Hallpass: A Fake-Dating, Celebrity Crush Romance.

by L.V. Brooks

Juniper Haddock didn’t expect freedom to feel so... lonely. Freshly divorced and a little too tipsy, the last thing she needed was to run straight into Ansel Barlowe — the man who’d once been her childhood crush, her “hallpass,” the fantasy taped to her teenage bedroom wall.

Only Ansel isn’t the star she remembers. He’s older now, worn down, a little lost himself. Filming in her quiet town to try and salvage his career, he’s not a heart throb anymore — just a man trying to piece himself back together.

What begins as a rocky friendship quickly spirals out of control. A party mishaps turns into a fake relationship — his way to keep the gossip at bay, her way to distract herself from heartbreak — slowly becomes something neither of them expected. In cramped beds and quiet kitchens, between whispered confessions and the comfort of simply being seen, Juniper and Ansel find something steadier than fame or fantasy.

But small towns gossip, Hollywood is merciless, and neither of them can outrun the fear that this fragile, impossible thing will shatter. To move forward, Juniper must risk her heart again, and Ansel must prove he’s more than the myth she once worshiped.

Genres: Romance, Fake Dating, Friends To Lovers

366 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 25, 2025

Reviews

[Brittany Boehnke · Rating 2 out of 5]

ARC Review.
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THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS
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Received an ebook ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author for this ARC.
I genuinely hate to write less than positive reviews, but this book just didn't do it for me.

I liked the concept. JUST divorced FMC meet-uglies her "Celebrity Hallpass" while she's drunk in an empty bar. They have some light (grumbly) banter. She wakes up the next morning on her brand new ex husband's couch with MMCs phone number on a napkin in her pocket. MONTHS later after no contact what so ever, they meet back up when MMC is back in town to film a book to movie adaptation. Did I mention FMC works at a bookstore? Dream job, if only it would pay the bills. You get it.  After another encounter at a con, a fake PR relationship ensues. It doesn't stay fake for long. Insert insta-love/lust and a lot of "I'm not like your ex" until FMC over comes her trauma and decides to date MMC for real. Insert HEA. It's also alternating/duel POV, which I do enjoy.

STOP HERE IF YOU DON'T WANT DETAILED SPOILERS.


Now into the nitty gritty.
I had a few main issues with the book. These are purely personal opinions and are in no way meant to disparage the author or her work. I hope this review helps readers with a similar taste in books decide whether they'd like to read it or not.

-The MMCs name is Ansel Barlowe. I had to read his full name so many times, I found myself rolling my eyes. I get it. He's a celebrity. But at a certain point, can we not say Ansel fucking Barlowe (direct quote) and just use Ansel?

-The nickname/pet name most commonly used by the MMC for the FMC(Juniper Haddock)....it's "kid". And I hate it. It gave me such an ick every single time. He's 39 (40?) and she's 33. There are no kids here. ESPECIALLY in scenes involving spice. It felt gross to me. "Come on, kid. Let me calm you down." prior to fingering her when she was a nervous wreck on a plane. "You're gonna take all of it, kid. Every, fucking drop." when they finally fuck for the first time IN THE GUEST ROOM OF HIS MOTHER'S HOUSE. (She overhears them, btw. And brings it up at breakfast.) And if it didn't feel icky, it felt infantalizing. FMC calls MMC "cowboy"...which doesn't quite make sense to me given he's an actor who's most (in)famous role is akin to a STARWARS Annakin Skywalker (Eryk Moonstrider in Battle of the Cosmos)...? But it isn't bothersome. Ansel's character does feel loosely based on Hayden Christensen as well. Given that a key talking point is his poor public image due to his roll as Moonstrider.

-The word "wrecked" was really overused. He was wrecked. She was wrecked. He wrecked her. She wrecked him. Wrecked. Wrecked. Wrecked. I'm sorry, I just got tired of reading that word. Sometimes several times per chapter. I understand there are only so many words that can describe the feeling the author was trying to convey, but it was a lot.

-Finally, and second only to the nickname that I hate, is that its insta-lust/love. Don't get me wrong. I love a good love at first sight moment. But the writing implies a lot of history with these two characters that just isnt portrayed on page. Ansel is head over heels within a couple of encounters. Juniper feels the same as way but refuses to admit it to herself or him due to trauma related to her shitty ex husband. That, I find relatable. But at a certain point, I found myself questioning where all these strong feelings for each other were coming from. We didn't get a whole lot of interaction or dialog between these characters, but they're somehow desperately in love with each other....at least according to the mass amount of internal monolog we got from each POV. I really wish we had gotten to read more interaction. It would've, in my opinion, made it more believable that these two characters were falling in love. Out of the handful of times they were on page together, they spent the majority cuddling or heavy petting. Until the one, very boob focused, sex scene at moms.

Overall, this book may be for some people. Clearly it is. There are 4 and 5 star ratings. It just wasn't for ME.

[Cassie Raymer · Rating 5 out of 5]

So pleased to say this was my very first ARC read, and I devoured it!
It was witty, funny, cute and cozy! The emotions written on the page were raw, beautiful, and hard to believe they weren't real! I cried, but my friends say I cry easy at books, so don't take that as anything..
Loved that these characters were older! 33 year old FMC was amazing - relatable even though our situations are not the same!
Off to find the rest of the authors books now, and cannot wait to buy this one to sit on my trophy bookshelf! 🤣❤️❤️

[Xan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive an eARC copy of this book. I knew it was a romance story and I read the synopsis a while back, but I didn't go into it with a whole lot of expectations. If you've already seen my rating, you will know I enjoyed this one very much, but I'll tell you more in the rest of my review.

I screamed very early on in this story, because the main characters are in their thirties. I know those stories are out there, but I haven't had the privilege to read one yet, so I was super hyped over this tidbit. We definitely need some more variation in romance and this definitely instantly tickled my curiosity when it came to this story.

The story is told from a dual POV from both Juniper and Ansel. Ansel is basically Juniper's hall pass aka the guy who she is allowed to cheat with on her husband. Sadly for her this story starts with her divorce, with a 'meet-ugly'. Ansel leaves his number on a napkin for her to find, but they really reconnect when Juniper meets up with him at a con. With a kiss under their belt, they start a fake relationship, but how long can they clutch the 'fake' label?

I got to say: normally I am not the gal for a fast love, but this one did charm me a lot. Ansel falls pretty hard, pretty fast. However! The yearning in this book makes up for that. A lot happens, yes, but there's so much yearning and heartbreak. I constantly wondered where their paths were going. I wasn't the biggest fan of the 'kid' nickname, but all the others had my heart.

Who didn't have my heart was the asshole of all assholes: Joel. Getting a divorce from that piece of work is probably the best thing that could've happened in Juniper's life, even though she probably didn't perceive it like that at first.

Whatever it was with this romance story, it just really clicked with me. And honestly that's such a good feeling for romance, so props to the author for writing a story that compelled me to keep reading and keep me entertained. I definitely enjoyed en recommend this one. Put it on your wishlist on november 25th I would say!

[Christina Cool As Hell Feiler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you so much for the ARC!! I really loved the spicy scenes in this book, perfectly written for my tastes! I liked the premise of the plot, but the relationship was a bit too hot and cold for me... Sometimes it felt like instalove (on his part) and other times it was frustrating because the FMC's signals were SO MIXED and unfair, so I ended up resenting her.
The writing was well-done, and I'd love to give Brooks' fantasy books a try!

[Cecilie Bertelsen · Rating 2 out of 5]

ARC review - 1,5 stars

Thank you so much for the opportunity to be an ARC reader on Hallpass.
Unfortunately this book wasn’t for me. It felt clumsy, messy, all over the place and so many thing didn’t make sense.

FMC - Juniper. 33, “newly” divorced(the first time they meet), works at a book store. She was … something else. One moment very confident, the next a trembling mess. She was very back and forth with Ansel, so hot and cold with her intentions and emotions. I know a mentally abusing relationship is hard, but she was something else.

MMC - Ansel Barlowe (yes, very important that I mention his FULL name). At close to 40, he reminded me more of a teenager at times. He’s an actor who Jules had a crush on when she was a teenager and he was staring in a movie I think is meant to resemble Star Wars/Startrek - don’t come at me. He’s sweet, trying to be understanding of Juniper and her feelings after being in a mentally abusive marriage. But .. I really don’t get their connection. VERY instalove, which I have no problem reading, if done right. Also, he nicknamed her “kid”? WHY?!

There’s so much going on off page that we don’t get to be a part of. Then sometime later in the book it’s thrown in casually like we already knew that fact. Nope, I did NOT know that but it would’ve helped me understand some things along the way maybe? And the timeline is off. When Ansel Barlowe (yes, full name) invites Juniper to meet his mom(I don’t even want to talk about the awkward stay at his moms house), he bribes the bookstore she works at for her to get two weeks off. Suddenly he gets a call while they’re there, and they have to go home. Then she casually mentions in the car that she still have 3(4?) days off. Where did the weeks go?! No clue.
Again, there’s so much history and background we don’t get that would’ve helped the reader understand the MC’s better.

Also, the spicy scenes? Nah. It was weird and it felt too long and rushed at the same time. When they finally do it, we get to read how he spends a really(like really) long time playing with her breasts, while the deed is just a brief mention.

This wasn’t for me. But it seems like the other reviews are really good, so maybe give it a try? I almost DNF’ed a couple of times, but as an ARC reader I want to give it a fair chance and read the whole book. Had I not been an ARC reader, I would’ve DNF’ed.

[Kirsten Crowder · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was not at all what I expected, and I love that it wasn’t. The trauma Juniper had to overcome hit way closer to home than I anticipated, and my heart broke right along with hers. And Ansel… well, let’s just say it’s been a very long time since I’ve fallen for a contemporary romance mmc like this. His adoration, patience, and devotion were enough to make me weep. This book was also incredibly funny, which helped break up the heavy emotional moments. It had a great balance of deep and lighthearted points. The only thing I wish I got more of was on page backstory, but that’s just me being nosy. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

[Sarahhslittlelibrary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was fortunate to receive this book as an ARC and when I say this book had me feeling all the feels, I mean ALL the feels! Juniper is every girl who has ever been treated like shit by a man and Ansel is the man we all hope to find someday. My heart soared, broke, and raced for these two. I spent two nights in a row reading until 3am because I couldn’t put the book down!

[Alyx McLachlan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been in the BIGGEST reading slump of my life the last few months, but when this ARC hit my email this morning I just knew I’d devour it if I gave it a chance. I’m glad I did.

It was a great read, very funny and at times very vulnerable. I loved reading about Juniper & Ansel, I too have had a crush on the same celebrity since my teen years. Let me tell you something about Ansel - this is a man who WILL talk you through it, almost had me sweating xo

It’s great to read about MCs who aren’t younger than me, a rarity these days (and I’m ONLY 26!)

Thank you to the author for sending me over a copy of this wonderful book, I can’t wait to read whatever is next, can’t begin to express my gratitude for this book getting me OUT of that awful slump🫶🏼🫶🏼

[Bailie Meyer]

ARC- the book was like any other smutty romance. There were some good part that saved the book, but also took a lot of reading through boring to get to the good. It felt very repetitive. I think they did the will they, won’t they trope 4 times before juniper finally got over herself.

[Mallory Dapice · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect meet-cute, or "meet-ugly" as Ansel would say. Full of second chances, finding yourself again, and reluctantly falling in love.

I appreciate story lines where characters in their 30s are still growing and learning how to love themselves and healing from their past.

Ansel and June are both hilarious, witty, and self deprecating in the best ways. The yearning and wanting and waiting! The spice was just enough to have me wanting more. When they FINALLY seal the deal I was cheering!

I laughed (constantly through the first 15 chapters), I smiled, but thankfully I didn't finish in my swim shorts.

Thank you so much to L.V Brooks for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. I ate it up in less than 24 hours, and now I need a nap.

Edit: ok I came back here a month later to change my rating from 4 to 5 stars. I found myself constantly thinking about this book after I finished it, and that totally makes for a 5 star read.

[Nina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fake dating while also real dating is definitely a new one for me! But it worked, so I’m not mad about it.

I absolutely loved most of this book. It was cute and flirty and fun. And for the first half of the book, I thought Ansel was a great book boyfriend. He was kind and compassionate and sweet. Right up until he wasn’t.

Juniper is traumatized by her recently-ended marriage and she has a lot of walls. She’s very up front with Ansel that she’s not mentally or emotionally prepared for a relationship. Ansel has been clear from the beginning that he wants to be with her, but says he can be patient. Great. Love it. Except that Juniper says, “We can only just be friends,” and then the very next scene is her getting him off in a pool at a party. Juniper says, “No kissing” and then kisses him just hours (if that!) later. So yeah, it totally makes sense that Ansel is confused on where they stand in their relationship. And when they’re on their “fake date” for the Hollywood party but then get intimate after, it’s fair that Ansel is hurt and confused when Juniper says that it’s all fake the next morning. Juniper was quite selfish with how she treated Ansel, but Ansel went into everything knowing that she was working through trauma. So for him to then compare her to her ex husband? That was too far.

All of this, though frustrating, is completely believable. The part that really irked me about this was that we never saw how Juniper felt about being compared to Joel, and Ansel never apologized for the low blow. Or for walking out - twice. He says he can be patient and that he understands, but he’s out the second her trauma doesn’t look like he thinks it should.

Even when they make up, they barely have a conversation about why they weren’t talking in the first place. It’s just, “You beat up my ex, thanks, guess you really do love me.” (And where are the legal ramifications of that, anyway?)

But they do make up, and then it’s all sweetness and compassion again. So I don’t know. I guess I’ll just pretend that those conversations happened off-page.

As other reviewers have mentioned, Ansel’s nickname for Juniper is “Kid,” which is gross anyway, but especially when he uses it during intimate moments. I wish he’d stuck with “Little Fish” when he used it during their meet-cute.

Overall, I did enjoy the book. It was a bit long, but it was worth it.

[Emily Knaus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this contemporary romance that feels both achingly nostalgic, as well as new and fresh. It follows Juniper Haddock, freshly divorced and stumbling through loneliness, who runs headfirst into Ansel Barlowe, the childhood crush she once had and considered her “hallpass.” Only now, he’s not the glossy star she remembers, but a man weathered by time, regret, and the weight of rebuilding. Their first encounter was refreshing, not glittered in romance but totally unfiltered.

What begins as a rocky reconnection months later, spirals into a fake relationship. It gets staged for gossip control and heartbreak distraction, but slowly morphs into something neither expected. Brooks excels at weaving grief, second chances, and the bittersweet reality of growing older into a romance that still sparks with humor and tenderness.

Something that I really enjoyed was the amount of emotional honesty: Juniper’s loneliness, and reluctance after her divorce is palpable, along with Ansel’s faded stardom and questioned purpose. They both grow so incredibly much through the support they offered from the other. Ansel is so patient waiting for her to catch up with him and his feelings. The nostalgia factor was so much fun, we all can think of our “hallpass” which makes this trope so freaking relatable. I mean who didn’t have a teenage crush pinned to their wall? And don’t get me started on their chemistry, their banter is sharp, their vulnerability messy, and the slow-burn payoff feels earned. There is no rushing it with these two; I stayed up WAY too late to finish and it was so worth it.

Brooks doesn’t shy away from showing how love can be both a salve and a mirror to our deepest insecurities. The fake-dating setup is fun, but the real gut-punch is watching two people who once seemed untouchable realize they’re just human and maybe that’s enough.

Hallpass is more than a romance; it’s a story about reclaiming pieces of yourself you thought were lost. It’s perfect for readers who crave forbidden nostalgia, messy vulnerability, and the kind of love story that makes you laugh through tears.

A huge thank you to L.V. Brooks for the early copy!

[Elissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you L.V Brooks for the opportunity of reading this ARC.

Hallpass is heartwarming, and deeply engaging second chance romance that shines due to the main couple personalities and impossible situations and events.
The chemistry between Ansel and Juniper is absolutely undeniable since the moment they first met. It's the biggest strength of this book.
I adored their dynamic, filled with inside jokes, playful banter, and that particular way they picked at each other, It just felt fresh, fun and light to read.
I also truly appreciated Juniper's personal healing journey. The fact that the FMC was flawed and grumpy was incredibly resonant. It felt reminiscent of how I pictured myself not so long ago. This book felt like watching my reflection in a mirror (sadly, without the Hollywood bad boy in love with me!). Watching her heal, move past feelings of not "being enough," and finally find the courage to open up and talk about her fears and be willing to overcome them like an adult was the most satisfying part of the story. THIS is exactly what I love to read to feel represented in a way, flaws and all; and being able to create the pictures in my mind that keeps me reading non stop.

Ansel, too, was charming, especially in his hilarious awkwardness about being in love. The moments where he was mortified about being smitten felt real and added a lovely layer of vulnerability to his character. I did find it to be too much sometimes, but was not reason to enjoy this book any less.

While I loved their dynamic, two specific issues kept it from earning a perfect score for me.
My main issue (if this even counts as an issue, honestly ) was a specific nickname choice in the spicy scenes. A few instances where Ansel referred to Juniper as "Kid" were slightly upsetting.
Now, completely unrelated with the issue but also related to these scenes; a thought:
I need to mention at one point, Juniper's voice was often limited to just muttering "Ansel" during these intimate moments 🫢.
While Ansel was delivering full speeches, she was often just saying his name. (Though, on second thought, maybe that would be me, entirely lost for words given the situation!) I honestly smiled throughout the scenes thinking about the lack of words.
The second "issue" is about maturity, I did feel the characters occasionally acted a little immaturely, which sometimes made it hard to believe they were 33 and 39. But hey, I'm 33 and have behaved worst than a teenager, truth be told.

If you're looking for a second chance romance with spice, undeniable chemistry, and a beautiful journey of self healing with main Characters that feels real and flawed, Hallpass is a must read. It’s a feel good story that reminds you of the excitement and uncertainty of falling in love all over again.

[Strzykar · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ☆'s
First there were a lot of things I liked. Their connection was obvious and he was a man OBSESSED from the very beginning. Ansel is more of a German Shepard than a Golden Retriever MMC, but the same principles apply, just with more viciousness (the way he defends/protects her is very attractive). His Mom and her Dad were absolutely wonderful, pure parental perfection.
Juniper was a little tougher for me to completely be thrilled with. She was hilarious in the beginning (I was literally cracking up on page 4), and sarcastic, funny and flirty even at the convention, but her hot and cold routine as the book progressed was very frustrating. And in the beginning she talks about how she was "too much" for her ex, but she never actually seemed like that, she was more timid and fragile than that, so her characterization was a bit confusing.
It started so funny, and it got so heavy. Some of the chapters/conversations felt like they were repeating and talking in circles because I was thinking "wait, she (or he) already said that..." but it was a slight variation on what had already been discussed. So I wish there had been less of that. Also I don't think that less than 10 years is considered an age gap (which I was hoping for, after reading the tropes), but that's my opinion.
I would recommend if you like emotional back and forth, but not if your looking for a light hearted rom-com.

[Sunny ☀️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of ARC reading Hall Pass by L.V. Brooks! Here are my honest thoughts and opinions!

If you want a book that is sweet but real, this book is for you. It’s messy, theres trauma but it is so utterly human. For me the events are a little all over the place, I personally was wanting a little more clarification on a couple of things and more backstory. I wish Juniper would’ve had more conversations with her friends and Ansel would’ve had a one on one conversation with his mom, but the chemistry between Juniper and Ansel is sweet. It’s so on point with the cute awkwardness between a new couple! I think this book is pretty well written! I think the way things progress make sense and that you see growth as well as regression in some parts. I think that it shows that not every relationship is going to be sunshine and rainbows, that you find the best people in the most unexpected places, and that problems can be overcome with a little communication.

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Sweetness: 🍬🍬🍬
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Ease of Reading: 📚📚📚📚

[Sian White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was stoked to get an ARC of this as it looked like such a cosy read! Thank you! I blitzed through it!

Juniper is fresh from a divorce to a man who made her feel like she was "too much and not enough, all at once." Ansel is feeling like a washed up, waning Hollywood star. A random "meet-ugly" ensues, and a drunken Juniper announces that he was her hallpass, leading to a rocky friendship and then more...
They’re both learning to let go of old versions of themselves, a bit messy and lost, but that made them feel real and easy to root for!
I love that this book shows that healing comes in different forms, including in the mundane, just showing up for someone. Juniper'a flip-flopping bugged me a little at first, but then I understood that was her healing journey, and anyway, who doesn't love a tortured MMC?
It's definitely worth picking up when it comes out later in the month.

[Abby Aguilera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you SO much to the author for sending me an ARC copy of Hallpass! I am a sucker for contemporary romance and this did not disappoint. I read it in 3 sittings in one day (during my breaks while working my library job and then home) and it truly had me kicking my feet and giggling.

As a former (and current) fangirl, Juniper made me feel so seen and the sort of slow burn sort of not vibes were delicious.

[Rian Eidson ~ Literary Luna Moth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really excited to receive this ARC because the premise sounded good, unfortunately, it just wasn’t for me. I just couldn’t connect with the characters. I also couldn’t get over the MMC calling the FMC “kid” even after he acknowledged himself that it was cringy. I really appreciate the opportunity to ARC read this book and appreciate the work the author did in putting this book together.

[Stephanie Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven’t devoured a book this quickly in a long time!

Can we make a little commotion for bringing back yearning?!

Ansel and Juniper are perfect with each other. The witty banter, the humor, and seeing two imperfect people experience love in a way that heals them - this book was incredible.

The first couple chapters hit home on a deeply personal level. To feel like you’re not good enough too love or not deserving of love is all too real.

One of my favorite lines in the book is, “two broken pieces finding something whole in the middle of the chaos.” It feels like a missing puzzle piece slid into place with me when I read that.

If you’ve ever felt scared of letting yourself love and beloved again, this book is for you.

Oh! I almost forgot! I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I can’t wait to read more from L.V. Brooks!

[Cheri Mac · Rating 4 out of 5]

I give this book 3.5 stars! It really is a sweet book. The FMC and MMC have such a sweet, timid, gentle love. The book is a slow burn for sure. I would give this 🌶️🌶️ on the spice level.

I will say the author overused a few words. I found myself wondering how many times the word “like” and “ruined” was in the book.

Overall I did love the quirkiness of the FMC and the patience the MMC had for the FMC in playing catch up
to his feelings. I would definitely recommend this book.

[Alora · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
This was such a cute story about finding yourself and falling in love despite desperately not wanting to 😅

I liked Juniper and Ansel's tentative friendship that turned into a healing relationship they both needed. The teasing between them was adorable. I got a little tired of Junipers inconsistent nature but given her backstory with a toxic ex it made sense when I reminded myself of that. She was healing and that looks different to everyone.

A very quick and lighthearted rom-com with lots and LOTS of spice 🌶️

Thank you to L.V. Brooks for the advanced copy!

[Aleksandra_m · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF.
When I got to the MMC calling the FMC “kid” during sex, I got the creeps and couldn’t finish the story.

[Fanny · Rating 1 out of 5]

ARC review
..
..

I received an eARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review so that's what I'm going to do.
I really wanted to like this the 'Notting Hill'-esk storyline was promising, and the fact that finally our main characters are not in their 20s was also appealing (I believe the MMC was 39 and the FMC was 33), but ... I gave up and dnf-ed the book. And I'm not saying some people won't love this but it unfortunately was just not for me.

my main problems:
(some small spoilers?)
.
.
- there are hundreds of nicknames/ pet names you can use for your loved one.. but Ansel chose 'kid' which was just an ick for me all around. cue Taylor Swift - Illicit affairs (angry version) and don't call me kid!

- I had to read Ansel fucking Barlowe so many times.. I get it he's a celebrity and full names are 'brands' but it was overused (also I could only picture Jack fucking Barlowe so it irked me)

- the characters did not act according to their age and/or logically. Juniper said if Ansel is even a slightest bit of flirty with her she leaves what does she do on the next page? get in his lap in a bathing suit... make it make sense?

[LilMckBlack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay so this review is going to be chaotic and just my rambling thoughts! So enjoy 😂 *kind of spoilers??* more just my thoughts on the scene no outright describing*
3% in - I was giggling and loving the banter between them at the bar!
-“You’re dangerous… Were you even old enough to be ogling me in that scene?”
“I was thirteen. I was at peak ogling age.”
“And I was, what, nineteen?”
“And you rocked some red leather pants, my friend”
She’s drunk as a skunk in this scene with no filter talking to her celebrity crush.

10% in - the light yearning.. from him is 10/10!! He’s trying to be cool, which you think he would be seeing as he’s famous but no she clocks it and gives him crap in the best way.
Ahhhh I really do love their bantering. I really wish I was friends with Juniper!
-“I’d made it out of the bookstore thinking I was being suave — smooth, even. A little flirty, a little mysterious. Just breezy enough not to seem desperate. Like I hadn’t thought about her at all since the convention.
Which, of course, was a lie. A boldfaced, idiot-tier lie.”

-“I’d been half a second from ducking into the alley when I saw the name “Figments” on the window, recognizing the storefront from her social media — and had to circle the damn block three times before I convinced myself it was actually her.”

12% in - he’s so nervous for his Lunch date with her (capital L, lunch date according to Ansel😂)

19% - I’m starting to not really like Juniper. I know she had a lot healing to do from her divorce but he made a little joke and she’s blown it up and acts like he is just as bad as her ex or worse from it. Idk. He’s trying so hard and she’s shutting everything down 🤷🏻‍♀️

30% - Literally went from “I want nothing to do with you. Not even friends. “ to “Fine I’ll go to this great Hollywood pool party with you but I’m only going because I pity you and your washed up career” to dry humping him in a pool in front of everyone… talked about mixed signals. Hmmm.
Que fake dating when the photos get release.

37% - THE YEARNNNINGGG FROM THIS MAN
-“God help me.
I was in love with her.
And she’d never even know.”

50% - okay so I get the sensitivity, her ex really was a crappy, verbally abusive husband. I wish she wouldn’t take it out on Ansel so much because he’s done nothing to deserve it but I’ve never been in that scenario so I can’t judge to harshly how someone heals, y’know
I do really love them together

55% - JUNIPER IS IN TIMEOUT! She needs to quit hurting Ansel before I take him away for good. That poor baby just wants to love her 😫

57% - Yup! No more Ansel for Juniper. He deserves better. He is the ultimate green flag. I know, I KNOW she’s trying to heal from her ex husband but she shouldn’t have started something with him if she wasn’t healed enough. It was a “fake relationship” for literally 30 mins and then she broke all HER RULES and acted like they had something real and then just says they’re pretending and it’s not real and he’s pouring his heart out to her, BEGGING for just a scrap of love and she DOESNT SAY ANYTHING! AHHHHH

73% - she should’ve groveled more. 🙄 I feel like she should’ve fought more to show she actually wants him & he’s so gone for her, he just welcomed her back with open arms

90% - they finally 🔥and I’m a little disappointed -_- Ansel is a hot dirty talker and the few scenes of them messing around before now were hot, but she literally tried to jump his bones and wanted to be bent over the kitchen table a few days ago and he straight up refused because he wanted it to be perfect and they could stay in bed for hours.
Then they go to visit his mom and in the room right next to hers in a small squeaky bed, they decide nows the time? They had to be quiet and he couldn’t lose control which is what I’ve been waiting for 😫 all that build up and it fell flat for me

Conclusion - I do like them together. Juniper wasn’t my favorite fmc but I might’ve been dramatic about what she put him through. She just kept almost disposing him and his feelings when she should’ve fought harder for him.

We didn’t get another 🔥 scene. Shame. Like i said there was a really big build up to their first time and it lacked for me.

4/5 stars! Taken one off for Junipers character. I’d read it again though! Ansel has definitely been moved towards the top of my book boyfriend list 100%. Ansel gets 5/5 stars!

[Elsa P · Rating 2 out of 5]

First of all, thank you to L. V. Brooks for the ARC, it was my very first and that was exciting! Also, English isn't my first language, so please excuse my grammatical errors.

This is a story of a girl, Juniper Haddock, that was hurt in a past relationship, and while drunk to forget her feelings, meet her "hallpass" (the only person she was allowed to cheat on her ex-husband), Ansel Barlowe. Ansel really likes the girl, but she is reluctant to start a new relationship. Then follows a series of different trope that isn't a bad idea, I mean I love fake dating, but isn't executed really as I would describe nice. And this is my honest and hopefully constructive review.

The good part:
- I liked the fact that Juniper had a great support system around her to help her figure out her feelings and them feelings protective of her, but we didn't saw them that much. I wanted to know more about Lara, and there were some "friends" that we saw only at the end to the (spoiler) proposal. Also, Lara uses they/them pronouns, love the representation.
- As I said, there were some great ideas, like the fake dating, her childhood celebrity crush, and everything. The fake dating, though, was weird, because they said no feelings and just kissing/touching in front of others and immediately started touching and slept side by side. Also, the childhood crush wasn't used nearly enough, and considering he was a rich AF actor, he didn't seem to be recognized in Seattle, only outside of planes? That wasn't really coherent. Do you see what I mean? Really great ideas, innovative, but could be more explained.
- I like how Ansel really reassure Juniper all throughout the book. Listen, I don't share a similar story to Juniper, so I don't understand what it's like to date after being in an abusive relationship, but I felt like at some point, Ansel needed a little bit of reassurance. But, for that opinion, I could be very wrong.
- I loved the short chapters, and how the names were written at the beginning. :))

The things I didn't like as much:
- There was a lot of subplot that didn't seem to have closure. For example, at some point, Ansel meet Joel (Juniper's ex-husband) and have a fight with him. But, after that, we don't see him anymore. Like, won't he press charges? Can't he go to the press and make money? Isn't weird that he just... disappear? Same thing for Lara, that after coming to confront their friend, and the thing that they confronts her about (Ansel) is there, they just... disappear until the epilogue, no information? Same thing Juniper's psychologist, we see that she is in therapy and talks about Ansel, but we just see them together once, but she really seem to need it more. If you introduce characters like that, which I believe were useful, maybe try to give them close?
- Some chapters didn't finished well. I sometimes thought it was missing pages, but other chapters were finished perfectly, so I know it just need some revision.
- I believe we don't know Juniper very well. The first time we meet her, she's drunk, which means we don't see her real personality. Also, we do Ansel like her so much? Why does he want to fight for her? We saw a lot of her flaws, and her problems, but not much of her redeeming qualities.
- It's hard to explain the main plot, because it was so hard to follow. I don't think there was a main goal throughout the book. There was Ansel's role in a movie, which was adapted from Juniper's favorite book, but we clearly don't talk about that nearly enough. My favorite book is made into a movie and I can't shut up about it (I'm obnoxious though hahah), so I feel it should be a more present topic of conversation.
- The petty part of my review is that it bothers me characters that are 40 years old and act as if they are 25. That's it.

That's about it for my review. Would I recommend the book? Not necessarily as it is, but if we polished a few plot lines and spend more time on Juniper's character and development, I certainly would. If the authors read this, first why? Don't read readers review, listen to your editor, but also, keep writing, because you have a lot of great ideas and write a great vulnerable female lead. Thank you so much for the ARC!

[Chelsi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ebook advanced reader copy (ARC) of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much for the opportunity to be an ARC reader for this book!

🌶️🌶️/5
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Our MFC, Juniper Haddock, a relatable newly divorced 33 year-old who works at a local indie bookstore in Seattle with a tweenage crush on a certain actor. Ansel Barlowe, our MMC, is a "washed up" actor trying to make a comeback in Hollywood in a new movie filming in the Seattle area.

Here are a few of my thoughts:
- LOVED that the main characters were in their 30s. As someone in their 30s, it is relatable and fun to read about people struggling with adult things.
- I'm not always a big fan of the love at first sight kind of stories (I'm a firm believer of lust at first sight and the love comes with work), but this one had a bit of time between Juniper and Ansel actually becoming a couple. I think that time was needed to give them time to grow (and pine over), especially with their fake dating/not fake dating stick they started off with.
- I really enjoyed the banter between the two, it felt natural and fun. It made their conversations flow and easy to read.
- I admired how they worked through things, after a few instances of jumping to conclusion and a bit of miscommunication between the two of them. I do wish that Juniper had more conversations with Ansel about her marriage to Joel so that they can better understand her hesitancy and the whole miscommunication part wouldn't have happened.
- The spice was good, but a few of them felt a little unnatural (plane scene), but overall, I did enjoy the scenes and the awkward conversations with Mama Barlowe after the official first time.
- I do wish we had some more context on historical stuff what was mentioned after the fact (like Juniper had mentioned something she liked and Ansel remembered, but we didn't know because that conversation never happened for us in the book). It made it feel like the readers were left out of that part of the story.
- I got a little frustrated with Juniper setting "boundaries" for their fake dating, but immediately broke those boundaries.
- My one big hiccup with the book is Ansel's use of "kid" as a nickname for Juniper. He's 39, she's 33... there are no kids here. Yes, she is a few years younger, but they are both consenting adults in their 30s, so the "kid" nickname was a little cringy. He does use other nicknames, but the kid one kept cropping up.

Overall, I really did enjoy the book and give props to the author for creating a story that captured my attention with characters that I really did feel a connection to! If you want a cozy romance, I would recommend picking up "Hallpass" by L.V. Brooks.

[Tess Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy and chose to leave an honest review.

For me, Hallpass was a bit hard to get into at the beginning. The female main character Juniper was annoying and hard to get behind as she flip-flopped between liking Barlowe and hating Barlowe... Wanting to kiss him to reluctantly even being his friend. I think she might need more frequent therapy or a better therapist if her divorce is making her that neurotic. But what pisses me off the most is how much she hurt Ansel because he fell first, and she wouldn’t let herself fall. I understand that her ex-husband hurt her and as someone who divorced to get out of an abusive marriage, I know how painful it can be to try again, but I also know how wonderful it feels to end up with someone who picks you. Ansel put himself out there, and I just wish she had let herself fall faster than she did. There is also the issue of her telling him they can only be friends or her placing rules on their fake dating relationship and then she completely breaks those rules immediately after. I can’t blame Ansel for thinking there was more to their relationship from the jump.

Once this book picked up though, I found it more enjoyable. As someone who doesn’t really like romance novels, this was probably the best contemporary romance I have read this year. I especially enjoyed Juniper’s chapters immediately following her fight with Ansel where she let him walk out of her life. The raw emotions that she felt resonated with me, and I found myself wanting to cry for her. That was also when she finally admitted to herself that she loved him though she was still slow to tell him, which felt more on brand for someone who had been hurt badly in a previous marriage.

Ansel was by far my favorite character. I enjoyed watching his growth through the book, and I wish he had been treated better throughout the whole thing. From his weird ex at the con to the douchy actor at the pool party, the awful director and even Juniper herself, he is pushed more than anyone should be. I do wish we had potentially seen what kind of damage being a child actor had caused and seen the repercussions of the death threats he mentioned. He is good at hiding his feelings from others and I genuinely think that the fist fight with Joel had something to do with it, but I would have liked that to be explored a bit more.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This book surprised me in a good way!

Juniper and Ansel have both faced their share of challenges, and now they’re trying to figure out if they can overcome the ghosts of their pasts to find a new path toward happiness.

I’d describe the yearning in this book as “experienced angst.” These characters have lived enough life to carry some real anxiety and self-criticism, and they’re trying to break those patterns. The emotional push and pull felt genuine. The alternating POVs worked perfectly, offering just enough detail to understand their struggles without getting bogged down in every bit of backstory. And the lighter moments were sprinkled in just right, keeping the book from feeling too heavy.

What I loved:
- Both lead characters. I felt like I understood Juniper a bit more deeply than Ansel, but I connected with both and was rooting for them the whole way.
- Their ages. I love a story with characters of any age, but 33 and 39 in this book was perfectly appropriate. It made their emotional depth believable - seasoned enough to have real fears, but still open to change for their futures.
- The relationship timeline. Yes, there’s instant attraction (first chapter, no spoiler!), but the pacing of their connection felt natural and not instalove.
- Steamy antics. Enough steam to keep it interesting, but I appreciated that a few scenes were unique and playful!
- Story focus. The narrative stays centered on Juniper and Ansel. Side characters appear just enough to give context, but never steal focus.
- Mental health representation. There’s therapy, reflection, support, and an honest enough look at how people navigate mental blocks (including a few hiccups along the way).

I’m someone who loves when emotional connection takes center stage, and this story delivered. Watching June and Ansel work through their hangups, and still manage to find joy, was incredibly satisfying. The story had depth, but never got so raw that it hurt to read.

Overall: absolutely enjoyed this one!

I received an advance reader copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[BookishBabes98 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hallpass is such a cute read! From the banter (which I loved at the beginning), to the FMC and MMC finding themselves, to the MMCs patience and willing to let her figure it out on her own, to the parents, it was soooo cute! The plot is pretty straight forward with a lot of focus on the characters and their relationship development, I love the interactions between the MMC and the FMCs dad, and the MMC and his mom, you can feel the love they have for their family.

I think the only downside (which is a strong word since I don't think it heavily impacted the story), was the lack of interaction with the side characters and friends of the FMC, I wish they had a larger role in the story. We see them once or twice early on, then they are basically forgotten, which if my friend was going through a divorce and also hanging out with her celebrity crush, I wouldn't just sit to the side and wait for the end, I would need alllll the details!

I didn't love the nickname 'kid' that he used for the FMC, I get that there is a age-gap, but a few years is hardly 'kid' material, and given that they are indeed in a relationship, even worse. I thought the use of different types of 'silence' was overused, I never knew how many types of silence there could be, and given how often I saw it in the book, there was a loooot of silence happening. Same opinion when it comes to the word 'wrecked', which typically is used once or twice and the word holds some weight, in the story, it was used quite a bit more than once or twice, and because of that I felt that it lost some of its weight and seriousness.
Additionally, I think the last third or so of the book was unneeded, with these types of books longer is not always better, and while I appreciate the time it takes to fight ones inner demons, this book could've easily been 50-70 pages shorter.

I can honestly say that I loooooved the beginning of the book, I thought it was cute, funny, and lovely. I like how they met and there was time passing to where the real story started, but the last bit of it was kinda hard to get through since it all felt a little repetitive.

[Leah Lannin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok- I absolutely LOVED the first 10%! — they meet and it’s messy and funny and I adored it.

Then everything goes wrong when our fmc is offended by an offhand comment that as a reader felt blown way out of proportion. I think I was missing more inner monologue about how angry and damaged she still was from her marriage. As someone with different baggage than our fmc I was really confused about why certain things set her off. I can’t imagine our mmc wanting to put in the work with someone who is offended by something so easily when they hardly know each other. 🚩🚩🚩
Walk away dude.
When Ansel asks her to fake date him - a trope I love - it comes across so clumsy!

I love that he falls first and I love that he comes in his pants. 😆👍🏼

Juniper is so hot and cold. She’s pretty likeable when she’s not acting insane, but that wasn’t too often so she was unfortunately not favourite character of mine.

Found it confusing how while in his pov we switch from “mom was watching me” to “Nadine was slicing” within a few sentences when they are the same person and it is basically one continuous thought. And I had a really hard time with the nicknames. 🫣 I don’t like the nickname kid and kept hearing it in Harrison Ford’s voice, but I did chuckle at the space cowboy references and kinda liked it when she gave him crap and sass about his roles because no one likes a kiss-ass, but also at times felt bad that she was making fun of him so hard. I had quite a bit of feelings around this and still haven’t been able to figure out why it bothered me. I wish we had gotten a bit more details about her friends and the online fan community.

Loved the character of Ansel- so patient and dreamy.
Loved that they were both older.
This was well written and I enjoyed it, but personally story wise it wasn’t a good fit for me. I look forward to reading more from this author!


Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this early for review! 💗