Perfect Harmony: A Friends to Lovers Cozy Romance

by Zea Kayleigh Galan

They call me the sensitive Thomas twin. The plant-obsessed, sentimental, too-much one.

I don’t let it get to me because my mom taught me to love myself and to nurture the things around me.

I haven’t quite processed her passing, not in the way everyone wants me to. I have my plants, my siblings, and the quiet rituals that keep me moving forward. And I also have him, my best friend, Bryce Hampton.

Family having your back is a given. Finding a best friend that has your back is a rare gift. One I’m grateful for.

But my best friend, he’s nothing like me. He’s an ambitious neat-freak and perfectly on-track to make partner at his law firm if he plays the part right. Fiancée included—except he doesn’t have one of those.

That’s where I come in.

He has this wild idea that we should fake an engagement.

One photo. One ring. One passionate kiss that doesn’t feel like pretend…

I’m willing to go along with his idea because he thinks people like him don’t get to have it all. I think I want to be the reason he’s wrong.

The only problem is I didn’t expect it to feel this real.

Now, I don’t know if he’s falling for me or the perfect version of us that we created to impress everyone else.

274 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 20, 2025

About the author

Zea is a passionate storyteller who brings romance to life with heartfelt emotion and unforgettable characters. A lifelong lover of love stories, she weaves her background in anthropology into crafting tales where swoon-worthy heroes fall hard for their strong, relatable heroines.

Living in the picturesque mountains of Colorado with her husband, daughter, and a spoiled, posh cat, Zea draws inspiration from her surroundings to create warm, vibrant settings readers want to escape to. When she’s not writing, she’s indulging in her other loves: cooking, hiking, designing clothes, or curling up with a romance novel and a plate of sweets.

Zea is dedicated to connecting with her readers and invites you to join her on this journey of love, laughter, and happily ever afters.

Reviews

[Cydney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect Harmony is a cute, cozy, low spice, seasonal read that stretches through autumn and winter with ease, pulling me in with heartwarming moments and taking in the cold weather in Colorado. Bryce and Korra were perfectly imperfect as MCs, and I really loved seeing how they journeyed first as friends and through a fake engagement, ending up in love and wanting to stay together. Unlike a lot of friends to lovers stories I've read, this book is a bit more light handed on the ~we were always meant to be together~ tip—that's not to say it's not there, but I think having the characters organically come to that conclusion in their own time was a unique way to engage with this trope and it was executed well!

There is a really strong story of the ebbs and flows of grief, the different ways it impacts people in the same family, and how it can color how someone experiences their life while they figure out how to cope. Side note: I was not expecting a mystery subplot and I'm so nosy that it's killingggg me not to have an answer! I will be back for book 2!

Korra was a little frustrating at times, especially in how she interacted with her siblings with how she was seemingly unwilling to listen to their logic that could've saved her so much time and heartbreak. Ultimately so many of us have to learn things the hard way, but she gave me heartburn a little. However, that's my homegirl, and imma stick beside her!

Thank you to the author for sending me an ARC!

4.5 ⭐️s
1.5 🌶️

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet friends-to-lovers romance. And I’m a sucker for the fake fiancé trope. I love the Thomas family! They are just so real with how they interact with each other and have squabbles but you can tell they have a deep love for one another.

Bryce and Korra are so fantastic together. They mesh so well and as the reader you can see it long before they figure it out! No spoilers here because HEA are expected.

I liked that it was a straightforward romance. No long miscommunication plot. Just two good friends realizing they are good for being more.

[Cindy Caballero · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bryce and Korra were basically meant for each other from the start, but throw in a fake marriage and suddenly everything gets even better. I loved seeing Bryce realize that having “everything” doesn’t always mean you’re actually happy, and Korra trying to figure out who she is while staying true to her family. Together, they just balance each other so well and make the whole story feel warm, fun, and so easy to root for.

[Sameerah · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, so grateful that I was able to receive the ARC for this heartwarming story.

Reading this, it felt like I was watching a Hallmark movie with a bit of spice and suspense. I loved getting to know the Thomas family and loved witnessing how their bond played out throughout the story. Bryce and Korra’s relationship had me blushing and giggling with how sweet it was; I love how they both had their own development and growth throughout the story because of each other. It was also nice to see a peek of how each member of the Thomas family is dealing with grief and their own personal issues. This story is the definition of a holiday comfort read with the right amount of angst, spice, and suspense to keep you on your toes. Super excited to read the rest of the series and dive into the rest of the family’s adventures. 💖

[Ciara · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – Soft, tender, and perfectly “too much”

OUT NOW!!!

Perfect Harmony feels like a warm hug for anyone who’s ever been told they’re “too sensitive” or “too much.” Our Thomas twin heroine is plant-obsessed, sentimental, and still carrying the weight of losing her mom, and Zea Kayleigh Galan lets her be all of that without ever making her the joke. I loved that her softness is treated as a strength, not a flaw.

Bryce is the perfect counterpoint—driven, meticulous, and boxed in by what success is “supposed” to look like. The fake fiancée setup could’ve been ridiculous, but here it’s rooted in real pressure: office politics, image, and the belief that certain people don’t get to “have it all.” When he turns to his best friend with this ridiculous plan, it makes sense because their bond is already that deep.

The heart of the book is watching these two lifelong friends slide from comfort into something riskier. The ring, the photo, that first “fake” kiss—each moment pushes them closer to admitting what’s been there under the surface all along. The tension isn’t built on big, dumb miscommunications; it comes from grief, fear, and the question of whether you can risk a once-in-a-lifetime friendship for the chance at forever.

I also loved the family dynamics and the Thomas-clan warmth. The small-town setting, the fall vibes, and all the little rituals around plants and home make this feel deeply cozy even while it pokes at heavier emotions like loss and self-doubt. It sets up the Thomas Family Saga really well—you can feel there are more stories waiting in this family.

If you’re into:
• best friends to lovers with real history
• fake engagement that actually makes emotional sense
• an MMC who falls first but doesn’t quite know what to do with it
• a heroine whose softness and grief are treated with respect
• small town, family-centric, fall-cozy romance

…Perfect Harmony absolutely earns a 5⭐ rating from me. It’s the kind of book that makes you want to water your plants, call your best friend, and believe that maybe you can have it all.

[Danielle Grohmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️
Book synopsis:
An ambitious lawyer needs a fiancée to climb the ladder and his best friend agrees, but somewhere between the ring and their kiss, pretending starts to feel like the truth...
One of my favorite tropes is fake engagement/marriage and this book fits perfectly. From the moment of the surprise announce to when Bryce picks out the ring and then the actual proposal.
I love the banter between Korra and Bryce it truly showcases the longevity and fun of their friendship.
I also loved learning about Korra’s family dynamics and how everyone processes grief differently. I look forward to further books in the series with the family members.

I adore how Korra names all of her plants which we get introduced to as she cares for them in the greenhouse that is her apartment.
One of my favorite moments is when Bryce gets sick and Korra refers to him as a couch gremlin. I am totally going to continue to use that phrase.
My other favorite scene is when Bryce goes to pick out her engagement ring and the thought process/decision making process the author puts into detail.
I also love Bryce’s development into a cat daddy.

I overall really enjoyed this book and it gave all the cozy fall vibes. As a veterinarian, I enjoyed the brief vet office scene.Thank you for the opportunity to be an ARC reader.

[Jasmin · Rating 5 out of 5]

**ARC REVIEW**

Perfect Harmony by Zea Kayleigh Galan is such a sweet and cozy start to the Thomas Family Saga. It delivers total Hallmark vibes with a touch of mystery, wrapped in heartfelt writing and well-developed characters. The pacing was spot-on, and the blend of angst, spice, and suspense kept me hooked from start to finish.

Bryce and Korra had me giggling from the beginning. Their chemistry felt so genuine, and watching their friendship slowly shift into something more through the fake-engagement setup was absolutely adorable. Their banter? So fun. The spice? Just right. And Bryce knowing exactly what Korra needed at every turn absolutely melted me.

The Thomas family completely won me over. Seeing how each sibling processed grief in their own way, yet still came together, was incredibly touching and added so much emotional depth. It made the story feel grounded, warm, and real.

I can’t wait to see more from the Thomas family in future books.

If you’re looking for:

🍁Fake Engagement
💚Friends to Lovers
🍁Opposites Attract
💚He Falls First
🍁Home for the Holidays

…this one needs to be on your TBR.

Thank you, Zea Kayleigh Galan, for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[SpicySeoulReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review

I really enjoyed this cozy, fall friends to lovers romance. The relationship dynamics between Bryce and Korra as friends was just so beautiful. You can tell that this friendship has a very solid foundation in how they show up for each other. The engagement was a shock- no literally, my head was spinning, so I know Korra’s was! They essily fell into their ruse though, because honestly- what really changed?

I’m curious to see how the rest of the series goes. I was not expecting the mystery sub-plot, so that was a nice surprise. I am hopeful that each sibling gets a story. I found myself wanting to know more, especially with Lee & Kasey. The sibling dynamic is a delicate one. Everyone is dealing (not-dealing) with grief in their own way but it is evident that their mother’s passing is still raw for them. I hope to see them continue to work through their grief and heal so that they can become closer as siblings.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story! I’m excited to continue reading Zea’s work!

[Maureen Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect Harmony is a sweet, easy-flowing read, and I really enjoyed Zea Kayleigh Galan’s writing style.

The main characters, Korra and Bryce, are absolute standouts. Their best-friends-to-lovers dynamic is charming, and you can feel how deeply they know and understand each other. They’re undeniably cute together, and their comfort level adds warmth to every scene they share.

That said, even though this isn’t a long book, it felt like it took me a while to get through. I found myself wishing Korra and Bryce had connected romantically earlier—the slow build didn’t always hold the spark I was hoping for. While their friendship is solid, the shift into something more lacked a bit of intensity for me.

Still, the family dynamics introduced here promise plenty of drama and development as the series continues. There’s definitely potential for this world to expand in fun, messy, and emotional ways.

Thank you to the author for the ARC!

[Ashontee Billingsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute and cozy fall romance!!! This is book one in the series where we meet Bryce & Korra who are in a fake engagement. I was excited to meet all of the Thomas siblings and learn more about them. They are all dealing with the grief differently but come together as a family through the holidays.

Bryce is working hard as a lawyer and wants to become senior partner. The problem is he doesn’t have a wife and kids. He cares so much for Korra, knows what she needs every time and he’s the best gift giver.

Korra is the twin that loves plants, quirky, and wants to feel connected to their mom. She doesn’t see all the bad in her ex boyfriend that her family/Bryce does. She goes along with the fake fiancé but the lines start to blur.

I stayed up to finish this story! I really liked the pace of the book, learning about their friendship, and the holiday events in the small town!

[Shelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a great read from a new-to-me author! It was perfect for a rainy day, enveloping me in cozy love between friends that makes the heart swoon. I loved the friendship between Korra and Bryce, but once they realized how much more there was, it was spectacular. The grief each Thomas family member felt was layered in making it feel honest and heartbreaking at times. From Korra's quirky plant names to Bryce's ability to read Korra like a book, I loved all the fun details. Even though Bryce's plan is sporadic and unexpected, it's perfect for them to see what they've been avoiding for far longer than either is willing to admit. If you love a cast of characters with unique personalities that lay out a fully-fleshed, heart-warming story, you're going to want to read this.

[Kels · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't usually reach for sweet or small town romance, but Zea makes it easy to care about these characters. Her writing is honest and emotional and the pacing kept me engaged the whole way through.

Tropes:
- Friends to lovers
- He falls first
- Fake engagement
- Small town / home for the holidays

Bryce and Korra make sense. They feel like real people with real history. No drama, just two besties growing into something more. This books is really full of heart. I can't wait to dive deeper into the rest of the family!

[Brooklyn Lowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

-friends to lovers
-fake relationship
-surprise engagement

This was a sweet, with a twist of mystery read. I absolutely loved Bryce and Korra. Both trying to navigate life for themselves, and end up in a fake relationship that turns into a surprise engagement. No one except Bryce and Korra are shocked by the news. And maybe life is finding a way to help them find what they need.

I loved their relationship. But more than that I loved meeting Korra’s family. I can’t wait to see where this series goes!

[Luna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listen even with moving I made the time to READ this book.

The perfect cozy fall book. There friends to lovers, small town, fake engagement and home for the holidays wrapped up in this read. Per usual the writing and pacing was perfect.

A great mix of hallmark movie with a dash of suspense, literally makes for a perfect book.

The Thomas family was enjoyable to read and how their bond played out while dealing with real life things. Bryce and Korra had me giggling and kicking my feet.

Excited to read the rest of the series.

Highly recommend. 😌

[Brianna Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a sucker for a fake fiancé trope

Reading this felt like watching a Hallmark Movie with a bit of spice and suspense.
I loved getting to know the Thomas Family and loved witnessing how their bond played out throughout the story.
Bryce and Korra’s relationship had me giggling with how sweet it was. I also loved how they both had their own development and growth throughout the story because of each other
This story is the definition of a holiday comfort read with the right amount of angst, spice, and suspense

[Mandy Prather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book by Zea it was awesome. I received an ARC for Perfect Harmony.

Korra and Bryce both just got out of bad relationships on top of that Korra lost her mom.

Bryce and Korra are best friends Bryce is a lawyer and is trying to become a partner and to help he proposes a fake relationship with Korra to help each other.

These two are perfect together I love a good fake relationship book plus we get best friends. These two made each other better. And we're always their for each other.
Can't wait for book 2

[Nash Sanchez-Flores · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a friends to lovers and I am obsessed. Korra and Bryce were meant for each other and the way their story evolved was perfection. That sort of cliffhanger at the end really segue quite well into the second book of the series and has me excited for the next book. This book had me in my feels and the spice level was perfect for my taste. Plus the fake fiancee trope is one of my faves so I was invested from the start.

[Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh man, I wish to be apart of the Thomas Family. They are just so real with each other and have each others back even without one of the siblings having to ask for it. They already know the deal!

Bryce and Korra are so amazing together! Friends-to-lovers romance is one of my favorite tropes and then to have a fake fiancé trope on top of it just puts the cherry on the cake!

Would recommend reading! Zea does it again! 👏🏻

[ash😈 · Rating 5 out of 5]

EEEEEK! I absolutely devoured this book!

I love Korra. She’s so down to earth and is literally everyone’s go to. But woman, had me wanting to shake her sometimes😂

And Bryce, that man😍😍 put her first in every scenario, defends her and her honor and proved her worth when she wouldn’t.

Another banger by Zea!

[Katy Ampe Doiron · Rating 4 out of 5]

This a sweet story about 2 best friends that are meant for each other. Low spice. I enjoyed Korra and Bryce’s story. Fake engagement to help him get ahead at work. They, of course, realize their true feelings. This story is perfect for autumn.

[JoAnna VanDorn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bryce is 🥵🫦 amazing and I absolutely love Korra too. I can’t wait for the rest of this series. Cause the teasers in this book, it’s gonna be an amazing series!!!

[Kinasha Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love a good friends to lovers. The characters are relatable. They will have you mad one minute laughing the next. I really enjoyed this book. It’s a cozy holiday read.

[Tara Kat (MagnoliaPigeonBookBlurbs) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this so much!!

Oh my gosh this was absolutely adorable! Perfect Harmony is the first book in the Thomas Family Saga series and I can already tell this is going to be one of my favorite stories to follow! It’s cozy, swoon-worthy, heartfelt and had me kicking my feet! So cute & I can’t wait for book 2!

📚 Series Debut
🐾 Purrfect Cat
💍 Fake Engagement
💕 Besties to Lovers
🍁 Home for the Holidays
🏡 Small Town

This was my first read of a book by Zea Kayleigh Galan and I’m so stoked to pick up more from this author!

[Nikki Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I decided to read this book because of a Tim Tok post from the author and I’m so glad I did! I throughly enjoyed this cozy romance and can’t wait for the next installment!

[Britt 🐺 · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know when you open up a playlist and you already know it’s about to be a 5 star read? That’s how I felt with Perfect Harmony. It was SO GOOD. Dare I say my fave book by Zea yet?? 🤭 I was hooked from the very beginning. Korra and Bryce were perfection. I loved their banter, relationship, family and MORE. The spice too? YUM. The fact that a pair of red lace changed everything for Bryce just had me absolutely feral. This book was such a quick read and filled with fall vibes and romance but with a hint of a mystery that I’m eagerly hoping we hear more about with more books 👀

Thank you so much to Zea for the ARC! And I hope everyone picks up this quick and cozy fall romance 🍂

TROPES:

💚Small Town Romance

🍁Fake Engagement

💚Friends to Lovers

🍁Opposites Attract

💚He Falls First

🍁Home for the Holidays

💚Will They or Won't They

🍁Dual POV

💚HEA

[Jasmine Atkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Perfect Harmony" captures all the delightful vibes of a fall romance! I really enjoyed the dynamic between Korra and Bryce, even though they could be quite frustrating at times. I appreciate that there is still an element of mystery regarding the parents, and I can't wait to see how that unfolds throughout the series, especially since Lee is quite intense.

Korra and Bryce are perfect for each other, and it's amusing how they missed all the signs while trying to maintain their friendship. I love that her sister was very honest with her about her current relationship as well as her budding one with Bryce. It wasn't hard for others to believe they were together because of their close bond.

I also enjoyed how the siblings remained an important part of Korra and Bryce’s story, and I'm eagerly looking forward to their stories developing as the series progresses.

[Nadia Latai (Nadiasbookishworld86) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5🌟

ahhh this was sooo cozy and sweet 🤎🤎🤎
Bryce and Korra's chemistry and Korra's family dynamic was the perfect blend of a hallmark and lifetime movie.... Put on a cozy sweater and drink a warm drink and a sweet snack to fall head over heels... gahhhhh I'm gushing at these two!!! 😍😍😍