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Hollywood Stars #1
Love, Unscripted
One year. One deal. One love that could ruin them both.
Emily Pinault is on hiatus from her reign as Hollywood’s Golden Girl—until betrayal shatters what remains of her. Now, she’s faced with a broken promise and a bruised ego. When the source of her heartbreak—her cheating fiancé—postpones their wedding, blissfully unaware that she knows what he did, Emily decides she’s done playing nice.
She wants revenge. And she knows exactly how to get it.
Therefore, Emily turns to the last man she ever expected and utters four words that change everything: “Will you marry me?”
Nicholas King is the ruler of the country’s most powerful media empire. He’s used to getting what he wants. What he needs, however, is a wife—and fast. His board members demand a semblance of stability, and without it, everything could slip through his fingers. This is when Emily’s proposal turns out to be quite the temptation for him.
So they strike a deal: one year of marriage. Long enough for Emily to release her wrath and for Nicholas to secure his throne.
But when two people with everything to lose start living under the same roof, the lines blur. The chemistry sizzles. And they start going off script, acting on emotions they both can’t seem to control.
What started off as fake soon becomes something more real than they could have predicted. Falling victim to the stage they’d set, the two have no choice but to see it through until the ending credits.
Emily Pinault is on hiatus from her reign as Hollywood’s Golden Girl—until betrayal shatters what remains of her. Now, she’s faced with a broken promise and a bruised ego. When the source of her heartbreak—her cheating fiancé—postpones their wedding, blissfully unaware that she knows what he did, Emily decides she’s done playing nice.
She wants revenge. And she knows exactly how to get it.
Therefore, Emily turns to the last man she ever expected and utters four words that change everything: “Will you marry me?”
Nicholas King is the ruler of the country’s most powerful media empire. He’s used to getting what he wants. What he needs, however, is a wife—and fast. His board members demand a semblance of stability, and without it, everything could slip through his fingers. This is when Emily’s proposal turns out to be quite the temptation for him.
So they strike a deal: one year of marriage. Long enough for Emily to release her wrath and for Nicholas to secure his throne.
But when two people with everything to lose start living under the same roof, the lines blur. The chemistry sizzles. And they start going off script, acting on emotions they both can’t seem to control.
What started off as fake soon becomes something more real than they could have predicted. Falling victim to the stage they’d set, the two have no choice but to see it through until the ending credits.
392 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 12, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
Review of advance copy
1.5 ⭐
Oh boy... Where to begin without giving away too much of the book?
Thank you Love Notes PR and the author for giving me this copy in exchange for my honest opinion of the book
Honestly, the prologue captivated me, and I thought they were going to build on that and make the plot a bit more "mysterious," but that wasn't the case.
The dramas of the secondary characters didn't interest me at all, and I felt like there was hardly any plot in the book overall, just a series of situations that happened, and that's it. I think that could have been improved.
I also didn't feel any connection between the protagonists until almost the end of the book. The ending seemed SUPER rushed to me; I don't think it was necessary to cram that drama and conflict into the last four chapters. Just saying.
Oh boy... Where to begin without giving away too much of the book?
Thank you Love Notes PR and the author for giving me this copy in exchange for my honest opinion of the book
Honestly, the prologue captivated me, and I thought they were going to build on that and make the plot a bit more "mysterious," but that wasn't the case.
The dramas of the secondary characters didn't interest me at all, and I felt like there was hardly any plot in the book overall, just a series of situations that happened, and that's it. I think that could have been improved.
I also didn't feel any connection between the protagonists until almost the end of the book. The ending seemed SUPER rushed to me; I don't think it was necessary to cram that drama and conflict into the last four chapters. Just saying.
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
⭐️2.5
Thank you Lovenotes PR and Zanielle Hart for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 💕
This book had really strong potential, but I just personally feel that the MMC and the FMC do not belong together. The main reason for that is just that I didn’t like the MMC. He just really pissed me off a lot in this book, and they had no chemistry until the end, and it was very rushed.
This book was really long in the beginning, and then the ending felt super rushed. Emily having a stalker was just very unnecessary. I just feel like it added nothing to the story. It really only mattered in the ending, and it gets resolved so quickly.
Thank you Lovenotes PR and Zanielle Hart for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 💕
This book had really strong potential, but I just personally feel that the MMC and the FMC do not belong together. The main reason for that is just that I didn’t like the MMC. He just really pissed me off a lot in this book, and they had no chemistry until the end, and it was very rushed.
This book was really long in the beginning, and then the ending felt super rushed. Emily having a stalker was just very unnecessary. I just feel like it added nothing to the story. It really only mattered in the ending, and it gets resolved so quickly.
January 30, 2026
🎬 A revenge marriage, fake vows, and feelings that weren’t supposed to happen…
📖 Love Unscripted by Zanielle Hart
⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
Genre: Celebrity Romance
Tropes:
🎭 Celebrity MCs
💍 Secret Marriage of Convenience
🔥 Revenge
🎬 Actress × 💼 Billionaire
🏠 Forced Proximity
💘 He Falls First
Emily is all set to get married—until she finds out her fiancé has been cheating on her. Heartbroken and furious, she decides she’s not going to sit back and take it. When she overhears that Nicolas needs a wife for his own reasons, the two of them strike a deal: a contract marriage for one year. No feelings. No drama. Just mutual benefit… and a little revenge.
This was such a cute and easy read. It’s not overly dramatic or emotionally heavy, which made it feel very safe and comforting for me. Even though Emily’s ex really got me annoyed, I loved her revenge plan—it was so satisfying.
I really enjoyed watching Nicolas fall for her (and then fall even harder). Even when he tried to keep things “business only,” his feelings kept slipping through. And I loved how Emily slowly started seeing him as more than just part of her revenge plan.
What I liked most is how supportive they were of each other. They genuinely showed up, listened, and cared, which made their relationship feel sweet and genuine.
Overall, this was a soft, feel-good celebrity romance that was easy to enjoy.
Thank you Lovenotes PR and Zanielle Hart for this ARC. 💕📚
📖 Love Unscripted by Zanielle Hart
⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
Genre: Celebrity Romance
Tropes:
🎭 Celebrity MCs
💍 Secret Marriage of Convenience
🔥 Revenge
🎬 Actress × 💼 Billionaire
🏠 Forced Proximity
💘 He Falls First
Emily is all set to get married—until she finds out her fiancé has been cheating on her. Heartbroken and furious, she decides she’s not going to sit back and take it. When she overhears that Nicolas needs a wife for his own reasons, the two of them strike a deal: a contract marriage for one year. No feelings. No drama. Just mutual benefit… and a little revenge.
This was such a cute and easy read. It’s not overly dramatic or emotionally heavy, which made it feel very safe and comforting for me. Even though Emily’s ex really got me annoyed, I loved her revenge plan—it was so satisfying.
I really enjoyed watching Nicolas fall for her (and then fall even harder). Even when he tried to keep things “business only,” his feelings kept slipping through. And I loved how Emily slowly started seeing him as more than just part of her revenge plan.
What I liked most is how supportive they were of each other. They genuinely showed up, listened, and cared, which made their relationship feel sweet and genuine.
Overall, this was a soft, feel-good celebrity romance that was easy to enjoy.
Thank you Lovenotes PR and Zanielle Hart for this ARC. 💕📚
January 25, 2026
Thank you the author for the opportunity given to me .
This is a an arc review and my personal impression.
I am so glad to have read this book, because it gives to me a wonderful proof that even with a different approach you can find something new to say.
First of all, when I saw that the book was with the 3rd person.. I was a bit scared ( I am not a fan of it) .. BUT GUYS this book changed my point of view.
I was so happy to read this book that I totally forgot about this particular aspect!
I was so smitten by the story and the characters that.. OMG I was giggling all the time.
I love celebrity romance and let me say.. this is so unique in this genre and you will totally love it .
The writing, the characters were so good and I will tell you to read it immediately
This is a an arc review and my personal impression.
I am so glad to have read this book, because it gives to me a wonderful proof that even with a different approach you can find something new to say.
First of all, when I saw that the book was with the 3rd person.. I was a bit scared ( I am not a fan of it) .. BUT GUYS this book changed my point of view.
I was so happy to read this book that I totally forgot about this particular aspect!
I was so smitten by the story and the characters that.. OMG I was giggling all the time.
I love celebrity romance and let me say.. this is so unique in this genre and you will totally love it .
The writing, the characters were so good and I will tell you to read it immediately
February 12, 2026
Celebrity MCs
Secret Marriage of Convenience
Revenge
Actress x Billionaire
Forced Proximity
He Falls First
F**k it moment
"I despise the way he looks at you. The way he smiles at your every word, memorizing the shape of your lips as they move... Only I should be able to do that."
"If you're serious about keeping that unwritten clause then you should shut your pretty little mouth of yours before it's put to good use."
I loved to see Emily and Nicolas developing feelings for each other. Before they finally decide to go for it. The build up and their chemistry was hot, had me turning the pages, and the spice 🥵 loved how protective Nicolas was and to go out of his way and help her with her revenge. Ok! And when he says darlin’ 🥵loved the story line. I was hooked and enjoyed this read very much! I do feel like it was rushed a bit but it didnt take away from the story and it’s written very well I’d definitely recommend this read! If you like up front with no miscommunication and you’re ok with 3rd POV. And characters with depth 💯 recommend 🔥
Secret Marriage of Convenience
Revenge
Actress x Billionaire
Forced Proximity
He Falls First
F**k it moment
"I despise the way he looks at you. The way he smiles at your every word, memorizing the shape of your lips as they move... Only I should be able to do that."
"If you're serious about keeping that unwritten clause then you should shut your pretty little mouth of yours before it's put to good use."
I loved to see Emily and Nicolas developing feelings for each other. Before they finally decide to go for it. The build up and their chemistry was hot, had me turning the pages, and the spice 🥵 loved how protective Nicolas was and to go out of his way and help her with her revenge. Ok! And when he says darlin’ 🥵loved the story line. I was hooked and enjoyed this read very much! I do feel like it was rushed a bit but it didnt take away from the story and it’s written very well I’d definitely recommend this read! If you like up front with no miscommunication and you’re ok with 3rd POV. And characters with depth 💯 recommend 🔥
February 13, 2026
Zanielle Hart’s debut novel is a very sweet ode to the question “what can you give a girl who has everything and nothing all at once?”
You get a revenge subplot, family issues and the never-ending battle of privacy intrusion of being in the spotlight.
I enjoyed all the gentle and intimate moments between Emily and Nicolas, since their meet-cute to their honeymoon.
Make no mistakes this is a slow-burn.
You get a revenge subplot, family issues and the never-ending battle of privacy intrusion of being in the spotlight.
I enjoyed all the gentle and intimate moments between Emily and Nicolas, since their meet-cute to their honeymoon.
Make no mistakes this is a slow-burn.
March 17, 2026
3.75-4
enjoyed the marriage of convenience/marriage for revenge element particularly with the underlying mystery of what the full revenge plan was but then loved the focus on the relationship developing and how that first meeting sparked everything for them!
third person pov did throw me off at times but at other times flowed so well I didn’t even realise
enjoyed the marriage of convenience/marriage for revenge element particularly with the underlying mystery of what the full revenge plan was but then loved the focus on the relationship developing and how that first meeting sparked everything for them!
third person pov did throw me off at times but at other times flowed so well I didn’t even realise
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC REVIEW
📖 Love, Unscripted
Author: Zanielle Hart
4.25/5 ⭐ | 2.25/5 🌶️
Tropes:
- Woman Obsessed
- Childhood Crush
- Marriage of Convenience
- Secret Marriage
- Revenge
- Actress × Billionaire
- Cinnamon Roll MMC
- "It's always been you"
- He falls first, She falls harder
-----
ARC Review:
My review might be a lil biased bc I read this years ago when it was on Wattpad even then it became my absolute favourite. And now seeing it getting published, there's absolutely no change in how much I adore this book and the characters.
Love, Unscripted is a perfect mix of banter, friendships, slow burn romance, suspense (kind of), revenge and a whole lot of sweetness with some spice here and there.
Emily Pinault, a young rising actress of Hollywood is a lot more than what media paints her to be. She is kind, sweetest and a sassy little spitfire in the hiding (something she didn't know of until she met him).
After getting betrayed by who she thought was the love of her life she knew she had to get her revenge and that too fast.
Nicholas Re was a successful businessman, owning a massive empire of media company and modelling agencies. He was cold, calculative and well respected in the Hollywood and in the business world. But little did anyone knew there was someone who had his ice cold heart in their clutches and that's none other than Emily Pinault.
For years it's been only her who he ever desired never once speaking to her despite running in the same circle until the opportunity presents itself at a party which changed their world upside down.
The author did a great job building the tension between the two with constant subtle flirting and small acts of service from our Nicholas Re for his Emily. With Emily's apprehension and Nicholas's patience with her, it's amazing to see her embrace herself, grow through her issues and that it's okay to be vulnerable.
Other than limited character development, the book also touches on the elements of PTSD, mental health issues, parental abuse, stalking, and revenge.
So if you love a good contemporary romance with sweet sweet gestures that would make you blush like a tomato then get this book!!
📖 Love, Unscripted
Author: Zanielle Hart
4.25/5 ⭐ | 2.25/5 🌶️
Tropes:
- Woman Obsessed
- Childhood Crush
- Marriage of Convenience
- Secret Marriage
- Revenge
- Actress × Billionaire
- Cinnamon Roll MMC
- "It's always been you"
- He falls first, She falls harder
-----
ARC Review:
My review might be a lil biased bc I read this years ago when it was on Wattpad even then it became my absolute favourite. And now seeing it getting published, there's absolutely no change in how much I adore this book and the characters.
Love, Unscripted is a perfect mix of banter, friendships, slow burn romance, suspense (kind of), revenge and a whole lot of sweetness with some spice here and there.
Emily Pinault, a young rising actress of Hollywood is a lot more than what media paints her to be. She is kind, sweetest and a sassy little spitfire in the hiding (something she didn't know of until she met him).
After getting betrayed by who she thought was the love of her life she knew she had to get her revenge and that too fast.
Nicholas Re was a successful businessman, owning a massive empire of media company and modelling agencies. He was cold, calculative and well respected in the Hollywood and in the business world. But little did anyone knew there was someone who had his ice cold heart in their clutches and that's none other than Emily Pinault.
For years it's been only her who he ever desired never once speaking to her despite running in the same circle until the opportunity presents itself at a party which changed their world upside down.
The author did a great job building the tension between the two with constant subtle flirting and small acts of service from our Nicholas Re for his Emily. With Emily's apprehension and Nicholas's patience with her, it's amazing to see her embrace herself, grow through her issues and that it's okay to be vulnerable.
Other than limited character development, the book also touches on the elements of PTSD, mental health issues, parental abuse, stalking, and revenge.
So if you love a good contemporary romance with sweet sweet gestures that would make you blush like a tomato then get this book!!
January 24, 2026
Firstly I would like to say I absolutely devoured this book, I honestly could not put it down I absolutely loved it and Zanielle Hart is definitely an author I would read again but what do you mean this is a debuttttt.
I wanted to read this book because of the marriage of convenience but it was done in a way I have never read before, it was two people who actually worked well together from the get go. They were so supportive of each other. They genuinely showed up, listened, and cared, which made their relationship feel sweet and genuine. This book was around rollercoaster of emotions and will say i was left gasping for more.
Zanielle has put a lot of work into this book, it may not be a book that speaks to everyone but the writing style it was immersive, even with it being in third person it did not take away from the storyline. Both Emily and Nicolas showed a ton of development throughout the book. I absolutely adored it but I could have easily done with another 200 pages and seen more.
I wanted to read this book because of the marriage of convenience but it was done in a way I have never read before, it was two people who actually worked well together from the get go. They were so supportive of each other. They genuinely showed up, listened, and cared, which made their relationship feel sweet and genuine. This book was around rollercoaster of emotions and will say i was left gasping for more.
Zanielle has put a lot of work into this book, it may not be a book that speaks to everyone but the writing style it was immersive, even with it being in third person it did not take away from the storyline. Both Emily and Nicolas showed a ton of development throughout the book. I absolutely adored it but I could have easily done with another 200 pages and seen more.
February 19, 2026
4⭐️
This was such a cozy, feel good story.
I don’t have that much to say as I would label this book an easy one. You just vibe along and shut off your gloomy thoughts for a while. Which- if you ask me- is a great read for when you need an escape from reality.
Okay, enough of all this blabbering: ‘Love, Unscripted’ follows the story of two celebrities/ public figures agreeing on a contract marriage for different reasons beneficial to them. We see both of them trying and failing to keep this relationship strictly business. When they finally decided to own up to their feelings I was swooning and in awe of how good of a fit they are for one another. They genuinely care for the other’s career and their wellbeing.
Also, a bit random and off-topic: this book is written in third person, which I personally LOVE. So, yeah, bonus points for that.
I can only recommend giving this a shot.
Thank you so much for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review!!!!
This was such a cozy, feel good story.
I don’t have that much to say as I would label this book an easy one. You just vibe along and shut off your gloomy thoughts for a while. Which- if you ask me- is a great read for when you need an escape from reality.
Okay, enough of all this blabbering: ‘Love, Unscripted’ follows the story of two celebrities/ public figures agreeing on a contract marriage for different reasons beneficial to them. We see both of them trying and failing to keep this relationship strictly business. When they finally decided to own up to their feelings I was swooning and in awe of how good of a fit they are for one another. They genuinely care for the other’s career and their wellbeing.
Also, a bit random and off-topic: this book is written in third person, which I personally LOVE. So, yeah, bonus points for that.
I can only recommend giving this a shot.
Thank you so much for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review!!!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
First read of 2026! I just wanna start this off by saying how longgg I’ve waited for this! And I knew from that amazing prologue, this one was gonna be great (and it was!). Usually the celebrity romance genre gives me the ick but boy was this unique. I don’t think I’ve read a book this well-written in a while. And mind you I’m not a fan of 3rd person but I was LOCKED IN.
First off:
Emily is really better than me because oh my god! The stuff she’s been through! Also, her family (minus Chelsea) sucks! Again she’s better than me because I could never!!! At first I was thinking “not another rich person whining about their plights.” Don’t get me wrong, I was rooting for her in the beginning because FU Jake, but I really started FEELING for her around the 20% mark. And the people pleaser in me was gutted. Her constant fight with getting revenge despite being a genuinely good person was also an interesting take. I wanted her to go all the way but it helped cement her character as not being THAT person which was more of a lesson to me honestly. I would’ve been that person
Her vulnerability and confidence within that was nice to see. I think she’s actually a really strong FMC which thank you for not being completely insufferable. Her struggle with fame and her comeback was also a great development. And thank god she didn’t just comeback for the heck of it. The author did well with highlighting her therapy and showing her progression by getting professional help.
Now Nicolas, OH MY GOD. This man was everything and more. When his “POV” first hit if you can even call it that I was bracing myself for lust or something else idk blame some of the men I’ve read before but the way he thought about her was so beautiful. He spoke about her acting and how he didn’t want to ruin that fantasy and I was like SOLD. Down bad and I’m sold. Loved loved how he defended her and always had her back.
~Because if this was her fight, then it was his now too.~ — SIR WHAT? ❤️❤️❤️ I fell right then and there
Some of my favorite moments:
“Emily Pinault was more than the sum of her scandals and accolades. She was a kaleidoscope, and he’d only ever seen one color. Now the others flashed at Nicolas like a fireworks display he couldn’t look away from.” — THE WRITING HELLO?
“It’s not the first time I’ve had to face reality when it comes to you.” — my heart actually broke for him here 💔
“You’re everything and more. Don’t you ever assume otherwise, okay?” — A MAN
“…And if all I can do is be here when that feeling hits, then I’ll be here. Every time. Helping you through it.” — SOBBING
Extras:
The marriage of convenience was also done in a way I’ve never seen before but somehow…it worked? I was waiting on the way I’ve also seen it happen in books (very cliché of me I guess) but for some reason I vibed with the intimacy of theirs and only the immediate social circle knowing? It was just so different and helped to me to focus on their relationship more
I can’t wait to see what the other books have to offer!
Side note: I could’ve taken a star off but decided not to given this is her debut which is INSANE!
Thank you to the author for providing me with this ARC! All thoughts are my own and are subject to interpretation.
First off:
Emily is really better than me because oh my god! The stuff she’s been through! Also, her family (minus Chelsea) sucks! Again she’s better than me because I could never!!! At first I was thinking “not another rich person whining about their plights.” Don’t get me wrong, I was rooting for her in the beginning because FU Jake, but I really started FEELING for her around the 20% mark. And the people pleaser in me was gutted. Her constant fight with getting revenge despite being a genuinely good person was also an interesting take. I wanted her to go all the way but it helped cement her character as not being THAT person which was more of a lesson to me honestly. I would’ve been that person
Her vulnerability and confidence within that was nice to see. I think she’s actually a really strong FMC which thank you for not being completely insufferable. Her struggle with fame and her comeback was also a great development. And thank god she didn’t just comeback for the heck of it. The author did well with highlighting her therapy and showing her progression by getting professional help.
Now Nicolas, OH MY GOD. This man was everything and more. When his “POV” first hit if you can even call it that I was bracing myself for lust or something else idk blame some of the men I’ve read before but the way he thought about her was so beautiful. He spoke about her acting and how he didn’t want to ruin that fantasy and I was like SOLD. Down bad and I’m sold. Loved loved how he defended her and always had her back.
~Because if this was her fight, then it was his now too.~ — SIR WHAT? ❤️❤️❤️ I fell right then and there
Some of my favorite moments:
“Emily Pinault was more than the sum of her scandals and accolades. She was a kaleidoscope, and he’d only ever seen one color. Now the others flashed at Nicolas like a fireworks display he couldn’t look away from.” — THE WRITING HELLO?
“It’s not the first time I’ve had to face reality when it comes to you.” — my heart actually broke for him here 💔
“You’re everything and more. Don’t you ever assume otherwise, okay?” — A MAN
“…And if all I can do is be here when that feeling hits, then I’ll be here. Every time. Helping you through it.” — SOBBING
Extras:
The marriage of convenience was also done in a way I’ve never seen before but somehow…it worked? I was waiting on the way I’ve also seen it happen in books (very cliché of me I guess) but for some reason I vibed with the intimacy of theirs and only the immediate social circle knowing? It was just so different and helped to me to focus on their relationship more
I can’t wait to see what the other books have to offer!
Side note: I could’ve taken a star off but decided not to given this is her debut which is INSANE!
Thank you to the author for providing me with this ARC! All thoughts are my own and are subject to interpretation.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The Romance Novel for People Who Don’t Read Romance
I’ve been battling a stubborn winter cold for the last few days, and while the weather hasn’t been doing me any favors, this book certainly did. I’ll be honest: I am not typically a "romance girlie." Usually, I find myself reaching for other genres, but there is something about a well-executed marriage of convenience trope that I find absolutely addictive. If romance stories are packaged with this much heart and charm, I will happily add this author to my permanent TBR and share their work with all my bookish friends. This is a debut that is truly worth your time, and I am already crossing my fingers that we get a book two in this series soon.
The setup for this one is fantastic: we have Nico, the aloof heir to a media empire, and Emily, Hollywood’s Golden Girl who has been laying low on an acting hiatus. On paper, they are the perfect match. Nico needs to rehab his family image, while Emily is looking for a bit of revenge on an ex-boyfriend. They propose a marriage that benefits both of them, planning to keep it a secret until the perfect moment to announce it.
I will say that I found the very beginning a bit overwhelming. There was a lot happening at once, and the writing in the third-person perspective felt a little clunky at first. However, as the story unfolded, the prose became much smoother and more engaging. It turned into one of those easy, "just one more chapter" reads that I simply couldn’t put down. I particularly loved the sections that focused solely on Emily and Nico’s relationship; it allowed me to really witness their growth from strangers to a legitimate couple.
One thing I have to highlight is how the author handled the more intimate moments. I usually find myself skimming steamy scenes in other books because they can feel a bit forced, but these were not cringy at all. They felt natural to the characters and actually added to the story.
Nico is initially portrayed as cold-hearted and strong, but he eventually reveals such a soft spot for Emily. Emily herself struggles with self-esteem and the habit of never saying no, but she truly shines when she’s with Nico. He doesn't just protect her—he uplifts her, helping her discover her own voice and finally prioritize her own needs. Capturing the process of them falling in love resulted in a beautiful and touching story that I didn't want to end. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am already eagerly anticipating whatever this author writes next.
I’ve been battling a stubborn winter cold for the last few days, and while the weather hasn’t been doing me any favors, this book certainly did. I’ll be honest: I am not typically a "romance girlie." Usually, I find myself reaching for other genres, but there is something about a well-executed marriage of convenience trope that I find absolutely addictive. If romance stories are packaged with this much heart and charm, I will happily add this author to my permanent TBR and share their work with all my bookish friends. This is a debut that is truly worth your time, and I am already crossing my fingers that we get a book two in this series soon.
The setup for this one is fantastic: we have Nico, the aloof heir to a media empire, and Emily, Hollywood’s Golden Girl who has been laying low on an acting hiatus. On paper, they are the perfect match. Nico needs to rehab his family image, while Emily is looking for a bit of revenge on an ex-boyfriend. They propose a marriage that benefits both of them, planning to keep it a secret until the perfect moment to announce it.
I will say that I found the very beginning a bit overwhelming. There was a lot happening at once, and the writing in the third-person perspective felt a little clunky at first. However, as the story unfolded, the prose became much smoother and more engaging. It turned into one of those easy, "just one more chapter" reads that I simply couldn’t put down. I particularly loved the sections that focused solely on Emily and Nico’s relationship; it allowed me to really witness their growth from strangers to a legitimate couple.
One thing I have to highlight is how the author handled the more intimate moments. I usually find myself skimming steamy scenes in other books because they can feel a bit forced, but these were not cringy at all. They felt natural to the characters and actually added to the story.
Nico is initially portrayed as cold-hearted and strong, but he eventually reveals such a soft spot for Emily. Emily herself struggles with self-esteem and the habit of never saying no, but she truly shines when she’s with Nico. He doesn't just protect her—he uplifts her, helping her discover her own voice and finally prioritize her own needs. Capturing the process of them falling in love resulted in a beautiful and touching story that I didn't want to end. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am already eagerly anticipating whatever this author writes next.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Love,Unscripted 🎥
Firstly,I want to thank LoveNotes PR & Zanielle Hart for trusting me with this ARC!💜
Nico is the heir to the media empire that controls everything in the industry.
Emily is the Hollywood's Golden Girl,& at the moment she is going through THE CRISIS of her life.
Until she sees Nico,and maybe he is the solution for everything.
She has a proposal,a proposal that even iron hearted man cannot resist.
To start with,this is not your usual marriage of convenience romance.There is DRAMA,and the family one,mystery,intrigue,economical empires,Hollywood and a love that should not exist.
Soo,as you see this is gonna be a ROLLER COASTER of emotional,that you,of course,are gonna enjoy 100% and literally wish that there is more.
Our main character Emily,has to forget everything that she knows about her now life,and start again after she found her name tangled up in many scandals.However,this is the BEST thing that could happen to her.
You see,Em lived always on the shadows of others,and only did what she was told to.This time,she FINALLY understands what she is capable of.Durng this marriage is finding herself,her abilities and understands what impact she has on Hollywood.As I love to say she is WALK THEM DOWN EMILY.
Yes,I love her and I can PROUDLY say: I AM ONE OF HER FANS!🥹
Nico, is the classic cold hearted heir that everyone is afraid of.Although,through Emily we see his kind,caring,lovely side that no one has ever experienced.
Due to that,he understands that life should not be only hard cash and maybe he is is not the terrible,useless guy he is thinking himself to be.
Their,romance grew staggered,with the second 50% of the book being just them 🌶️ ,falling in love and experiencing what a relationship should be like. I loved how caring and patient were with each other,and managed perfectly the dynamic show to others the marriage stability while us in private are slowly learning each other and falling in love.
Literally adorable.🤭
Lastly,an other detail that I liked was the idol-fan(s) scenes and moments ,that were going on on different parts of the story.MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE SCENES! (thank you )
After all those,I don't think I have to recommend it,I AM SURE it is already on your TBR!
Out On Feb,12th🪻
4⭐
Firstly,I want to thank LoveNotes PR & Zanielle Hart for trusting me with this ARC!💜
Nico is the heir to the media empire that controls everything in the industry.
Emily is the Hollywood's Golden Girl,& at the moment she is going through THE CRISIS of her life.
Until she sees Nico,and maybe he is the solution for everything.
She has a proposal,a proposal that even iron hearted man cannot resist.
To start with,this is not your usual marriage of convenience romance.There is DRAMA,and the family one,mystery,intrigue,economical empires,Hollywood and a love that should not exist.
Soo,as you see this is gonna be a ROLLER COASTER of emotional,that you,of course,are gonna enjoy 100% and literally wish that there is more.
Our main character Emily,has to forget everything that she knows about her now life,and start again after she found her name tangled up in many scandals.However,this is the BEST thing that could happen to her.
You see,Em lived always on the shadows of others,and only did what she was told to.This time,she FINALLY understands what she is capable of.Durng this marriage is finding herself,her abilities and understands what impact she has on Hollywood.As I love to say she is WALK THEM DOWN EMILY.
Yes,I love her and I can PROUDLY say: I AM ONE OF HER FANS!🥹
Nico, is the classic cold hearted heir that everyone is afraid of.Although,through Emily we see his kind,caring,lovely side that no one has ever experienced.
Due to that,he understands that life should not be only hard cash and maybe he is is not the terrible,useless guy he is thinking himself to be.
Their,romance grew staggered,with the second 50% of the book being just them 🌶️ ,falling in love and experiencing what a relationship should be like. I loved how caring and patient were with each other,and managed perfectly the dynamic show to others the marriage stability while us in private are slowly learning each other and falling in love.
Literally adorable.🤭
Lastly,an other detail that I liked was the idol-fan(s) scenes and moments ,that were going on on different parts of the story.MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE SCENES! (thank you )
After all those,I don't think I have to recommend it,I AM SURE it is already on your TBR!
Out On Feb,12th🪻
4⭐
February 20, 2026
3.5/5⭐
The story started off with their meet-cute!! (pun intended) 👀
So, a jerk of a guy named 'Jake' & cheated on her with by getting her rival pregnant 💀 She was furious and decided to storm up a plan of revenge to make him taste his own medicine!
For which he joined hands with his rival, Nicolas through a contract marriage.... absolutely not knowing that guy has an immense crush on her 😋
Fate has always had a unique way of pulling strings & bringing people closer.... I would call it 'Starstruck love' 😍
Nicolas Re is everything Emily deserves & more...... Definition of a Best Husband! He treats her well, cooks for her, makes her feel confident, supports her in every possible way & most importantly he's handsomely rich (no pun intended 🌚☝🏻)
Emily is a brave woman, knows how to read people well & speaks only what's necessary..... But with the struggles she's been through with her twisted family, stalker situation & rivalry... It made her doubt herself & led to anxiety & PTSD... Nicolas presence in her life eased all of it & made her recognise herself again & bloom!
They're both so cute together & perfect for each other 🥹 I'm so happy they got their happy ending regardless the filthy situations!
I'm really in love with the proposal....A man who puts in effort & plans a proposal keeping in mind the words you said years ago in an interview & knows what you love!😍
I also really love...... that man 'ASKED FOR CONSENT' before touching her... Oh mi amore c'mere!!!! 😭❤️
I was a lil disappointed when I found that the story was in Third Person POV which usually makes the story distant & hard to connect 😅 regardless I enjoyed it!
My fav lines:
"I’ve never gone on my knees for anyone before, but it’s like you were meant to be worshiped."
" I’m your husband, Emily." “It’s what I should do. It’s my duty to ensure that you’re well taken care of."
“May I take them into my mouth?” "May I?” (Bro asked for permission. Twice. 😭)
"You’re no good for my health. You always say things that send my heart racing, and frankly, I don’t appreciate it.”
" You say you’re already feeling faint? Darling, I promise you this is just the beginning.”
Thankyou Love Notes Pr & Author Zanielle for this beautiful ARC!! ✨
The story started off with their meet-cute!! (pun intended) 👀
So, a jerk of a guy named 'Jake' & cheated on her with by getting her rival pregnant 💀 She was furious and decided to storm up a plan of revenge to make him taste his own medicine!
For which he joined hands with his rival, Nicolas through a contract marriage.... absolutely not knowing that guy has an immense crush on her 😋
Fate has always had a unique way of pulling strings & bringing people closer.... I would call it 'Starstruck love' 😍
Nicolas Re is everything Emily deserves & more...... Definition of a Best Husband! He treats her well, cooks for her, makes her feel confident, supports her in every possible way & most importantly he's handsomely rich (no pun intended 🌚☝🏻)
Emily is a brave woman, knows how to read people well & speaks only what's necessary..... But with the struggles she's been through with her twisted family, stalker situation & rivalry... It made her doubt herself & led to anxiety & PTSD... Nicolas presence in her life eased all of it & made her recognise herself again & bloom!
They're both so cute together & perfect for each other 🥹 I'm so happy they got their happy ending regardless the filthy situations!
I'm really in love with the proposal....A man who puts in effort & plans a proposal keeping in mind the words you said years ago in an interview & knows what you love!😍
I also really love...... that man 'ASKED FOR CONSENT' before touching her... Oh mi amore c'mere!!!! 😭❤️
I was a lil disappointed when I found that the story was in Third Person POV which usually makes the story distant & hard to connect 😅 regardless I enjoyed it!
My fav lines:
"I’ve never gone on my knees for anyone before, but it’s like you were meant to be worshiped."
" I’m your husband, Emily." “It’s what I should do. It’s my duty to ensure that you’re well taken care of."
“May I take them into my mouth?” "May I?” (Bro asked for permission. Twice. 😭)
"You’re no good for my health. You always say things that send my heart racing, and frankly, I don’t appreciate it.”
" You say you’re already feeling faint? Darling, I promise you this is just the beginning.”
Thankyou Love Notes Pr & Author Zanielle for this beautiful ARC!! ✨
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This book was amazing. Furthermore, this is Zanielle Hart's first book! Yes, Wow, I will definitely be closely monitoring her next writing endeavors. I can't even begin to picture the quality of her future books if this is where she starts.
Nicolas and Emily utterly captured my heart. What about their connection? Crazy. The teasing? I found myself smiling at the device half the time since it was so spontaneous, humorous, and sharp. Let's also discuss the spice 🔥, which was expertly matched with the emotional intensity. It simply increased the magnitude of everything that the individuals were already experiencing; it never felt pressured. I couldn't put it down after reading the first few pages.
Let me say Emily's role in proposing the fictitious marriage 😩 That twist was AMAZING. The brooding rich guy usually makes the deal, but it was pleasant to watch Emily take charge of her own strategy. She was sensitive without being fragile, and powerful without being ostentatious. She was a really interesting main character to watch as she dealt with love, retaliation, and her own feelings.
Now, Nicolas, the man!!! Self-assured but sensitive when necessary, protecting but not obsessive. His backing of Emily, particularly in her quest for vengeance, has only served to increase his allure. In addition, he has essentially always adored her. He was the first to fall. He went down hard. And I savored every moment of that insight. I melted at his subtle envy, his calm need, and the way he refers to her as "darling." Totally. 🙈
The way their relationship progressed beyond the cliché of a phony marriage was what I found most admirable. It was mending, developing confidence, and two individuals gradually lowering their defenses; it wasn't just forced proximity. I swooned at some of the times, laughed at others, and felt a genuine emotional pull at others.
All things considered, Love, Unscripted gave me all I might want in a romance: feelings, nervousness, words that made me drool, and a pair that will stick in my head for a while. With her debut, Zanielle Hart really went above and beyond. I'm officially hooked.
P.S.: Thanks to the author, Love Notes PR, for this ARC 🫶🏻
Nicolas and Emily utterly captured my heart. What about their connection? Crazy. The teasing? I found myself smiling at the device half the time since it was so spontaneous, humorous, and sharp. Let's also discuss the spice 🔥, which was expertly matched with the emotional intensity. It simply increased the magnitude of everything that the individuals were already experiencing; it never felt pressured. I couldn't put it down after reading the first few pages.
Let me say Emily's role in proposing the fictitious marriage 😩 That twist was AMAZING. The brooding rich guy usually makes the deal, but it was pleasant to watch Emily take charge of her own strategy. She was sensitive without being fragile, and powerful without being ostentatious. She was a really interesting main character to watch as she dealt with love, retaliation, and her own feelings.
Now, Nicolas, the man!!! Self-assured but sensitive when necessary, protecting but not obsessive. His backing of Emily, particularly in her quest for vengeance, has only served to increase his allure. In addition, he has essentially always adored her. He was the first to fall. He went down hard. And I savored every moment of that insight. I melted at his subtle envy, his calm need, and the way he refers to her as "darling." Totally. 🙈
The way their relationship progressed beyond the cliché of a phony marriage was what I found most admirable. It was mending, developing confidence, and two individuals gradually lowering their defenses; it wasn't just forced proximity. I swooned at some of the times, laughed at others, and felt a genuine emotional pull at others.
All things considered, Love, Unscripted gave me all I might want in a romance: feelings, nervousness, words that made me drool, and a pair that will stick in my head for a while. With her debut, Zanielle Hart really went above and beyond. I'm officially hooked.
P.S.: Thanks to the author, Love Notes PR, for this ARC 🫶🏻
February 13, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ & 3/4 stars! This is how you do an angsty celebrity romance!!! 💟‼️
I love to live vicariously through rich and famous people. It’s my favorite trope. That’s why I’m the biggest Evelyn Hugo fan and of other books like Kiss the Sky by the Ritchie girls in the Addicted Series.
GIVE ME THE DRAMA. GIVE ME THE SPICE.
And this delivered exactly that! Emily finds out her fiancé Jake is cheating on her with her agency colleague Stella—yikes—and decides to get revenge on him. She offers a marriage of convenience to his somewhat rival Nicolas who has had feelings for her since they were younger but never acted on it. He ends up agreeing to save his position as CEO at his media conglomerate. But what tickles me? Is that he didn’t have to! This man had so many options but he convinced himself he didn’t only because he wanted her. Man was obsessed 💀 Love it.
Nicolas checks all the right boxes with his eloquence, Italian hotness and his softness for Emily ✔️✔️✔️
Emily deserves to love herself more though. I let go of all my frustration and anger when she stood up to her grandpa and decided to stop seeking validation from others. Her family is honestly 🚮🗑️🔥 this was my only thing I HATED. I could see past her people pleasing, Nicolas’s back and forth and even the goddamn slow burn but this??? It made me so angry I screamed. I DID NOT WANT HER TO FORGIVE THEM. The author was too nice 😃😃😃 wayyyy too nice. Way too forgiving. Screw the character arc and give us her really cutting them off. And them showing up to her wedding…
If you love celebrity romance with a thrilling pace, angst, a long wait in having the tension burn and unravel then this book is for you.
If not, don’t even bother. It’s not for everyone 〰️🎬
Finished 12/02/2026 🎬
I love to live vicariously through rich and famous people. It’s my favorite trope. That’s why I’m the biggest Evelyn Hugo fan and of other books like Kiss the Sky by the Ritchie girls in the Addicted Series.
GIVE ME THE DRAMA. GIVE ME THE SPICE.
And this delivered exactly that! Emily finds out her fiancé Jake is cheating on her with her agency colleague Stella—yikes—and decides to get revenge on him. She offers a marriage of convenience to his somewhat rival Nicolas who has had feelings for her since they were younger but never acted on it. He ends up agreeing to save his position as CEO at his media conglomerate. But what tickles me? Is that he didn’t have to! This man had so many options but he convinced himself he didn’t only because he wanted her. Man was obsessed 💀 Love it.
Nicolas checks all the right boxes with his eloquence, Italian hotness and his softness for Emily ✔️✔️✔️
Emily deserves to love herself more though. I let go of all my frustration and anger when she stood up to her grandpa and decided to stop seeking validation from others. Her family is honestly 🚮🗑️🔥 this was my only thing I HATED. I could see past her people pleasing, Nicolas’s back and forth and even the goddamn slow burn but this??? It made me so angry I screamed. I DID NOT WANT HER TO FORGIVE THEM. The author was too nice 😃😃😃 wayyyy too nice. Way too forgiving. Screw the character arc and give us her really cutting them off. And them showing up to her wedding…
If you love celebrity romance with a thrilling pace, angst, a long wait in having the tension burn and unravel then this book is for you.
If not, don’t even bother. It’s not for everyone 〰️🎬
Finished 12/02/2026 🎬
Review of advance copy received from Author
I’d love to start off by saying that this has been one of my most anticipated books of this year.
And I have to say that this book was pretty solid. Especially for a debut.
I appreciated Nicks and Emily relationship from a surface level,I can acknowledge that Nick never played about Emily and was obsessed about his “little actress”
but on a deeper level I just wished that their relationship could have given me more,as it felt like it was missing something…But that doesn’t mean,I didn’t enjoy them as individuals or a couple at all.
In fact I enjoyed a lot of their scenes together, they didn’t fail to put a smile on my face, for example I loved to see the little things Nick did for Emily, like make her breakfast or just be naturally
caring and protective of Emily, who clearly was going through it, and just needed someone to stand by her side , which Nick did without fail
I really enjoyed the first half of the book a lot because of the pace and what the story was about in general, because who doesn’t appreciate a good marriage of convenience romance.
But….i sadly have to say that I didn’t enjoy the second half of the book as much, because I feel like, there wasn’t anything really happening and that a lot of plot story could have been cut out,as it added nothing to the book but unnecessary tension and pages.
when I got to Chapter 49 specifically, I felt like everything was suddenly rushed, like a lot was happening in just a couple of chapters. Everything quite literally went from 0 to 100 really fast.
But overall I enjoyed the story and I am looking forward to the second book.♥️
And I have to say that this book was pretty solid. Especially for a debut.
I appreciated Nicks and Emily relationship from a surface level,I can acknowledge that Nick never played about Emily and was obsessed about his “little actress”
but on a deeper level I just wished that their relationship could have given me more,as it felt like it was missing something…But that doesn’t mean,I didn’t enjoy them as individuals or a couple at all.
In fact I enjoyed a lot of their scenes together, they didn’t fail to put a smile on my face, for example I loved to see the little things Nick did for Emily, like make her breakfast or just be naturally
caring and protective of Emily, who clearly was going through it, and just needed someone to stand by her side , which Nick did without fail
I really enjoyed the first half of the book a lot because of the pace and what the story was about in general, because who doesn’t appreciate a good marriage of convenience romance.
But….i sadly have to say that I didn’t enjoy the second half of the book as much, because I feel like, there wasn’t anything really happening and that a lot of plot story could have been cut out,as it added nothing to the book but unnecessary tension and pages.
when I got to Chapter 49 specifically, I felt like everything was suddenly rushed, like a lot was happening in just a couple of chapters. Everything quite literally went from 0 to 100 really fast.
But overall I enjoyed the story and I am looking forward to the second book.♥️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy
ARC Review
Overall, I liked the relationship between Nicolas and Emily. I thought the relationship was perfectly paced. The author didnt just throw the couple together without any depth. However, I felt it was lacking more emotional depth and a true "Ef it" moment. I think this could have been achieved if the author gave us more context of the characters as individuals. For instance, I think the family dynamics could have been expanded. Both characters have family issues, but these issues are only just a small part of the story; however, it is implied that these issues have impacted their ability to be in relationships or loving someone. Also, I would have liked to see more of the history between Nicolas and Jake as this was a driving reason behind Emily's revenge. I thought the word "baby" was overused, but thats a minor complaint and probaly more of a personal preference.
Despite some of the criticisms, I did enjoy this read and thought it was cohesive. I appreciated the simplicity of it because even though it was simple, I was absolutely engaged from page one. I enjoyed the revenge subplot, and couldnt wait for karma to do her work. I appreciated the perfect balance of plot to spice, and that the spice wasnt over the top. The author did not leave any gaps, and not only was the main plot resolved the subplots were wrapped up nicely and made sense. The author did leave some intentional gaps, which set us up for the next books which left me wanting more!
Overall, if you want a simple romance that has a perfect amount of spice, with likeable characters this is a must read, especially for a quick weekend or day read!
Overall, I liked the relationship between Nicolas and Emily. I thought the relationship was perfectly paced. The author didnt just throw the couple together without any depth. However, I felt it was lacking more emotional depth and a true "Ef it" moment. I think this could have been achieved if the author gave us more context of the characters as individuals. For instance, I think the family dynamics could have been expanded. Both characters have family issues, but these issues are only just a small part of the story; however, it is implied that these issues have impacted their ability to be in relationships or loving someone. Also, I would have liked to see more of the history between Nicolas and Jake as this was a driving reason behind Emily's revenge. I thought the word "baby" was overused, but thats a minor complaint and probaly more of a personal preference.
Despite some of the criticisms, I did enjoy this read and thought it was cohesive. I appreciated the simplicity of it because even though it was simple, I was absolutely engaged from page one. I enjoyed the revenge subplot, and couldnt wait for karma to do her work. I appreciated the perfect balance of plot to spice, and that the spice wasnt over the top. The author did not leave any gaps, and not only was the main plot resolved the subplots were wrapped up nicely and made sense. The author did leave some intentional gaps, which set us up for the next books which left me wanting more!
Overall, if you want a simple romance that has a perfect amount of spice, with likeable characters this is a must read, especially for a quick weekend or day read!
February 12, 2026
MMC/MFC: Nicolas and Emily
Tropes:
* Celebrity romance
* Marriage of convenience
* Billionaire x actress
* Forced proximity
* He falls first
* Revenge
* Stalking
* Slow burn
Safety:
Cheating (Not MMC/MFC), PTSD, anxiety, stalking, manipulation, confinement by parents etc.
It started well. The prologue was pretty cute and set the scene for their initial meeting.
But then, the wheels started rolling a little wonky. Emily had no self-respect, and it started giving me the k-drama novel vibes… you know, the rival actress is pregnant with the fiancé’s baby. He wants to postpone the wedding to fix the film the OW is in, and she gave no major signs of kicking him to the kerb. She just sort of hid away… then the revenge plot kicked in.
But, I did like her sister, at least. She seems to aspire to my level of petty. And his sister knew just how to push his buttons.
Nicolas was not a likable character at all to begin with, but I did enjoy getting his thoughts when he worked out what Emily was up to…
“This little lamb was no lamb at all.
Emily was a tigress in disguise.
One he’d fully support to get any semblance of payback, no matter the cost.
Because if this was her fight, then it was his now too.”
The gradual change made him a bit more likable, but his character still felt a little flat. But the fact that he kept thinking he knew best just plain pissed me off.
Thankfully, Emily did start to find her spine, but there was a lot going on in this, and the revenge portion seemed to fall by the wayside.
It was a little bit OTT, and at times, like a train crash that you can’t look away from, but I had a good time reading it.
Tropes:
* Celebrity romance
* Marriage of convenience
* Billionaire x actress
* Forced proximity
* He falls first
* Revenge
* Stalking
* Slow burn
Safety:
Cheating (Not MMC/MFC), PTSD, anxiety, stalking, manipulation, confinement by parents etc.
It started well. The prologue was pretty cute and set the scene for their initial meeting.
But then, the wheels started rolling a little wonky. Emily had no self-respect, and it started giving me the k-drama novel vibes… you know, the rival actress is pregnant with the fiancé’s baby. He wants to postpone the wedding to fix the film the OW is in, and she gave no major signs of kicking him to the kerb. She just sort of hid away… then the revenge plot kicked in.
But, I did like her sister, at least. She seems to aspire to my level of petty. And his sister knew just how to push his buttons.
Nicolas was not a likable character at all to begin with, but I did enjoy getting his thoughts when he worked out what Emily was up to…
“This little lamb was no lamb at all.
Emily was a tigress in disguise.
One he’d fully support to get any semblance of payback, no matter the cost.
Because if this was her fight, then it was his now too.”
The gradual change made him a bit more likable, but his character still felt a little flat. But the fact that he kept thinking he knew best just plain pissed me off.
Thankfully, Emily did start to find her spine, but there was a lot going on in this, and the revenge portion seemed to fall by the wayside.
It was a little bit OTT, and at times, like a train crash that you can’t look away from, but I had a good time reading it.
February 13, 2026
Eight years ago Emily was at a party and escapes from everyone in the screening room. When she hears footsteps she hides in the closet while a young man is berated by his father. When she emerges she tells him he doesn’t need to be cruel like his father. He can be respected by being different than him. Not realizing the impression she was leaving on him at the time.
Fast forward to present day:
Emily Pinault has been an actress for years and is known as Hollywood’s Golden Girl. Now she’s dealing with burnout and years of trauma. While on hiatus she finds out her fiancé is cheating on her with an actress working with the same agency as her. What Emily’s fiancé doesn’t realize is she knows everything, including the fact that the other woman is pregnant!
Nicholas Re has inherited his father’s media empire and has never lived up to his father’s standards. Now the company isn’t sure they approve of Nicholas being in control. He needs to prove himself as stable to make them happy and the way to do this is to get married.
Now Emily is at another party and overhears the conversation Nicholas is having with his attorney. At first she isn’t aware it is him but when she does she knows exactly what she needs to do.
She proposes!
Jake, her fiancé loathes Nicholas so this will be how she gets her revenge. Emily gets what she wants and Nicholas will prove he is stable.
In the process both Emily and Nicholas find something they didn’t know they needed in each other. She finds strength within herself and he finds he can’t live without her. What was supposed to be a marriage of convenience looks like might turn into forever.
Fast forward to present day:
Emily Pinault has been an actress for years and is known as Hollywood’s Golden Girl. Now she’s dealing with burnout and years of trauma. While on hiatus she finds out her fiancé is cheating on her with an actress working with the same agency as her. What Emily’s fiancé doesn’t realize is she knows everything, including the fact that the other woman is pregnant!
Nicholas Re has inherited his father’s media empire and has never lived up to his father’s standards. Now the company isn’t sure they approve of Nicholas being in control. He needs to prove himself as stable to make them happy and the way to do this is to get married.
Now Emily is at another party and overhears the conversation Nicholas is having with his attorney. At first she isn’t aware it is him but when she does she knows exactly what she needs to do.
She proposes!
Jake, her fiancé loathes Nicholas so this will be how she gets her revenge. Emily gets what she wants and Nicholas will prove he is stable.
In the process both Emily and Nicholas find something they didn’t know they needed in each other. She finds strength within herself and he finds he can’t live without her. What was supposed to be a marriage of convenience looks like might turn into forever.
February 18, 2026
⭐️ 4 / 5
Well, this was just so adorable!
Emily Pinault is Hollywood's Golden Girl, until a series of incidents pushes her to take a four-year hiatus from acting. Just when she thinks life is finally back on track (she has a loving boyfriend and is ready to return to the screen), she discovers he’s been cheating on her. Cue the revenge plan.
Meanwhile, Nicolas Re has just become the newest CEO of a massive media group. Unfortunately, the board decides that his new position requires him to be married... immediately. So now he needs to find a wife as soon as possible. Cue a meeting between Emily and Nicolas that changes their lives for good.
I loved Emily so much! I adored how she didn’t let her problems consume her, how she took the time she needed to make sure she was truly okay and even then, her ongoing journey of self-healing was genuinely inspiring. And Nicolas! The ultimate green flag. The way he made sure Emily received all the love she deserved? Completely adorable. Even if we know he hates that word, it fits him perfectly. Their chemistry was undeniable, and I really appreciated how much they communicated. Such a healthy, well-written relationship.
That said, I do have to admit I felt a little let down by how both the cheating ex and the stalker situation were handled. I think I was hoping for a bit more drama 😅
Still, major kudos to Emily for not letting revenge become her entire personality and for not needing it to heal!
Now I cannot wait to read the next book in this series if this one is anything to go by! ^-^
~ Thank you to Zanielle Hart and Love Notes PR for providing me with an ARC, all thoughts and opinions are my own! ~
Well, this was just so adorable!
Emily Pinault is Hollywood's Golden Girl, until a series of incidents pushes her to take a four-year hiatus from acting. Just when she thinks life is finally back on track (she has a loving boyfriend and is ready to return to the screen), she discovers he’s been cheating on her. Cue the revenge plan.
Meanwhile, Nicolas Re has just become the newest CEO of a massive media group. Unfortunately, the board decides that his new position requires him to be married... immediately. So now he needs to find a wife as soon as possible. Cue a meeting between Emily and Nicolas that changes their lives for good.
I loved Emily so much! I adored how she didn’t let her problems consume her, how she took the time she needed to make sure she was truly okay and even then, her ongoing journey of self-healing was genuinely inspiring. And Nicolas! The ultimate green flag. The way he made sure Emily received all the love she deserved? Completely adorable. Even if we know he hates that word, it fits him perfectly. Their chemistry was undeniable, and I really appreciated how much they communicated. Such a healthy, well-written relationship.
That said, I do have to admit I felt a little let down by how both the cheating ex and the stalker situation were handled. I think I was hoping for a bit more drama 😅
Still, major kudos to Emily for not letting revenge become her entire personality and for not needing it to heal!
Now I cannot wait to read the next book in this series if this one is anything to go by! ^-^
~ Thank you to Zanielle Hart and Love Notes PR for providing me with an ARC, all thoughts and opinions are my own! ~
February 22, 2026
Love unscripted arc review 💜🌟
Author:
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.75
First of all I want to thank both the author and Love Noted Or for this huge opportunity!!💕💗✨ I love the author's writing, it's really easy to follow and very descriptive, I had a great time reading it.
The book has action after action, the plot never fails. The romance is breathtaking, the author knows how to write a heartfelt romance and it's really beautiful to see Nicolas and Emily fall in love. Their little actions and endearing words towards each other.
I loved that the book wasn't plotless, we don't have only the romance aspect, we have some trauma, a lot of action and plot twists until the very end, and that's something I really appreciate! I LOVEDDD the ending of the book, it portrays how both of the main characters feel towards each other, it was so beautiful and emotional. The characters were realistic, their problems and traumas were well written and I really liked to see how they surpassed the problems together. Nicolas is such a green flag, he's so passionate about Emmy and everything he does for her is out of this world, he's truly a gentleman.
Emmy, or Emily is such a great character. She starts on this book having a lot of traumas and problems and feeling so weak but throughout the book she gets stronger and omggg I loved to see her standing out for herself, I was giggling while reading!!! Overall this book was absolutely 🌟AMAZING 🌟 if you love a good romance book and a book full of plot I really recommend Love unscripted!! It was one of my favorite romance books I have ever read!
The book is already out in Kindle unlimited and paperback so don't forget to check it out!🫶💜
Author:
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.75
First of all I want to thank both the author and Love Noted Or for this huge opportunity!!💕💗✨ I love the author's writing, it's really easy to follow and very descriptive, I had a great time reading it.
The book has action after action, the plot never fails. The romance is breathtaking, the author knows how to write a heartfelt romance and it's really beautiful to see Nicolas and Emily fall in love. Their little actions and endearing words towards each other.
I loved that the book wasn't plotless, we don't have only the romance aspect, we have some trauma, a lot of action and plot twists until the very end, and that's something I really appreciate! I LOVEDDD the ending of the book, it portrays how both of the main characters feel towards each other, it was so beautiful and emotional. The characters were realistic, their problems and traumas were well written and I really liked to see how they surpassed the problems together. Nicolas is such a green flag, he's so passionate about Emmy and everything he does for her is out of this world, he's truly a gentleman.
Emmy, or Emily is such a great character. She starts on this book having a lot of traumas and problems and feeling so weak but throughout the book she gets stronger and omggg I loved to see her standing out for herself, I was giggling while reading!!! Overall this book was absolutely 🌟AMAZING 🌟 if you love a good romance book and a book full of plot I really recommend Love unscripted!! It was one of my favorite romance books I have ever read!
The book is already out in Kindle unlimited and paperback so don't forget to check it out!🫶💜
February 13, 2026
(Edited from 4.5 to 5 stars rounded up!)
Seriously, this book was an experience! I don’t think I’ve met another author that’s writing romance like this and I’m shocked that I even liked this?! Like what kind of sorcery is this? 😳
Let me be frank and say the beginning tempted me to DNF 😭 because I was so frustrated and confused like why is this happening? And why so fast? But I’m glad I didn’t lose my patience and stuck it through because everything that happened in this novel lives rent free in my mind and so do Nicolas and Emily.
For one, the Hollywood theme was clear from the beginning and the author stuck with that. Wished that we could’ve seen more chaos (more chaos really?) no listen. I mean more OUTSIDE of their private marriage. I felt like the secret marriage didn’t do them much as a favor as a whole but just…Emily? I love that woman down, she’s selfless, obviously talented and I was crying when she tied acting to her life but the relationship felt one-sided sometimes. Meaning Nicolas giving more. Which I guess some would argue often happens in relationships. Speaking of Nicolas he was THE HUSBAND ❤️💯💯💯 he kept his promise of protecting her till the very end and I know that’s right!
Overall, this book is a “the girls who get it, get it” one. The ones who don’t simply won’t I guess…
Thank you to the author for the e-arc. This was an insane debut!
⚠️‼️⛔️Warnings I wish I had: 3rd Person, dramatic, quick pacing and events tend to happen back to back, a lot of mentions of side characters
Seriously, this book was an experience! I don’t think I’ve met another author that’s writing romance like this and I’m shocked that I even liked this?! Like what kind of sorcery is this? 😳
Let me be frank and say the beginning tempted me to DNF 😭 because I was so frustrated and confused like why is this happening? And why so fast? But I’m glad I didn’t lose my patience and stuck it through because everything that happened in this novel lives rent free in my mind and so do Nicolas and Emily.
For one, the Hollywood theme was clear from the beginning and the author stuck with that. Wished that we could’ve seen more chaos (more chaos really?) no listen. I mean more OUTSIDE of their private marriage. I felt like the secret marriage didn’t do them much as a favor as a whole but just…Emily? I love that woman down, she’s selfless, obviously talented and I was crying when she tied acting to her life but the relationship felt one-sided sometimes. Meaning Nicolas giving more. Which I guess some would argue often happens in relationships. Speaking of Nicolas he was THE HUSBAND ❤️💯💯💯 he kept his promise of protecting her till the very end and I know that’s right!
Overall, this book is a “the girls who get it, get it” one. The ones who don’t simply won’t I guess…
Thank you to the author for the e-arc. This was an insane debut!
⚠️‼️⛔️Warnings I wish I had: 3rd Person, dramatic, quick pacing and events tend to happen back to back, a lot of mentions of side characters
February 13, 2026
First time ARC reading and I’m so grateful for the opportunity. Thank you to the author Zanielle Hart and LoveNotes.
Let me just say that this was crazy (in a good way!). It wasn’t entirely what I expected from the marketing but it turned out better. I was glued to my seat reading and I felt like I was missing out if I wasn’t especially after the 25% mark. Emily is the good girl actress who has been acting since she was five years old and Nicolas fell for her in a sweet way when she tells him he doesn’t have to be like his father. I think the prologue started things out very strong and though sometimes I felt outside of my head from the events happening back to back it added for great tension. There was character development and even though I didn’t agree with how forgiving Emily was it made me for a good moment for her.
I think the author is brave for making this her debut because it’s obviously gonna ruffle some feathers. She could’ve dulled it down and this is where I had to rate it 5 stars because she did with her own world what she wanted to. And that takes some major balls…
Loved Nicolas. ❤️ He got added to my best book boyfriends (husband technically) list! He was amazing from start to finish. There wasn’t a moment I didn’t feel like he loved Emily and wanted the best for her.
If you’re looking for a thrilling, dramatic, emotional and complex read, this book is for you! If you prefer something more laid back and smoother ride it’s definitely not ✌🏽
Let me just say that this was crazy (in a good way!). It wasn’t entirely what I expected from the marketing but it turned out better. I was glued to my seat reading and I felt like I was missing out if I wasn’t especially after the 25% mark. Emily is the good girl actress who has been acting since she was five years old and Nicolas fell for her in a sweet way when she tells him he doesn’t have to be like his father. I think the prologue started things out very strong and though sometimes I felt outside of my head from the events happening back to back it added for great tension. There was character development and even though I didn’t agree with how forgiving Emily was it made me for a good moment for her.
I think the author is brave for making this her debut because it’s obviously gonna ruffle some feathers. She could’ve dulled it down and this is where I had to rate it 5 stars because she did with her own world what she wanted to. And that takes some major balls…
Loved Nicolas. ❤️ He got added to my best book boyfriends (husband technically) list! He was amazing from start to finish. There wasn’t a moment I didn’t feel like he loved Emily and wanted the best for her.
If you’re looking for a thrilling, dramatic, emotional and complex read, this book is for you! If you prefer something more laid back and smoother ride it’s definitely not ✌🏽
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟.5 rounded up
ARC review: For this one I'll just go with my current feeling and say this was a great debut. It was a hard choice to know how to rate this honestly. It had a lot going on and gave so much that it was obvious the author didn't write this on a whim. But it may also not be something everyone likes because I think it's so niche (again! this is my personal opinion!) The writing style was immersive but it caught me by surprise of it being third person. For some reason I thought it'd be first but it didn't take away from the story.
The characters all showed some form of development/arc: Emily for realizing her revenge did her more harm than good and Nicolas for his emotional aspect of letting someone in romantically.
I think their open door scenes really did it for me and leaned toward such a higher review. The intimacy was REALLY there. They also have cute moments in which I thought they made a really good pair such as when she got drunk when he came home late and their entire honeymoon.
The pacing of the latter half could have been better imo but I can see why it was done to meet the resolutions. It would have been better if the author just made the book over 400 pages and get it all in.
P.S. Also really wanted more of the Nicolas best friend Chase. He seems like a character to love and I was interested in his backstory
ARC review: For this one I'll just go with my current feeling and say this was a great debut. It was a hard choice to know how to rate this honestly. It had a lot going on and gave so much that it was obvious the author didn't write this on a whim. But it may also not be something everyone likes because I think it's so niche (again! this is my personal opinion!) The writing style was immersive but it caught me by surprise of it being third person. For some reason I thought it'd be first but it didn't take away from the story.
The characters all showed some form of development/arc: Emily for realizing her revenge did her more harm than good and Nicolas for his emotional aspect of letting someone in romantically.
I think their open door scenes really did it for me and leaned toward such a higher review. The intimacy was REALLY there. They also have cute moments in which I thought they made a really good pair such as when she got drunk when he came home late and their entire honeymoon.
The pacing of the latter half could have been better imo but I can see why it was done to meet the resolutions. It would have been better if the author just made the book over 400 pages and get it all in.
P.S. Also really wanted more of the Nicolas best friend Chase. He seems like a character to love and I was interested in his backstory
February 18, 2026
Let me start by saying this wasn't quite what I was expecting. Based on the marketing and description, I was intrigued by this book; it was right up my alley, but I wasn't sure if I was going to love it. This book turned out to be so much better than I expected. I really enjoyed it! I also can't believe this was her debut novel! It was so good!
Emily and Nicolas were a great couple and grew a lot in this story. Emily is the good girl, people-pleaser who lets others walk all over her. Then she decides to get revenge on her ex-fiancé, even though he doesn't know he is an ex yet. She eventually discovers who she is and realizes her revenge is only hurting her more. Nicolas was a great support for her, and she found safety with him.
Nicolas has adored Emily since she was 18. She was a fantasy and a crush for the longest time. He didn't go into this with this fantasy, though it was a contract. But he is also getting added to my best book boyfriend (in this case, husband) list. He was great from the beginning until the end! And don't get me started when he spoke in Italian!! He was perfect!
This is the first book in the series, and I can't wait until the next one! I can't wait to see whose story is next!! I would love to see more of Emily and Nicolas. Maybe an extra epilogue or bonus scene!
Emily and Nicolas were a great couple and grew a lot in this story. Emily is the good girl, people-pleaser who lets others walk all over her. Then she decides to get revenge on her ex-fiancé, even though he doesn't know he is an ex yet. She eventually discovers who she is and realizes her revenge is only hurting her more. Nicolas was a great support for her, and she found safety with him.
Nicolas has adored Emily since she was 18. She was a fantasy and a crush for the longest time. He didn't go into this with this fantasy, though it was a contract. But he is also getting added to my best book boyfriend (in this case, husband) list. He was great from the beginning until the end! And don't get me started when he spoke in Italian!! He was perfect!
This is the first book in the series, and I can't wait until the next one! I can't wait to see whose story is next!! I would love to see more of Emily and Nicolas. Maybe an extra epilogue or bonus scene!
April 17, 2026
I ended up really enjoying the episodic storytelling style. It gave the book a slightly cinematic, almost behind-the-scenes feel that worked well for a celebrity romance and kept the pacing engaging.
That said, this is one of those reads where a stronger edit would have made a noticeable difference. There were moments where continuity slipped in a way that pulled me out of the story — especially during more intimate scenes. One in particular had me fully pausing to try to visualize what was happening, and I just … couldn’t make it make sense. When you’re distracted by logistics like “wait, how did we get from point A to point B?” it takes away from the emotional buildup the scene is trying to create. It felt less like a stylistic choice and more like the writing using momentum as a bit of a crutch.
On the flip side, there were also moments of genuinely beautiful writing that stuck with me. The recurring idea of being swept off your feet versus being kept afloat — and the promise of not letting someone drown — was such a lovely, unexpected metaphor.
Overall, this was a compelling, enjoyable read with a unique storytelling style and strong emotional undercurrents — it just needed a bit more polish to fully land. Still, if you like marriage-of-convenience tropes and a slightly unconventional narrative structure, this one is worth picking up.
That said, this is one of those reads where a stronger edit would have made a noticeable difference. There were moments where continuity slipped in a way that pulled me out of the story — especially during more intimate scenes. One in particular had me fully pausing to try to visualize what was happening, and I just … couldn’t make it make sense. When you’re distracted by logistics like “wait, how did we get from point A to point B?” it takes away from the emotional buildup the scene is trying to create. It felt less like a stylistic choice and more like the writing using momentum as a bit of a crutch.
On the flip side, there were also moments of genuinely beautiful writing that stuck with me. The recurring idea of being swept off your feet versus being kept afloat — and the promise of not letting someone drown — was such a lovely, unexpected metaphor.
Overall, this was a compelling, enjoyable read with a unique storytelling style and strong emotional undercurrents — it just needed a bit more polish to fully land. Still, if you like marriage-of-convenience tropes and a slightly unconventional narrative structure, this one is worth picking up.
February 21, 2026
RELEASED 2/12/2026 Love Unscripted by Zanielle Hart - five 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
I read this book as an ARC, thank you @lovenotes.pr and @authorzaniellehart
This book opens with Emma, the MFC having briefly met Nicolas, the MMC after falling out of a closet she was hiding in, having overheard Nicolas's dad berating him.
Fast forward a few years and once again, Emma is eavesdropping at a door and overheard a conversation between two men, one of which who needs to get married quickly, in order to remain at the helm of the family business.
That man is Nicolas and Emma offers to marry him, mostly to get back at her cheating ex, entering into a contract marriage for a year, with no intimate contact allowed.
Well, of course they fall for each other and THAT clause goes out the window! The bathroom window to be exact - there are open door intimate scenes, in case that's bothers you.
There is on page mention of stalking.
This book had me from page one, all the way to the end.
I swooned and had all the feels when Emma says "I'll be both, she finally whispered...I'll be your beginning and your ending, Nicolas." AND
"I'd walked into a house with you and never realized that you'd become my new home."
TROPES
Fake marriage
Virgin MFC
Contract marriage
Cheating (ex)
I read this book as an ARC, thank you @lovenotes.pr and @authorzaniellehart
This book opens with Emma, the MFC having briefly met Nicolas, the MMC after falling out of a closet she was hiding in, having overheard Nicolas's dad berating him.
Fast forward a few years and once again, Emma is eavesdropping at a door and overheard a conversation between two men, one of which who needs to get married quickly, in order to remain at the helm of the family business.
That man is Nicolas and Emma offers to marry him, mostly to get back at her cheating ex, entering into a contract marriage for a year, with no intimate contact allowed.
Well, of course they fall for each other and THAT clause goes out the window! The bathroom window to be exact - there are open door intimate scenes, in case that's bothers you.
There is on page mention of stalking.
This book had me from page one, all the way to the end.
I swooned and had all the feels when Emma says "I'll be both, she finally whispered...I'll be your beginning and your ending, Nicolas." AND
"I'd walked into a house with you and never realized that you'd become my new home."
TROPES
Fake marriage
Virgin MFC
Contract marriage
Cheating (ex)
February 9, 2026
This book was soooo good. And the fact that this is Zanielle Hart’s debut novel?! Yeah… I’ll absolutely be keeping a close eye on her future work because wow.
Nicolas and Emily… OMG. Their chemistry and banter were off the charts. Add in the spice 🔥 and I was hooked. And can we talk about Emily being the one to proposition a fake marriage? I loved that twist. It’s usually the other way around in the books I read, so this was such a refreshing change. Also… Nicolas calling her darling? I melted. 🙈
Nicolas is THE MAN! Protective, sweet, helps her with her revenge, and has always loved her? He 100% fell first and fell hard, and I ate up every second of it.
I’m not usually a third-person POV reader, so it took me a little bit to adjust, but honestly, I was hooked on the storyline from the get-go. Toward the back end, a lot happens, one thing after another, but it definitely kept me on my toes and made it hard to put down.
All in all, this was a solid 4-star read, and I would totally recommend it… especially if you love fake marriage, great banter, and a swoony MMC who is absolutely down bad. 💕
Nicolas and Emily… OMG. Their chemistry and banter were off the charts. Add in the spice 🔥 and I was hooked. And can we talk about Emily being the one to proposition a fake marriage? I loved that twist. It’s usually the other way around in the books I read, so this was such a refreshing change. Also… Nicolas calling her darling? I melted. 🙈
Nicolas is THE MAN! Protective, sweet, helps her with her revenge, and has always loved her? He 100% fell first and fell hard, and I ate up every second of it.
I’m not usually a third-person POV reader, so it took me a little bit to adjust, but honestly, I was hooked on the storyline from the get-go. Toward the back end, a lot happens, one thing after another, but it definitely kept me on my toes and made it hard to put down.
All in all, this was a solid 4-star read, and I would totally recommend it… especially if you love fake marriage, great banter, and a swoony MMC who is absolutely down bad. 💕
February 13, 2026
Overall, this is a cute read. It’s not something that’s groundbreaking, and there was some parts that dragged for me, but overall - it was cute.
Zanielle Hart’s writing is very flowy and cohesive for a debut novel. I really enjoyed the writing from start to finish. It kept me engaged and locked into the story. I also appreciated that we really jumped into the meat and potatoes of the plot very quickly. I think there was a bit of unnecessary fluff in the middle of the book that could have been edited out and the lagging, more slow section would have been eliminated, but for a debut novel, it was definitely well done!
I really enjoyed our MCs and their love story! It was pretty textbook fake marriage/arranged married, but that didn’t hurt it in any way.. just wasn’t something super memorable.
I think the plot really picked up in the last 20% of the book an it makes me excited for read what comes next! The writing and plot seemed to hits it stride there.
I enjoyed, and would def recommend. It’s an easy, fun read.
The Vibes:
-Celebrity MCs
-Stalking
-Arranged / Fake Marriage
-Revenge
-Forced Proximity
-Virgin FMC
-He Falls First
-Familial Drama
Zanielle Hart’s writing is very flowy and cohesive for a debut novel. I really enjoyed the writing from start to finish. It kept me engaged and locked into the story. I also appreciated that we really jumped into the meat and potatoes of the plot very quickly. I think there was a bit of unnecessary fluff in the middle of the book that could have been edited out and the lagging, more slow section would have been eliminated, but for a debut novel, it was definitely well done!
I really enjoyed our MCs and their love story! It was pretty textbook fake marriage/arranged married, but that didn’t hurt it in any way.. just wasn’t something super memorable.
I think the plot really picked up in the last 20% of the book an it makes me excited for read what comes next! The writing and plot seemed to hits it stride there.
I enjoyed, and would def recommend. It’s an easy, fun read.
The Vibes:
-Celebrity MCs
-Stalking
-Arranged / Fake Marriage
-Revenge
-Forced Proximity
-Virgin FMC
-He Falls First
-Familial Drama
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