their relationship however, is both tedious and charming where the last twenty or so pages make the most progress and probably accounts for the numerous times I picked up and put the book down. Maybe it just feels as though ‘Fool’s Gold’ has gone past opposites attract to idiots not knowing they are actually in love, to trying to get extremes together.
Either way, I did have sort of a fun time with some of the the laugh-out-loud dialogues, but finished the entire read still unable to quite decide how I actually feel about it all.
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