The Cupid Dilemma

by April Asher

In the new paranormal romance from bestselling author April Asher, a down-on-her-luck wedding planner demigoddess and a Muse-less rockstar agree to a fauxmance that quickly turns anything but…

A lover of love and a champion for happily ever after. Those were two of many things people expected from Aphrodite’s daughter. To Adalyn Whitlock, ‘love’ paid the bills, and currently, not well. Business was dropping at Happily Ever Forever, with her latest wedding planning catastrophe ending in a negative social media storm and her sister Maxi’s matchmaking ability on the fritz. To top it off, there’s an ex-boyfriend calling her ‘the Anti-Aphrodite’ and paparazzi pics linking Addie to her new client’s older brother.

Phoenix ‘Nix’ Cross—song writer and drummer of the hot new band, The Stone Talons—was no saint, but he was far from the womanizer the band’s image rep bestowed on him. If anything, he was a romantic, hopeful to find a love like the one in which his parents shared. With the band’s star quickly rising and the record label pressuring him to deliver the band’s next hit, Nix’s writer’s block couldn’t have come at a worse time. But when he opens his door to his irate new next-door neighbor, Nix feels the brief flash of inspiration for the first time in ages. And it just so happens that his new Muse is none other than his little sister’s new wedding planner.

With Addie needing an end to the public relations nightmare and the record label breathing down Nix’s neck, the pair agree to a fauxmance. But what happens when the emotions turned on for the cameras don't turn off?

Genres: Romance, Paranormal, Paranormal Romance, Fantasy, Fiction, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance

352 pages, Paperback

First published May 12, 2026

About the author

Also writes under April Hunt.

Reviews

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Cupid Dilemma by April Asher
Book Blurb: In the new paranormal romance from bestselling author April Asher, a down-on-her-luck wedding planner demigoddess and a Muse-less rockstar agree to a fauxmance that quickly turns anything but…

Rating: ****
Feels: Giggly, Warmth, Invested, Pleased
Style: Romance, Paranormal, Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Contemporary Romance
First published May 12, 2026 : 352pages

Such a fun ride !! I was giggly , blushing and just thoroughly entertained throughout this sweet paranormal romance. Addie doesn’t believe in love , and as the daughter of Aphrodite that can be an issue !! Things take a spicy and unexpected turn for her when a hot rock star moves in next door !!! Nix aka Phoenix is the bad boy of the band … or is he ? Hot musical neighbor is in need of a muse and our girl is in need of some good PR for her wedding / matchmaking busy. Fake dating cuteness ensues !!! Loved the found family between Addie’s extended family , can we say fun with gods and goddesses and Nix’s band mates including a Gargoyle 😍😍 Loved the light paranormal twist to this contemporary romance setting and all the absolutely amazing banter !! This was a perfect weekend read for me.

Favorite Quote: She was also the daughter of Aphrodite ... and Love - was most unfortunately - her middle name.

This book has:
- Fake Dating
- He Falls First
- Grumpy X Sunshine
- Neighbors to Lovers
- Demi Goddess & Rockstar
- Crazy family gatherings

[Alisha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overall I had a good time with this book and it was a quick read. I generally enjoy fantasy and tend to love a fake dating trope. I liked the characters and the writing style, although it did read as immature at times.

My biggest disappointment with the book was its lack of world building. From the start I was unsure how Olympus was tied in New York City; if it coexisted or if humans did/didn’t know. Some of my questions were answered in the book, but it was overall fuzzy.

In the same vein, there were many character traits mentioned about so many different characters in the book, but there was not a lot of character building. I wish background character relationships were established with our main characters before their lives began to intermingle. It felt like a lot going on without knowing our characters truly.

I felt like there were many sub-plots and side missions that took away from the story (e.g dad’s girlfriend, amazing race) and more scenes should’ve built up Addie’s internal conflict.

With that being said, there were plenty of scenes that had me screaming, giggling, and kicking my feet.

[Tania · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a romance reader who can never resist a good fake dating setup, The Cupid Dilemma was an easy book to enjoy. April Asher leans fully into the charm of the trope, delivering a light, playful story that knows exactly what kind of fun it wants to be. I also loved the setting of New York inhabited by descendants of Greek gods and supernatural creatures.

Addie Whitlock, daughter of Aphrodite, enters a fake dating agreement with Phoenix “Nix” Cross to salvage the tainted reputation of her wedding planning business. In exchange, she has agreed to become Nix’s muse to get him out of his song writing funk. The fake dating dynamic is the real highlight here. Watching the characters navigate their pretend relationship, complete with forced proximity and gradually blurring lines, was genuinely entertaining. Asher does a nice job building romantic tension, and there are plenty of moments that made me smile, especially when the characters start catching real feelings despite their best efforts to keep things “just an act.”

While the chemistry was solid, I occasionally wanted more complexity from the characters and higher emotional stakes to really elevate the romance. Overall, The Cupid Dilemma is a fun, cozy romance that delivers on its premise. If you’re a fan of romance—especially fake dating—you’ll likely have a good time with this one. A solid 3.5-star read that’s perfect when you’re in the mood for something sweet, familiar, and easy to enjoy.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Sam Lue · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 Stars

Adalyn Whitlock is the daughter of goddess Aphrodite, yet she couldn’t be more against the concept of love. After some awful press, Adalyn decides to fake date someone in hopes of improving her image. It so happens she lives right next door to the perfect candidate; Rock star drummer Phoenix Cross.

The Cupid Dilemma is a paranormal romance book. I found it to be an easy read, and the world building was acceptable. The idea of an anti-love demigoddess partaking in a fake relationship with a rock star is amusing. The dialogue between the characters was juvenile, and I had to remind myself they were in their 30s.

Adalyn Whitlock’s aversion to “love” felt forced. She had a decent relationship with her mother, although she claimed otherwise. Phoenix Cross was a romantic at heart, but he had to play the bad boy for the audience. The conflict in this story was resolved with ease, which left much to be desired. I wish the best for April Asher’s future projects.

A warm thanks to April Asher, St. Martin’s Griffin, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might be the most fun I’ve ever had with a fake dating fauxmance (yes, I’m stealing the term haha). When April told me about this story idea over a year ago, I was absolutely feral for it, and wow, it did NOT disappoint. Aphrodite’s daughter running a match-making/wedding service and not believing in love and a rock star who can’t write a song to save his life at the moment being NEIGHBORS and falling into this thing? I ate this story line up, and truly could not get enough. Nix and Addie were both adorably hilarious in their own ways, I loved the scenes with their respective families and the tie-ins with Olympus, and the way this entire thing played out was just sweet and plain old fun. I would absolutely recommend this book over and over again, and I kind of maybe sort of hope we get some spinoffs about the rest of the band mates/Addie’s sister and cousin? I literally loved every single character (except the stupid managers) and OMG THE SPICE!!! April kicked it up ten notches on the slice and it was freaking amazing. Might be my new favorite book by the author, truly!!

[Stacee · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I'm always down for an April book and this was a fun read.

I really liked Addie and Nix. They're both snarky and loyal and so damn good. Together they have instant chemistry and it was delightful reading them navigate the fauxmance into more. There's also a really good group of supportive friends.

Plot wise, it was good. I wish there was some sort of explanation as to why everyone knew about these supernatural beings and or why the portal to Olympus was in the middle of a park, but here we are. Besides those things, it was nearly all fluff and very low stakes.

Overall, it was a quick and fun read and I can't wait for whatever is next from April.

**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Publishing Group for the ARC.

The Cupid Dilemma was a perfect light hearted romance. I am a big fan of April Asher and got sucked into this book. I finished it in a day.
Our FMC, Addie is a wedding planner who has not been having the best of luck lately. Our MMC, Phoenix, is a musician that is struggling to write songs. When their paths cross a fake relationship/muse contract is put into place. Whatever could go wrong?
I love the paranormal setting and the sweet, yet steamy, novels that April puts together. This book is the perfect romance to add to your list. 5⭐️

[Sadie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute read. I liked A Simple Twist of Fate better but this one was fun too, albeit slightly more predictable. Phoenix was such a sweetheart. He’s for sure a cinnamon roll and I loved him. Addie was a little frustrating. Like I get it sucks to have Aphrodite as your mom but wow, way to take going the opposite direction of your parents to the extreme. I did love Aphrodite, Maxie, Bailey, Naia and East and the band! This was a really fun group of secondary characters. I enjoyed this one even if Addie wasn’t my fave. I’ll def be reading whatever April writes next!

[Julie - One Book More · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun paranormal romance! It's an easy, light-hearted paranormal rom-com, and the premise hooked me immediately. A wedding planner who happens to be Aphrodite’s daughter but doesn’t believe in love fake dates her rockstar neighbor? Love it! Both characters have reasons for wanting to be in a fake relationship, but neither plans to catch feelings. The story had a rom-com movie vibe from the start, and it was easy to get swept up in Addie and Nix’s relationship as the lines between fake and real started to blur.

One of my favorite things about this book was the romance. No surprise there! lol Addie doesn't believe in love, which is ironic considering she's a wedding planner. And Phoenix “Nix” Cross was fantastic. Underneath his bad-boy rock star image, he was entirely different. He's so sweet, romantic, supportive, and completely gone for Addie. I loved how protective and patient he was with her, especially because Addie spent so much of the story fighting her feelings and trying to convince herself that love wasn’t real. Their chemistry was great, and the fake-dating trope worked really well here with all the sexual tension underneath all the staged moments for the cameras.

The mix of a modern New York romance and setting with Greek mythology elements was an interesting combination. I also liked Addie’s sister and cousin. What a great trio! They added humor and energy to the story, and I enjoyed their family dynamics. The world itself definitely asks you to suspend disbelief a little since gods, magical creatures, and Olympus are just casually part of everyday life, and there were times when I questioned some elements of the worldbuilding, but overall it was interesting.

There were a few moments where the dialogue felt a little repetitive, especially with the constant references to the fauxmance agreement. I also would have loved a little deeper worldbuilding because the paranormal aspects of the story were interesting enough that I wanted to know more about how everything worked. Still, those things didn’t stop me from enjoying the book overall.

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

[Morgan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Look I wanted to like this, I really did. I love a Greek mythology twist and paranormal romances. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get into this one.

Fake dating, contract, lots of family and friends, rock star, she doesn’t believe in love, he falls first. Low stakes, steamy.


Warning there is a third act breakup, while miscommunication doesn’t actually show up there are some annoying moments with the record label. I couldn’t get over the lack of tension or any meaningful conflict despite several aspects that could have presented as much bigger conflicts.

[Jazelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Cupid Dilemma Book Review 🦇

What would you be the god or goddess of?❓

To Adalyn Whitlock, ‘love’ pays the bills, and currently, not well. Business is dropping at Happily Ever Forever, with her latest wedding planning catastrophe ending in a negative social media storm. With the world calling her 'the Anti-Aphrodite,' she turns to Phoenix "Nix" Cross—songwriter and drummer for the hot new band, The Stone Talons. Despite the womanizer image rep bestowed on him, Nix is a romantic. When Nix opens his door to an irate Addie, Nix feels the brief flash of inspiration for the first time in ages. And it just so happens that his new Muse is none other than his little sister’s new wedding planner. With Addie needing an end to her public-relations nightmare and the record label breathing down Nix’s neck, the pair agree to a fauxmance. But what happens when the emotions turned on for the cameras don't turn off? 🦇

Oh I am SQUEALING, I am SWOONING, I am ALL heart-eyed for Addie and Nix. Let's break it down. 🦇

I started my Bookstagram journey with a Supernatural Singles ARC, so I adore being able to read an April Asher romance every year. And honestly? They keep getting better and better. This is my favorite Asher supernatural romance by far! 💘

April Asher is the QUEEN of paranormal romances. Her worldbuilding is natural and easy to step into. 💘

I adored Adalyn's Anti-Aphrodite reputation versus bad boy Nix's romantic mindset (the dichotomy of an Aphrodite offspring not believing in love AND a rockstar with a womanizing reputation going all heart-eyed). 💘

He falls first and harder and it's SO good. 💘

The flirting. The flirting is SO good. 💘

The smut doesn't overshadow the main plot or character development, which has lately been a rarity. It's also not instant. There are little dates, moments that allow the chemistry to build naturally, scenes that get the tension to sizzle before it finally bursts -- romance done RIGHT. 💘

Asher excels at creating a cast that doesn't overshadow the lead couple, but still holds space and purpose to the story. I'm hoping we get to see every member of the band find love. 💘

Thank you for adding a non-binary character to a world with gods and shifters. And a background sapphic ship. THANK. YOU. 💘

April Asher! Two questions: Would you say all your supernatural books are in an interconnected world, AND will this story continue for Maxi and Gavin? Because I NEED the latter. I'm SO down for that story. 💘

Recommended for fans of Bride and Good Spirits. 🦇

The Vibes ✨
Paranormal Romance 💘
Grumpy / Sunshine 💘
Wedding Planner / Rockstar 💘
She's His Muse 💘
Touch Her & You Die 💘
Fauxmance / Fake Dating 💘
Forced Proximity / Neighbors 💘
True Love / Soulbonds 💘
Banter / Top Tier Flirting 💘
Dual POV 💘
He Falls First 💘
Curvy FMC / Tattooed + Pierced MMC 💘

Playlist 🎶

Major thanks to the author and publisher for providing an ARC of this book via Netgalley. 🥰 This does not affect my opinion regarding the book. # 🦇

Quotes 💬
“Am I to guess from the casual ensemble that you’re my neighbor? Did you stop by to ask for a cup of sugar? Because I’m sorry to say that I don’t usually keep the stuff on hand. I drink my coffee black as a starless night.” “I’m not here for sugar.” “Then what exactly are you here for?” His gaze slid down her body. “Unless that daydream I’ve been having since running into you at the wedding is finally coming true.”

"Since you’re asking me to give up my inspiration, I’ll need to find another. You up for the position?”

“Teach me, Master Yoda.” Addie pushed up the sleeves of his leather jacket. “Star Wars references, Miss Whitlock?” Phoenix teased. “You just may be my soulmate.”

"On a scale of one pearl to an entire string, how many pearls do we want people clutching when they see us?”

“If my girl wants to ride the unicorn, she’ll ride the unicorn.”

The kiss that had just tilted his world on its axis and quite literally knocked a sweet melody into his head.

"My demigoddess Muse.”

Addie stole the breath from Phoenix’s lungs and he wasn’t sure if he wanted her to give it back. He’d always thought this spot enchanted, too, but it paled in comparison to the magic emanating from the woman standing in front of him. She inspired feelings he’d never felt before.

"What's on your mind, rock star?” “Our first kiss.” A little, nearly inaudible gasp left Addie’s lips. “The kiss?” “As lovely as it was, all I’ve been able to think about since is how much I wished our first time had been just for us.” He gently tilted her chin up. “Not in front of a crowd of thousands. Not for the benefit of a cover story. And with no polite pearl limitations.” “An entire strand?” Addie asked on a whisper. “An entire strand.” His lips danced into a smirk. “A kiss that would imprint on us both for a damn long time if not forever.”

“Tell me you’re not the least bit curious what it would be like between us and I’ll back off right now. But if you can’t stop thinking about it, and want it more than you want your next breath— just like me . . . then say so. And then the next music genre that will be spilling from my apartment will be your pleasure-filled moans.”

"Want to experience some bad ideas with me?”

“If this is the end, I want to permanently etch every facet of you onto my soul,” Phoenix admitted unashamedly. “Adalyn Love Whitlock”— he slowly brushed his lips against hers in a whisper of a kiss—“ you will always and forever be my goddess of love.”

Imagery
Sir-Axe-A-Lot
Club Olympus
Coffee
Baby Cerberus
News Clip: “Naughty Nix or Knightly Nix: Who Is Nix’s Mystery Damsel?”
Fauxmance Arrangement and Muse Agreement (FAMA)
Angry Athena Artery
Warning label: The man should come with a warning label, one that read DANGER: WILL MAKE YOU FANTASIZE ABOUT HAPPILY EVER FOREVER.
The Stone Talons

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to St. Martin's Press, NetGalley, and April Asher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own.

What if the daughter of the Greek goddess Aphrodite doesn't believe in love? Better yet, what if she's a wedding planner in the thriving metropolis of modern-day New York? Those two conundrums are at the heart of The Cupid Dilemma, a new rom-com by April Asher.

The story follows Adalyn "Addie" Love Whitlock, one of Aphrodite's daughters, as she tries to navigate love and life in thriving, bustling NYC. Working as a wedding planner with her sister Maxi and her cousin, Bailey, she co-owns and operates Happily Ever Forever, an all-in-one matchmaking and wedding planning service. After steadily growing a following on social media and finding a string of devoted clients that found their ever-afters, the Happily Ever Forever team experiences a downtown in their success. First, their once-perfect matches start going awry. Then, their dreamy weddings start having mishap after mishap. Finally, after a fire breaks out at the wedding of a spoiled Bridezilla, the team finds themselves the subjects of cancellation and social media attacks, all of which threaten their livelihood.

But when a chance encounter at that very wedding introduces Addie to Phoenix "Naughty Nix" Cross, a member of darling indie band The Stone Talons, an opportunity to reverse their fortunes drops into their laps. Addie will fake date Nix, bringing her publicity, while Nix can find his musical mojo again with Addie as his muse. Everyone wins, right? Not so fast.

As their relationship blooms and Addie and Nix get to know each other, what was supposed to be a no-strings-attached arrangement (a "Fauxmance Arrangement and Muse Agreement", or FAMA) suddenly becomes far more complex than they could have ever guessed. As pressure from his label to create the Talons' stereotypical "panty party" sound and Addie finds herself in danger of catching feelings, the two must search their hearts to find what really matters, and whether the "anti-Aphrodite" truly is what she's claimed.

There's a lot to enjoy about this book. The thriving, vibrant setting of New York stands out as the reader follows Addie and Nix from their first "non-date" at an axe-throwing bar, to an "The Amazing Race"-style scavenger hunt, to the sparkle and shine of the indie music awards. Addie's sister Maxi and her cousin Bailey offer comic relief throughout the novel, and it was fun to see little touches of Greek mythology appear throughout the novel (wait 'til you meet Do-Re-Mi), but I wish the author would've expanded upon that a little more. The novel leans heavily into online culture and meme-speak, which helps to drive the pace of the novel, but I think it will appeal most strongly to a young adult audience (late teens/early 20s). The drawback to the constant banter and back-and-forth is that we struggle to really know who the characters are and who they value, which makes it harder to root for them. I enjoyed seeing Phoenix's protectiveness and yearning for Addie, but other than "I don't believe in love", it was harder to parse Addie's core personality traits and what makes her tick. I also think that there were segments in the novel that got to be a bit repetitive (especially when mentioning the FAMA/fauxmance).

I think you'll enjoy this book if you love the fake dating trope and are looking for a low-stakes rom-com that you can enjoy with a cup of coffee on a lazy afternoon. There are plenty of cute moments throughout the novel and it's fun to dream up the idea of dating a sensitive rock star who wears a playboy mask to the rest of the world. While it wasn't the perfect book for me, I think there are a lot of people who will swoon at Addie and Phoenix, and will enjoy seeing whether they find their Happily Ever Forever.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun Spicy Bubblegum Paranormal Romance. This is another of those books where the 2* reviews are so wrong as to be laughable. I don't know what is happening with those reviewers of late, but they used to be at least somewhat more reliable, pointing out things that were actually problems from certain perspectives rather than just completely not getting a book at all or even making shit up about it. So ignore those bastards. Seriously.

What we *do* get here is exactly what I said in the title of this review - a fun spicy bubblegum pop paranormal romance that never takes itself overly seriously and just has fun with its premise. We get the children of Greek gods living in NYC - along with a singular "they" most often presented as female but always using "they", so do with that what you will with no judgements from me either direction there. We get a band full of mythological beings that is essentially virtually any teen/ early 20s rock band of any era of the last 50 yrs or so. To the level that my own mind was essentially making them a mashup of Sum 41/ Good Charlotte/ etc (because that was my own era of that age) but with griffins and gargoyles and phoenixes.

Yes, a lot of this is quite silly from a "Serious Romance Reader" perspective. It isn't meant to be "Serious Romance Reader" approved. This is light summer reading specifically targeted at that very late teens/ early 20s ish "new adult"/ starting their career set that these characters themselves are, with a lot of the issues common at that age.

Now, for the "clean" vs "spicy" romance debate, this one definitely comes in fairly spicy. Somewhere between a habanero and a Carolina Reaper, you're definitely going to feel the heat here... but you may not be rushing off to find a private area yourself. Unless, perhaps, you *are* that late teens/ early 20s ish target audience (or someone who still acts like it even at more advanced ages), in which case, well, hey, do what you need to do. So "clean" romance crowd... this one may not send you to the emergency room, but you're probably going to be reaching for the smelling salts and maybe checking your pulse to make sure it isn't too high. Might be best for y'all to just skip this one, unless you're feeling particularly adventurous. (But if you *do* read this one despite these warnings, please don't 1* it for being too spicy - I already warned you about that!)

The paranormal aspects here are done in a fairly realistic way that doesn't require much of a leap... but also requires that you not think too deeply about it. Just follow the jump through the portal and don't worry about how it works or where they actually are. This is bubblegum. It isn't supposed to be deep or thoughtful. Just enjoy the spectacle and keep moving. You'll be fine. If you're one that can't help but think too deeply about even bubblegum... again, this may not be the book for you. I think one of the best illustrations I can give that a lot of people may be somewhat familiar with is how Loki just shimmers his armor on in his first scenes with Captain America in The Avengers or just shimmers his way into other realms in those early MCU movies. If that isn't something you can handle in novel form without deep explanation... this probably isn't the book for you.

But for those looking for exactly what this book is - fun spicy bubblegum paranormal romance, again - hey, this one works on a lot of levels and will very likely be something you'll enjoy.

Very much recommended.

[Franky · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.0⭐

(+) :
- I like paranormal rom-com where the paranormal characters are just living amongst the normies and that’s normal. I always appreciate where it’s not a story about “oh no we’ve been found out” or “oh no we can’t be found out”.
- I liked Nix and I wish we got a bit more of what made him tick besides being “ex-bad boy who wants to write love songs”. I understood why he loved love and why he liked Addie and that was all fine.
Addie was also fine. She was grumpy and didn’t love love despite her origins and work but it made sense and added to her development. The end to her character arc re: her origins was also kind of nice, if not a bit (quite a bit) flimsy.
- It’s a cute cover. I like the pop of yellow against the purples and pinks and the skyline is nice.

(-) :
- I really struggled with the world of this book. It was just a grab bag of paranormal character ideas (Greek mythology, shifters, …gargoyles?) and it just became really messy. I was especially disenchanted with the use of the Greek Gods. I’m just kind of…tired of them being a catch all for Gods. I get it. They’re the most well known. But if you’re not going to actually use the mythology in SOME WAY (yes I know I’m outing myself as a nerd here I know I am aware) then just…have them be generic goddesses. Have her just be the God of Love or whatever. Also Athena was NOT just the Goddess of War. UGH.
- The muse contract was confusing af. I barely understood the pearl levels when they were introduced and then they just kept being mentioned and barely elaborated on. It was just too much.
- The slang or operative word usage in this book made me physically cringe multiple times over. Do NOT use “unalive” in a printed book. We are not being censored as of yet. This is not TikTok. “For the Win” has been dead slang for like a decade. And WHO is using ‘World War Z’ as a reference in the year 2026?? Wild. Wild behavior.
- I lost track of who all of the band members were. Except for the BFF/Soon-to-be brother-in-law, I got them all blended together and mixed up and did not care in the end.
- And speaking of the band - their whole “brand” was just…a whole suspension of disbelief I couldn’t get behind. We’re supposed to believe that they wouldn’t be able to write love songs? And they have to keep writing “panty” songs? And then their concerts involve panties being thrown at them as a core moment? YEESH. Sign me up for whatever the anti-newsletter would be to never even know about tickets if this band existed.
- Yo what is this title? The Cupid aspect BARELY plays a role in this. Why is this the title? Why not save this for the sister’s book? (if there is one).

(?) :
- No seriously - what IS this brand for the band and why can’t they just write love songs?? It’s not like their The Lonely Island.


WILL I READ THE NEXT ONE? : No. This is my second time trying April Asher’s work and I really just don’t think her writing is for me.

(HOW LONG) DO I THINK THEY’LL STAY TOGETHER? : Who knows. I don’t care enough.

*Thank you to SMP & Netgalley for providing this ARC!


SIMILAR BOOKS :
- 'Sounds Like Love' by Ashley Poston
- 'Wolf Gone Wild' by Juliette Cross
- 'A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon' by Sarah Hawley
- 'All Superheroes Need PR' by Elizabeth Stephens

[Kerbuhbuhbear · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise of this book is super cute and intriguing!

Adalyn Whitlock, daughter of Aphrodite and demigoddess, doesn't believe in love. Her business is going up in smoke, and she decides to start a fauxmance with her next door neighbor, rock star Phoenix Cross, to help breathe new life into her business.

A fake relationship trope romance novel, this book would be a great beach read and contains moments that made me teary eyed because I'm a sap who loves love!

The author did a great job creating characters I cared about and wanted to know more about. This book is a fun escape for a few hours. There were times I felt taken along for the ride, like watching a movie, and I think this book would make a fun rom com movie to watch.

However, be prepared to suspend your disbelief while reading this book.

The world is one where humans and Greek gods/goddesses and other fantastical creatures (like gargoyles) live together. This is not explained, and, as the reader, you are expected to accept this. I wish the author would have added some information about how/why the world is like this. It did not need to be explained in great detail necessarily, but just a few lines from a character or something in the narrative that gave a short explanation about how this world came to be would have quelled my intrusive thoughts about, "Why is no one batting an eye that there is a gate to Olympus in Central Park?" Like 3 girls conjuring a golden gate seemed like a totally normal thing to onlookers. Additionally, this is a really interesting world to live in, and, as the reader, I did want to know more about how this world works and came to be, and why this is the norm. I feel like, along with decreasing my incessant questions about the world, it would have made this story more vivid, deep, and it would have been easier to suspend my disbelief.

I felt the dialogue was cringey at times and almost immature. A lot of it came off as cheesy and unrealistic. Sometimes cheesy is ok, but there were multiple times reading this book that I cringed and thought, "This dialogue could be better."

There were also a good amount of continuity issues. For example, there was a scene in the book where a mouse ran up Phoenix's jeans, and then it was brushed off with, "It was here a second ago." I suppose you could imply from the writing, that Phoenix kicked the mouse out of his jeans, but a mouse running up your pants is a big deal and they don't leave pants easily. This loop could have been closed in a better, more clear way. This was also not the only continuity issue present in the book. There were multiple times where I was left asking, "What happened to x? How did we get here with no explanation?"

Despite these issues, the book was still a fun, quick read, especially if you're looking for a sweet, escapist romance. Better execution of world building, dialogue, continuity, and going deeper into everything would have made this 5 stars for me.

Spicy level is 3-3.5.

Thank you Netgalley, April Asher, and St. Martin's Griffin for this ARC.

[Ashleigh Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so much fun! It definitely makes me sad that we do not live in a world where Demigods, Griffons, Gargoyles, etc actually exist. I loved visiting the characters and the world in The Cupid Dilemma. I want to be friends with every single one of the characters in this story. If you are looking for a fun read with fake dating and shenanigans mixed in, this is the book for you.

In The Cupid Dilemma, the reader is introduced to Adalyn "Addie" Whitlock a daughter of Aphrodite, who runs a match making and wedding event planning business with her sister. But the business is not going so great. Every wedding she keeps planning has one disaster after another, eventually earning Addie the nickname the "Anti-Aphrodite." Which isn't technically wrong because Addie doesn't really believe in love. But it is a problem when you are in the business of selling Happily Forever Afters. Enter Phoenix "Nix" Cross, the resident bad boy drummer with a reputation that precedes him. Phoenix has recently lost his mojo when it comes to song writing.

So what do Addie and Phoenix do? Come to agreement. They will fake date to fix Addie's reputation as the "anti-Aphrodite" and she will agree to be Phoenix's muse to help him with his song writing. What could go wrong with this fauxmance?

April Asher did a great job in creating a believable and tension filled fake dating scenario. You could fill the chemistry between the two main characters coming off the page. I loved that neither character was afraid to give as good as they got. The banter between Addie and Phoenix was unparalleled. I loved the juxtaposition of Phoenix's experience with Addie's inexperience. I also really enjoyed how Phoenix kept pushing Addie to come out of her shell and allowed her the space to not be so rigid. While Addie, help Phoenix truly realize what he wanted, both personally and professionally. They were a great sounding board and mirror for one another. I also really enjoyed all the small moments where you could see both Addie and Phoenix falling for each other. They were not always big in your face moments, but the more subtle and nuanced moments that make a book and characters feel believable.

The addition of Addie's sister and cousin, plus Phoenix's bandmates and his sister rounded out a great cast of characters. I want to go back and visit some of the character's getting their own happily ever after. And to see Addie and Phoenix's story grow.

My one wish would have been to spend a bit more time with Addie and understanding why she felt that love didn't exist and how potentially being the child of Aphrodite impacted her view of love. I do feel that it would have added a layer to the character and given the reader a bit more insight to who Addie was. I also would have loved to know how Phoenix felt knowing he was dating the daughter of Aphrodite. Did he care? Did he wonder if she would make him fall in love with her?

Overall, I would absolutely recommend The Cupid Dilemma!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for this early release digital ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Anne Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Certain things are expected of you when you're one of Aphrodite's daughters. Not believing in love, happily ever afters, and planning a streak of disasterous weddings (the fire department gets called out more than once) aren't anywhere on that list. But that's Adalyn "Addie" Whitlock's life at the moment. She runs a matchmaking and wedding planning agency with her sister and cousin and is watching it go down in flames (literally). They need a big success to pull things back- and a big name would be even better. When they agree to plan the wedding of a rock star in a month, things might get back on track.

Except fellow band member and brother of the bride is Phoenix "Nix" Cross -aka Addie's new neighbor. He's suffering song writer's block and think's Addie's the Muse to get his songs flowing again. She could use some positive press to help her business. The answer? A fauxmance as they plan his little sister and best friend's wedding. What could go wrong?

I'm always up for a fauxmance (why have we not been using this term forever?). How long will it take them to work out that it's real? Who falls first? Why did they think the fake out was a good plan in the first place? It's always fun. While the why here was pretty typical, how they went about it wasn't: they got to just hang out and be themselves. It led to some very fun dates and watching the chemistry build between Nix and Addie was great.

While Nix was a well-developed character, I did sometimes want more from Addie. Why does she not believe in love? She hasn't had any traumatic relationships- though yes, plenty of decently bad dates. Her parents aren't together but don't fight and Addie seems to get along with them as well as most adult children with their parents might. It was kind of a big miss that it never got explained or developed. But otherwise I enjoyed the flirting, the heat, the getting-to-know-you dates, the quirky humor of the the characters and the book.

The Cupid Dilemma's world-building and humor grabbed me from the first chapter. Mixing "normal" contemporary with Greek myth descendants and it not being something you hide (her dogs are from Cerebus' latest litter and play in the park with them like any other dogs would) was a great twist. I'm hoping for much more in this world to explore. Demigoddesses, shifters, gargoyles, humans all living together- more please!

Definitely recommend for romance lovers, even if you don't normally go for any kind of paranormal vibes. I'd call this "paranormal lite" but still enough to satifsy everyone. Fake dating trope lovers will enjoy!


I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

📖 Title: The Cupid Dilemma

✍🏾 Author: April Asher- I've read A Simple Twist of Fate and gave it 5⭐

📅Publication date: 5/12/26 | Read: 5/12/26

📃 Format: e-Book 347 pgs.

Genre:
*Paranormal Romance
*Fantasy
*Adult Fic

Tropes:
*fake dating
*fated mates
*small town
*magic
*rising rock star/demigoddess pairing
*cozy
*family drama

👆🏾POV: 3rd person dual

⚠️TW: cyber bullying, sexual harassment, ex-boyfriend drama

🌎 Setting: NYC and Olympia

Summary: Addie's event planning business is a disaster, especially after a social influencer bashes her online. Phoenix is feeling the pressure to produce hits for the band's rising success. After a botched fire rescue and loud music complaint, Addie and Nix agree to a fauxmance. She will get positive press and business, and he'll get inspiration with her as his muse. They spend a lot of time together with staged dates while Addie tries to save Nix sister's dream wedding. Can they keep to the FAMA contract, or will they let love rule?


👩🏾 Heroine: Adalyn "Addie" Whitlock-Happily Ever Forever event planning business w/ sister and cousin

👨🏾 Hero: Phoenix "Nix" Cross-songwriter and drummer of The Stone Talons, w/ writer's block and has a false "womanizer" reputation.

🎭 Other Characters:

*Karleigh Kincaid-social influencer, fire hazard at wedding planned by Addie
*Bailey-Addie's cousin/business partner/ their mother is Athena
*Maxine "Maxi" Whitlock-the cupid matchmaker, Addie's sister
*Aphrodite-goddess of love, Addie's mother
*Simon Whitlock-Addie's human father
*Naiomi-Nix's little sister, getting married to Easton (brother's BFF)/in grad school
*Lani and Judd Cross-Nix's parents
*Gavin, Easton, and Xavier- Nix's bandmates
*Roger Kinkaid-a music investor for the record label NAS that signed the band
*Marcus-The Stone Talons' manager
*Do-Re-Mi-Addie's three-headed dog

🤔 My Thoughts: I loved the take on cupid, opposites attract, and fake dating. Addie and Nix were sweet as neighbors and later lovers. I even liked the wedding planning stuff along with some of the best date ideas ever. I hope for more in this world-Gavin and Maxi maybe?

Rating: 4/5 ✨
Spice level 4/5 🌶️

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin, and April Asher for this ARC! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.

[Mary Gramlich · Rating 5 out of 5]

April Asher excels at turning a fauxmance into a burn the pages romance



Adalyn Love Whitlock is the anti-romance daughter of the Goddess of Love Aphrodite so convincing people the Happily Ever Forever event planning business she runs with her sister and cousin is sometimes a hard sell to the customers. She occasionally thinks love is our there but then gets a first date smack in the head that reminds her, nope not happening. Phoenix ‘Nix’ Cross writes, produces, and creates music with his band and loves being with his mates and having the rock and roll life, but lately he is reconsidering that maybe there is something else besides hard rock life that can include some love songs.



All of Nix’s thoughts come together with clarity when he meets Adalyn and realizes his next-door neighbor is more that beautiful and self-assured, she is turning into his music muse. Nix is writing from the heart and the songs he is creating are not making the label happy, but he is sure feeling his stride. When Addie and Nix come up with the idea to have everyone get off their cases about dating and marriage by churning out a faux-romance the last thing either of them expects is to feel a lot less faux and more romance than expected. When Adalyn is hired to be Nix’s sister’s wedding planner and they are in the same location next to each other regularly the more attracted they become to one another. Addie needs this event to up her ratings and turn the business into a positive since her last few events have not only gone South, but they also potentially may have left the country. So, Nix is going to be right by her day and hopefully night as they figure out how to make the wedding a success, and a relationship come together.



With every passing day, and long extended nights of love Addie becomes more panicked about what is really happening as Nix is drawn into the glory of what he knows is love. What Addie fights with every love addiction, her ability to see a love match is coming into focus and that is the last thing she can handle right now. Nix is fighting for them and Addie is figuring them out with a lot of familia help so maybe she can do love, or maybe it is just a phase.

[Tracy Emro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adalyn “Addie” Whitlock is not having a good day, as the wedding planner to a social influencer, she needed this event to go off without a hitch, but luck has not been on her side for months and today is no exception. You would think that being the daughter of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, she would have all things love in the bag, but when the reception goes sideways and the bride takes to social media, Addie’s life becomes a nightmare. With her business, Happily Ever Forever, on the brink of ruin, she needs a miracle! Enter her oh so sexy rock star neighbor, Phoenix “Nix” Cross, the man who may make her rethink her long held beliefs on love.

Phoenix “Nix” Cross is the drummer and songwriter for the popular band The Stone Talons, but lately his creative juices have dried up and with the record label demanding new music, he is feeling the pressure. But when he meets his gorgeous demigoddess neighbor, and feels the music again, he offers to make a deal with her, they will have a “fauxmance” and she will be his muse. At first, she resists, but when she steps in to help his sister plan her wedding and sees the benefits of being linked to Nix, she agrees. But when the fauxmance starts to feel real, will they grab their chance for HEA or will Addie’s fear of love rip them apart?

OMG – what a cute story! I loved Addie and Nix immediately, their chemistry was amazing and I couldn’t put this book down. This book had it all, likable characters, fantastic secondary characters, steamy love scenes, witty banter, a hero with a heart of gold, a possessive and protective nature while still giving bad boy vibes (Yum!), a very cute three-headed puppy, wrapping up with a very sweet and satisfying ending. Overall, I found this to be a delightful, light, fun read, but I did think the world building was a bit weak, and fantasy aspect was too understated, however, even that didn’t diminish my enjoyment of this book! Highly recommended and I am really hoping this is the start of a new series!!!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *

[hannah ⊹ ࣪ ˖ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the fake dating trope when it’s done right, and April Asher handles the trope so, so well! The Cupid Dilemma is full of charm and humor, and I enjoyed every moment of it!

Adalyn Whitlock, daughter of Aphrodite and currently having the worst PR spiral of her life, teams up with Phoenix “Nix” Cross, a soft-hearted rockstar with a serious case of writer’s block. Their plan: a mutually beneficial fake relationship. She needs to save her reputation, he desperately needs inspiration, and because this is a romance book, nothing about this arrangement stays fake for long.

This book is pure, cozy chaos in the best way! The premise alone is already fun. It’s full of demigods, muses, a magical version of New York, but it’s the execution that really makes it stand out. The fake dating dynamic is perfection, and the forced proximity, the affection, the slow shift into something real… it’s exactly the kind of tension you want from this trope, and April Asher knows it.

Addie and Nix are both incredibly easy to root for. Addie’s juggling expectations, family chaos, and a career on the brink, while Nix (despite his rockstar label) is just a romantic at heart who wants something real. Their chemistry is warm and playful especially once those lines between pretending and reality start to blur.

I also LOVED the world-building. The Olympus references, the supernatural elements, and the family dynamics added a layer of warmth that made the story feel a little more magical without ever overshadowing the romance. Also, the humor?! It’s so good!!

If you’re in the mood for something light, flirty, and really fun, or you’re wanting a paranormal romance with banter, chemistry, and a romance that will make you smile and laugh out loud… this is for you!!

tropes:
- fake dating/fauxmance
- forced proximity
- rockstar x “normal” girl vibes
- greek mythology with a modern twist
- short and sweet, possibly a one sitting read

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for this eARC!

[Tessa Talks Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

One-word review: Charming
Emojis: 🩷🔥🐶

Rating: 4.5 🌟

My thoughts:

April Asher really has this paranormal romcom thing down to an art form. Every time I pick up one of her books, I know I’m about to get chemistry, chaos, banter, and at least one couple that has me grinning like an idiot at random pages. The Cupid Dilemma absolutely delivered on all of that.

Addie and Nix were just ridiculously fun together. Their dynamic clicked immediately, and the fake dating setup worked so well because the attraction between them never felt forced or overplayed. It had that “trying very hard not to look at each other while obviously looking at each other” energy that I eat up every single time. Add in the grumpy/sunshine vibes and I was fully sold.

And Nix? A secretly romantic rockstar drummer with writer’s block? Honestly, that’s the kind of fictional man designed in a laboratory to destroy me specifically.

One thing I really appreciated was how natural the humor felt. The dialogue had that quick, effortless rhythm where the characters genuinely sound like they enjoy being around each other. So many romcoms try to manufacture banter and it ends up feeling like two people competing for Twitter likes. This one felt warm and playful instead.

Also, I have to mention the mythology aspect because my childhood obsession with Greek mythology continues to thrive decades after watching Xanadu way too young and deciding Muses were the coolest thing imaginable. The demigod world in this series is just plain fun. It adds this sparkly layer of magic without ever overwhelming the romance at the center of the story.

But let’s be honest. The real scene-stealers here were the Cerberus puppies. I would like twelve immediately. Possibly thirteen. Tiny hellhound puppies are apparently my newest personality trait.
If you love paranormal romcoms with fake dating, lovable chaos, mythology vibes, flirty tension, and a couple that feels easy to root for, this one is absolutely worth picking up.

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The man should come with a warning label, one that read DANGER: WILL MAKE YOU FANTASIZE ABOUT HAPPILY EVER AFTER.”

Neighbors strike a fauxmance / Muse agreement in this dual POV, paranormal romantic comedy from April Asher—but y’all, this man has feelings for our FMC from the start. 👀

Wedding planner and daughter of Aphrodite Adalyn Whitlock could use some good press. Due to some recent mishaps and an ex dubbing her “Anti-Aphrodite,” the business she shares with her sister and cousin has seen better days. Although it’s true that she doesn’t believe lasting love is real, having that broadcast everywhere is bad for business.

Songwriter and indie band drummer Phoenix “Nix” Cross is struggling to pen new material for his band and is chafing against the “Naughty Nix” image his label wants him to portray. A fake dating situation with the demigoddess he has a crush on may just get those creative juices flowing again and help him to explore his softer side.

I’ve been watching Percy Jackson and the Olympians with my kids recently, so I picked up this Olympus-meets-paranormals living in NYC tale at just the right time. The fate of the world isn’t at stake in this one, but true love is on the line.

Read it for
- Their first date
- Three-headed Do-Re-Mi
- Adalyn’s relationship with both sides of her family
- And Nix’s family ties
- The wedding planning for Nix’s sister’s wedding
- The heat between Adalyn and Nix (“no strings” as if)
- The tender kisses, which are even better than the heated ones
- The scavenger hunt
- The caretaking

What I wasn’t so excited about
- The band’s manager and record label
- How the third act breakup comes about (Thankfully things resolve pretty quickly.)

Overall, it’s a fun romp and will appeal to fans of Asher’s Supernatural Singles trilogy.

I received an advance copy of the book from St. Martin’s Press. All review opinions are my own.

[Maria (pagesattwilight) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book follows the story of Adalyn Whitlock, a demigoddess and daughter of Aphrodite. She, together with her sister Max and cousin Bailey, owned a wedding planning service. But after a series of mishap, but more so recently from their recent social media influencer client whose wedding turned into a disaster because of something getting caught on fire and post negative videos regarding their small business to her millions of followers, their on the verge of losing their jobs. Then to add to the damage, her ex-boyfriend did an interview where he said on public media that she was the daughter of the Goddess of Love but she doesn’t believe in love. She then met Phoenix “Nix” Cross, a member of the famous band called Talons who is also her neighbor. Phoenix was having a writer’s block and in need of a muse. So they agreed to a “fauxmance” to help save their respective careers.

This a new author for me. I downloaded this arc when I saw this on NetGalley because the title caught my attention and the blurb sounds interesting. But as a new to this author reader, I wish there were more world introduction and as someone who sometimes forgot the general concept of the book even though I read the blurb. Because when I started reading I genuinely thought that they are just normal people in a normal world so imagine my surprise when she mentioned her three headed dog from the underworld. I have to look back on the blurb and check.

The story was cute. I like the dynamic between Addie, Max and Bailey. Phoenix’ band members also sounds interesting. I wish I could read more about them and see how their friendship is. Addie and Phoenix are cute together but there is not enough chemistry between them. The love attraction feels instant and the conflict towards the end seems shallow for me and some parts of the book I feel bored that I just skip it. But all in all it’s not a bad read.

Thank you NetGalley for the advance reader copy!

[Brittney · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Cupid Dilemma by April Asher

This was such a fun, flirty, low stress paranormal rom com and honestly exactly the kind of book I love picking up when I want to smile the whole time I’m reading.

Addie is a wedding planner demigoddess whose business is currently in full PR crisis mode. Nix is a rockstar with massive writer’s block and zero muse. Enter fake dating for optics, creative inspiration, and very inconvenient real feelings. The setup is ridiculous in the best way and the execution totally works.

The chemistry between Addie and Nix is immediate but not overwhelming. Their banter is playful, their fauxmance moments are peak rom com energy, and the slow shift from pretending to actually caring felt natural and earned. I also loved how much heart was underneath the humor. Both of them are dealing with expectations they didn’t ask for and trying to figure out who they’re allowed to be outside of other people’s narratives.

My favorite part was watching Nix fall first and hard. The muse element was adorable and the way his creativity comes back because of Addie was chef’s kiss. Also fake dating plus neighbors to lovers plus paranormal touches is a combo I will never get tired of.

This is perfect if you want romance that’s charming, funny, and just a little magical without being heavy or angsty.

Tropes and vibes
💘 Fake dating
🎸 Rockstar romance
✨ Paranormal rom com
🏛 Demigoddess FMC
🎶 Muse inspiration
😂 Banter and hijinks

If you liked The Ex Hex, Not the Witch You Wed, or rom coms with fake dating and light paranormal elements, you’ll absolutely want to read this one.

#TheCupidDilemma #AprilAsher #ParanormalRomance #FakeDatingRomance #STMartinsPress

[Jori Broad · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was looking for something fun to read over Valentine’s weekend, and The Cupid Dilemma by April Asher absolutely delivered.

This spicy rom com puts a clever twist on magical romance. Instead of magic being hidden or shocking, descendants of Greek gods are completely normal in this world. No one blinks at a three headed dog. Being related to Aphrodite is just part of life. That flipped perspective made the story feel fresh and playful right from the start.

Addie, daughter of Aphrodite, is fighting to save her struggling wedding planning and matchmaking business after a very public disaster leaves her branded The Anti Aphrodite. Love is literally her family legacy, yet everything she touches seems to implode.

Enter Nix, drummer for The Stone Talons, who is battling a serious case of writer’s block. When his sister needs help pulling off the wedding of her dreams, Addie and her team are the last hope. The only problem? Addie and Nix have history, tension, and absolutely no intention of making this easy on each other.

What follows is a fake dating situation packed with banter, chemistry, wedding chaos, and just enough emotional depth to balance the humor. As they try to pull off the perfect wedding, they might accidentally fix their own hearts in the process.

The Cupid Dilemma is equal parts spicy, magical, and heartfelt. Perfect for fans of rom coms with mythological twists, found family vibes, and enemies turned lovers energy.

Spice level
3.5 out of 5
Open door and playful, but still rom com at its core

Tropes
Fake dating
Enemies to lovers
Mythology inspired world
Wedding chaos
Forced proximity
Rock star hero
Found family

Add this one to your spring TBR if you want something light, funny, and a little bit magical.

[Stephanie Rhamstine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay listen… you already know I will pick up fake dating every single time. Add in Greek god descendants living their best chaotic lives in New York? I’m sold before chapter one.

Addie being Aphrodite’s daughter but having her love-centered business publicly implode? The irony. The pressure. The drama. I loved that she’s supposed to embody romance yet is fighting to keep her own reputation afloat while the internet is basically sharpening pitchforks. The “Anti-Aphrodite” nickname? Painful. Petty. Incredible.

And then there’s Nix. Rockstar with writer’s block, forced into a bad-boy image he doesn’t actually fit, secretly soft and yearning for real love like his parents had? Sir. Immediately yes. The fact that inspiration hits the second his chaotic, furious, wedding-planner neighbor storms into his life? That chemistry was instant.

The world felt so effortless. No dramatic reveal. No “wait, you’re WHAT?” energy. Three-headed dogs? Casual. Being related to Aphrodite? Normal Tuesday. That flipped perspective made everything feel playful and light instead of heavy paranormal lore dumping.

The fauxmance setup was deliciously messy. Public image problems. Record label pressure. Paparazzi. Social media spirals. And then those “for the cameras” feelings start lingering a little too long. I love when fake dating slowly becomes not fake and everyone’s pretending they don’t notice.

This was flirty, funny, and low stress in the best way. No emotional devastation. No dark spirals. Just charm, banter, a little spice, and that warm fuzzy rom-com glow. It’s the kind of book you pick up when you want to smile the whole time and maybe kick your feet a little.

This one is such a fun time. ✨

[Ella TTV · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Group for the ARC copy...
(Rounded Up for Reasons) Actual Rating 3.9

Did I go into this fully expecting one thing and getting exactly that one thing? Yes
Can I be upset that I went into this expecting one thing and getting that one thing? Nope

It's exactly what I needed in a good way - A love story spun with some special little extra bits added in. I enjoyed getting absorbed into the faux fauxmance told here, and I am not ashamed to admit it. More than once I caught myself smiling extra hard or squealing loud enough to earn a glare from my cat, and that's what these kinds of stories are about to me. The personalities of not just our main couple shone through, but those who played larger parts in their stories. And while I do enjoy a "B couple" I can appreciate that we weren't spending too much time on other romances that were happening and ensuring we focused on who the book was meant to be about. Funny, heartfelt, and face-achingly cute, it was something I found myself reading for pockets of cute joy throughout my day.

There weren't ALL upsides to this though. I do wish some of the demigod elements were actually explained and worked into the story better, it felt rather like a dump cake in that regard. Yes all the ingredients were there and it worked out to a delicious result, but not everything was fully incorporated and it made things somewhat confusing for some of the tidbits that seemed interesting but couldn't go anywhere extra for the sake of the story being told. (Admittedly, if EVERY single thing that slightly confused me or didn't incorporate "well" was expounded on, however, I would have put it down and never picked the book back up).

[Corinne’s Chapter Chatter · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a complimentary ARC from St. Martin's Press, and unfortunately this ended up being a really rough read for me.

I understand this is an ARC and not the finalized version, but the issues I struggled with felt deeper than something a few copy edits before publication would resolve, so I do feel comfortable letting them impact my review.

The biggest issue was the overall confusion surrounding the worldbuilding. There are multiple creatures, beings, and fantasy elements pulled from very different mythologies and genres that typically do not coexist. That can absolutely work, but it requires strong explanation and context to ground the reader, and I never felt like the book fully provided that foundation. As a fantasy reader, you naturally bring certain expectations and understanding to familiar beings, but this story seemed to want readers to simultaneously rely on that knowledge while also ignoring it entirely. You really can’t have it both ways.

Because of that, it also became difficult to keep track of the large cast of characters. Combined with the uneven flow and constant jumping around, I found myself lost more than once while reading.

The modern slang also felt excessive at times. I don’t mind contemporary language when it fits the tone of the story, but here it often came across as forced and inserted purely for effect rather than naturally fitting the world or characters.

And speaking of excess, the romance tropes started piling up to the point where it genuinely felt like I was playing “romance trope bingo.” I could have filled an entire card without much effort.

In the end, this felt like a book with potential that desperately needed a much heavier edit and stronger direction. Sadly, it just never fully came together for me. That said, not every book works for every reader, and this one may absolutely find its audience even if I wasn’t it.

[Alexandria Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

A ROCKSTAR who secretly believes in soulmates falling first for the daughter of APHRODITE who doesn’t believe in love...

I had SO much fun with this book.
Addie and Nix together😮‍💨
ABSOLUTE CHAOS.

Addie is literally Aphrodite’s daughter.... a wedding planner surrounded by happily ever afters except she DOESN’T believe in love anymore. Meanwhile Nix🎸....Mr. tattooed rockstar with the bad boy reputation is secretly the biggest romantic EVER.

What starts as a PR arrangement and “you be my muse, I’ll help your reputation” situation turns into:

✨ accidental yearning

✨ way too much flirting

✨ stolen moments that suddenly feel real

✨ and a rockstar looking at one woman like she hung the moon

And LISTENNNNN BABES.
Nix being obsessed with Addie while she’s trying SO hard not to fall for him...You know I ate it UP 🫠
This man was romantic in the most devastating ways. Not flashy. 
Not performative. Just genuinely thoughtful and soft underneath all the rockstar chaos.


The flirting is playful and spicy and full of banter that had me smiling nonstop. Also the paranormal elements were SO FUN.
Greek gods casually existing in modern New York....
Gargoyles....Shifters....
Olympus references.....
A BABY CERBERUS

And I loved that even with all the humor and fake dating chaos, the story still had heart underneath it because Addie’s fear of love felt REAL.
And watching Nix slowly break through all her walls without forcing her to become someone else...Yeah that got me 🥺

This book feels like:

🎸 rooftop concerts in the city

💘 fake dating that stops feeling fake WAY too fast

✨ neon signs and late night flirting

📸 paparazzi photos with real feelings behind them

☕ coffee dates with sexual tension

🖤 tattooed musicians writing songs about one girl