Good at Being Alive

by Elizabeth O'Roark

A party girl and a grumpy British CEO fake a dream European honeymoon for a reality TV show that could save their travel agency—and give them both a new lease on life (and love)—if only they’d take the chance.

Rebecca “Bex” Daniels has just lost everything: her father, stepmother, and beloved stepsister all died in a freak train accident, leaving her completely alone in the world and responsible for her family’s travel agency. Only a few months after the tragedy, her father’s UK partner, the straitlaced Theo Porter, reveals that the business is about to go under. Their only hope? A reality TV deal her father brokered before his death…with a slight rebrand: Now, Bex and Theo are to pose as newlyweds, exploring the world on an extended honeymoon.

Bex and Theo couldn’t be more different—but though they initially clash, once filming gets underway, Bex discovers he’s also amusing, protective, and kind, the sort of man she’d want to be married to in real life, if she thought for a second she deserved him. As for Theo, he can't help but be swept up into the brilliant whirlwind that is Bex, but ever since his brother died, a real relationship is the last thing he wants.

As Bex and Theo flit across Europe, from Capri to Paris, exploring sundrenched villas and remote fjords, they can't help but notice their walls coming down, and their arguments begin to feel a lot more like foreplay than fighting. But they each carry around more than enough emotional baggage, and they'll have to contend with public scandals, crushing grief, and their burgeoning fame before they can decide if they're ready to ride off into the sunset once the cameras stop rolling.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Summer, Fake Dating, Fiction, Summer Reads

368 pages, Paperback

First published June 16, 2026

About the author

Elizabeth O’Roark lives in Washington, DC with her 3 children. After many years spent writing scintillating brochures about amniocentesis and heart surgery, she is thrilled to have found a job that allows her to just make s*** up.

Reviews

[emelie 𝜗𝜚⋆₊˚ (exams!!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

જ⁀➴ 𝟒.𝟐𝟓₊˚⊹🏖️ 𝟙𝟚/𝟚𝟛/𝟚𝟝—𝟙𝟚/𝟚𝟞/𝟚𝟝
the romance in this book was SCRUMPTIOUS!! i loved the characters and emotional trauma they had 😭!! this book handled the grief so well and the relationship was so beautiful 💕.

i am so happy that I got this arc to be introduced to this author because she seems amazing!! if you love sunshine x grumpy, definitely try this one!!

i will say—i was expecting more of a reality tv show feel. really, i feel like the book glossed over those bits and the fake dating. the focus was definitely more on their relationship rather than the plot. so if your looking for a reality tv show romance heavy on the reality tv—maybe try a different book. but if your just looking for a fun time with a hilarious and entertaining fmc and a grumpy mmc, try this one!!

👀 release date: June 16th, 2026
thank you so much netgalley and random house publishing group for this amazing arc 💙

𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏: 𝟒.𝟎𝟎
𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒖𝒍𝒕: 𝟒.𝟐𝟓 🎬

╰┈➤ what to expect!!!
🏖️ sunshine x grumpy
🎬 fake honeymoon for reality tv
🏖️ forced proximity
🎬 opposites attract
🏖️ american x brittish
🎬 emotional grief

₊˚⊹ ᰔ 𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝:
2nd arc of the day and this one sounds so interesting!! fake marriage, slow burn, likeable characters, fake honeymoon, and only one sled (I don’t even know how that’s supposed to play out)… 🤭

ignore that’s its winter and i’m reading a summer book!!

[Meagan (Meagansbookclub) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

Good, not great. Never felt the chemistry between Bex and Theo. Also, the inner dialogue of Bex was very repetitive and I wish we saw more development with her by the end. Theo was insufferable.

🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Elizabeth]

Releasing June 16, 2026!

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[Natalie | nats.bookrecs · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s something so comforting about starting an Elizabeth ORoark book and this was everything I could have wanted. Top tier hilarious banter, a delicious slow burn, and dual POV that had pining and angst. This was such a beautiful story of grief and giving yourself again, wrapped in numerous moments and a fake relationship that never was really that fake.

I love Bec’s character and how much she had grown in this story. The things she endured and goes through and we get to see more and more of her as the layers are pulled back. I love that Theo sees her for who she really is and wants more of her, he helps her feel more comfortable in the version of her she was always hiding. And Theo, he was such a fun MMC the quiet and broody type but when he was around Bex he completely transformed and became a more free version of himself.

This book was so so good. The story was such an important own to be told. The layers and complexity of grief while also having the soonest romance and a hilarious plot.

[akansha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Going into Good at Being Alive, I thought I had Elizabeth O'Roark figured out.

I'd read one of her books before, so I came in expecting a certain type of story: a beautiful but deeply damaged heroine making questionable life choices and a cold, emotionally unavailable hero who communicates primarily through glaring, brooding, and refusing to communicate like a functioning adult. For the first third of the book, that's exactly what I got.

Rebecca "Bex" Daniels is a party girl with a reputation she fully leans into, while Theo Porter is a British CEO whose emotional availability is buried somewhere below sea level. Add in enemies-to-lovers, a fake marriage, reality TV cameras, forced proximity, and international travel, and I settled in expecting a fun, tropey romance.

Then O'Roark completely blindsided me.

What starts out feeling like a fairly standard contemporary romance slowly becomes something much heavier. The fake marriage ends up being less about romance and more about grief, loneliness, self-worth, and the identities people create just to survive. As the story progresses, both Bex and Theo are forced to confront the emotional baggage they've spent years hiding from.

Bex was easily my favorite part of the book.

At first, she seems reckless, impulsive, and determined to turn everything into a joke. She's the kind of person who fills every silence with humor and every uncomfortable feeling with another distraction. But underneath all that mayhem is an intelligent, curious woman who loves books, travel, and learning. The heartbreaking part is that she's spent so long being treated like the family disappointment that she's stopped believing those qualities matter.

What really got to me was how much of her life has been spent performing. She's learned to be fun, easygoing, and undemanding because those are the versions of herself people seem to like best. Whether it's for reality TV cameras, Theo, or the people around her, she's constantly pretending she's okay even when she's falling apart.

Her loneliness felt painfully real.

A lot of that damage comes from her relationship with her stepmother, Jessie, who had me angry every time she was mentioned on page. Jessie spent years teaching Bex that love had to be earned and that nothing she did would ever be enough. Combined with the loss of her family in a recent train accident and the pressure of trying to save a struggling business, it's no surprise Bex is barely holding herself together.

Theo initially comes across as the classic grumpy romance hero: judgmental, rigid, emotionally closed off, and convinced he knows exactly who Bex is. But the deeper we get into his story, the clearer it becomes that his emotional distance is self-protection that's grown so extreme it's consumed his entire life.

He's still trapped in the aftermath of his brother's suicide and has isolated himself from almost everyone he loves, including his mother and nephew. He's built a prison out of grief, and he's trapped himself inside it.

One thing I really appreciated is that the book never romanticizes Theo's emotional unavailability. It's not treated as a sexy personality trait. It's destructive, and it hurts both him and the people around him, including Bex.

Instead of relying on a dramatic third-act breakup, O'Roark lets the emotional walls both characters have built slowly crumble. As they spend more time together off-camera, they begin to see each other clearly. Their relationship doesn't magically fix either of them, but they gradually learn how to be honest with one another, which made their romance feel much more rewarding.

I also loved their banter. Even when they were driving each other crazy, they were genuinely fun to read. Bex challenged Theo's rigid worldview, while Theo saw through her carefully crafted party-girl persona long before she was ready to admit there was more underneath. What ultimately made them work for me wasn't just the chemistry or tension, it was the way they encouraged each other to heal.

That said, this book frustrated me quite a bit too.

One of the hardest things to read was just how alone Bex is. Throughout the entire novel, I kept wishing she had one truly loyal friend. Just one person who reminded her that she didn't have to earn love by performing for everyone around her.

I also found the lack of closure with her parents and stepmother painful. There's no magical letter, no final conversation, no grand emotional catharsis. They're simply gone, and Bex has to live with everything left unsaid. It's frustrating, but it's also realistic.

Theo's friendships weren't much better. For a successful 36-year-old man, he surrounds himself with some truly awful people. Watching them treat Bex poorly while reinforcing Theo's worst tendencies made me want him to cut them all off immediately.

Now for the one thing that kept this from being a five-star read.

Theo's history with Wendy.

I figured out where that storyline was headed before Bex did, and I hated it. By that point, I genuinely loved Theo despite all his flaws. His grief felt real, his guilt felt real, and the way his brother's death shaped his life was incredibly believable.

Which is exactly why the revelation hit so hard.

Knowing how deeply his brother was hurt by infidelity, it was difficult to reconcile that Theo knowingly pursued a relationship with a married woman. Yes, Wendy lied to him. Yes, the situation was complicated. But at the end of the day, he still made that choice.

What bothered me most wasn't the affair itself. It was the hypocrisy.

Theo understood better than most people the devastation infidelity can cause, which made his actions feel disappointingly selfish. From a character perspective, I understand why O'Roark made that decision. Trauma doesn't automatically make people better. Sometimes it just makes them more complicated.

Emotionally, though, I never fully got over it.

I still believed Theo loved Bex. I understood why she forgave him. More importantly, I understood why she chose him. He sees and values parts of her that almost nobody else notices, and for someone who's spent most of her life feeling unseen, that matters.

The grand romantic gesture at the end absolutely got me. I cried. Reluctantly, but I cried.

Overall, Good at Being Alive is messy, frustrating, heartbreaking, and surprisingly thoughtful. What makes the romance work is that the biggest obstacles aren't external. Both characters are carrying years of grief, guilt, and self-doubt, and the story is ultimately about learning to let someone see the worst parts of you and hoping they'll stay anyway.

I admired O'Roark's refusal to take the easy route. She doesn't give Bex a perfect support system, and she doesn't pretend Theo is a flawless hero. Instead, she gives us two damaged people trying to figure out how to live with their scars and love each other anyway.

By the end, I completely believed in their love story. I just wasn't entirely convinced they'd solved everything necessary for a lifelong happily-ever-after. For me, it felt more like a happy-for-now ending than a guaranteed forever.

Even so, this book surprised me, frustrated me, broke my heart more than once, and left a much bigger impression on me than I ever expected.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What to Expect:
Fake Relationship
Reality TV
Forced Proximity
Age Gap
Hate Banter
Grief and Healing

If Elizabeth writes it, I am going to read it and be emotionally wrecked by the story. After Bex suffers the loss of her family in a traumatic event, she finds herself needing to work with her dad's business partner Theo trying to save the travel company they are both linked to. Their plan to save the company becomes a fake relationship and a reality tv show about Bex and Theo on their honeymoon for the cameras. But behind the scenes? Their feelings are changing rapidly.

This book has so many layers that I ate up like candy. Bex and Theo's relationship might have started adversarial, but it quickly became deeply impactful and meaningful. As some truths about Bex's family comes to light, Theo realizes his opinions of Bex and who she is changed over time. As their banter turned from hateful and biting to a simmering tension, I loved seeing their slow burn chemistry play out over multiple locations across the world.

Bex's walls were so tall, and I loved seeing them slowly come down as Theo became a comfort to her. She was so much more than the character she played for her family, and I loved how this story found a way to highlight how people fall into roles within a family to keep the peace, even to the detriment of themselves. It was both heartbreaking to see, but also cathartic as Bex realizes how strong she truly was, and how much Theo wanted to be in her corner supporting her through each revelation. Theo had just as many layers, and as they both started to trust each other, I loved seeing his protective nature come out.

I also loved how the reality tv show storyline played out. The team were secretly rooting for Bex and Theo the whole time and it made my heart happy to see these two people find a community that supported them.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Dell and Elizabeth for the early copy of Good at Being Alive!

[TJ ☾ · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was a good read, the classic EOR dynamic, but i'm not sure i ever fully warmed to the characters? bex had good character development and i was glad to see her shed some of that childhood conditioning, but i didn't find her struggle of being too hot and genius all that compelling. her martyr complex was excessive and exhausting to read at times.

theo was okay but he had the communication skills of a stone and never fully made me swoon with his devotion for bex. in the end, i liked it but didn't love it

arc review: opinions are my own

[Gosia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not a type of 5 stars read I will be putting in all “my 5 stars reads” compilations and there were couple things I didn’t like (*wished the characters acted different type of thing) but it is still a 5 stars worthy book.

By the time I started reading this book I forgot everything about the blurb (tbh I’m not sure I even read the blurb when I saw this book announced, I might have just auto added it to TBR based on the author and title alone) so in a way I went into this read blindly and it worked wonders for my reading experience. The writing quality is good (nothing new for me, it’s 4th book by Elizabeth I read) but the storyline and pacing kept me hooked as well. I felt all kinds of emotions (frustration too ;p) but very much in a 5 stars book! way.

Bex’s character development - wonderful (with a little “but” at the end, but still very good and visible character development). Theo’s not so much but still both of them, as well as all secondary characters are well written.
(Well written =/= good or likable, there are some characters that will make you angry A LOT, but it doesn’t change the fact that they are well written).

What to expect:
-not exactly enemies to lovers but a bit of such vibes
-grief journey
-fake marriage
-reality TV *but without the usual drama that comes with this trope
-inappropriate jokes
-might give you a bit of anxiety (you know it’s supposed to end with HEA but the stress about how it will wrap up at the end was real, lol)
-British MMC
-“flawed” FMC (cause was she really flawed?)
-age gap (it is mentioned couple times but if you want, you can forget how old exactly they are)
-traveling Europe for the sake of the show


Do not read if:
-inappropriate jokes (death ones, sex ones) are a no for you
-you have a problem with Harry Potter references (there were quite a few in the first half)
-you need all characters to be likable and agree with their actions
-stereotypical British upper class characters are getting on your nerves (cause like, really, they were so bad, but for me it goes to show ”well written characters” category because I rate plot lines and characters not based on if I liked them but on if they make logical sense and are consistent)


This book will be a good beach read but it’s not exclusive to summer reads lists, you can pick it up anytime.
I’m not a fan of reality TV trope and just this week I passed on a book by my fav author because of it, but it didn’t bother me at all in Good at Being Alive (the drama was elsewhere, not in the show production part).
I felt a lot of different emotions (anger and frustration too, just a head’s up) and was hooked on the story all the time. There was not a minute I felt like I want to pause this read, quite the opposite: I was itching to keep going. Because of all that I’m going with full 5 stars.

Now what were the couple things I had problem with:
While I knew Bex would forgive Theo and why, I still don’t fully think he deserved it. The grand gesture type of thing was not good enough, or more like not handled in a good enough way after what he had done. I wish she just made him grovel more or something. Dude, you acted really shitty and then kept acting shitty or just… not doing anything. We don’t want men like that as book boyfriends 😩
Bex had quite big character development while “only” 24”and this 36yo dude just kept acting shitty. King of avoidance and all that. The “I thought you assumed” had me rolling my eyes SO HARD. I wouldn’t call it miscommunication trope but more like not fully communicating. There’s a line when not saying certain things can be easily forgiven and is even needed for the plot, but Theo went so far over the line with just not saying what he should be saying and leaving poor Bex so much in the dark.
All that is to say that Theo’s character development was non-existent or very rushed just at the end and while Bex forgave him very fast, I didn’t (lol). I can see them having their HEA but only if he goes to therapy and ditches ALL of his friends.

I’m not saying the ending was rushed to me but I think some readers might feel this way.


Thanks to Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House and Ballentine for NetGalley eARCs.


*at the time of me posting this review (26.05) there are couple (3-5) 1 and 2 stars reviews posted on goodreads that made me question if we’ve read the same book. Clearly some of these people rated the book based on how much they liked the characters but there was a mention of “deportation jokes” that made me go look for this part in the book and a word “deportation” is not used once in the copy I got from NetGalley

[Lindsay (pawsomereads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good at Being Alive was a heartfelt and engaging read that balanced romance, grief, and humor in a really memorable way. Bex and Theo’s fake honeymoon setup was so fun, but what really stood out was how their relationship grew beneath all the tension and banter. It was a romance at its core and it was also filled with emotional moments that hit hard. Despite the heavy topics, these moments never felt like too thanks to the touches of humor woven throughout. I loved watching Bex and Theo's walls slowly come down as they navigated their pasts and their undeniable chemistry. The travel backdrop added a fun escape, but it was the emotional depth and character growth that stayed with me. It was a touching, funny and ultimately hopeful story about learning how to live and love again.

[Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

O'Roark's best romance in a while.

[Maddie Corder · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars ⭐️

Overall I enjoyed this book. Was it my absolute favorite book I’ve ever read? No. But for what it was, I had a fun time.

The 1st half was hard to get into, but it threw in a twist that caught my attention and made me want to keep reading. Unfortunately after that the book kind of went downhill.

It was a lot of repetitive things. They would film for a tv show (still a bit confused on how that came to be if I’m completely honest), fight, make dirty jokes and then repeat. And then around the 75% mark that changed and we could officially add spice to that mix.

The humor is what saved this book for me, I can’t count how many times I openly laughed out loud while reading this book. Very well done on that front.

The other thing I did not love is it felt like again we knew a lot about the FMC and her backstory and why she was so quick to want to jump into this fast fake relationship/marriage but little to nothing about the MMC and what we did know made some sense. Like the stuff with his brother? Absolutely made sense and gave them a connection. The other things with the friend group? Could 100% have been left out, I was so confused 95% of the time and keep straight who was who.

Though this book wasn’t my absolute favorite I did enjoy it for the most part and will absolutely continue to read and support this author! Thanks to NetGalley for an arc copy in exchange for an honest review!

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m convinced that Elizabeth can’t write anything bad because, guys, I loved this one. Each of her releases outdoes the others, and this one was truly a sweet, slow burn that made me B L U S H.

Not only are both characters extremely likable, Bex’s confidence is just what romcoms need. We love a strong female lead (one that refuses to take any shit from a man) and Elizabeth granted my wishes. Bex had this transparency to her that I’m not used to seeing in FMC’s, as they are usually watered down to be shy and moldable. Thankfully, this book blessed us with the most badass woman who embraced her sexuality and refused to submit to anyone.

Theo was also wonderful. The man that only a woman could write, as I should say. He was perfect. A yearner. Moving him up to the top of my book boyfriend list as we speak.

If you love a slow burn, fake marriage, enemies to lovers trope - this is for you. Don’t sleep on her!

[ash · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the ARC! 🤍
Good at Being Alive by Elizabeth O’Roark follows a free-spirited party girl and a grumpy British CEO who agree to fake a lavish European honeymoon for a reality TV show—hoping it will save their struggling travel agency and maybe even change their lives along the way.

I loved the premise and the overall plot, but I struggled a bit with the characters—especially Bex. I just couldn’t fully connect with her, and I didn’t feel very invested in Theo either, or in them as a couple. I found myself skimming through the second half because of that. That said, I still enjoyed my time reading this and don’t regret it at all—it just wasn’t quite for me. I definitely think a lot of readers will love this one and connect with these characters way more than I did! ✨

[Tia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not read the synopsis of this book before starting it and the way the book began shocked me (but it’s literally in the blurb so that’s on me) 😅

This was so so good, it was such a perfect mix of emotional and funny and sweet. Bex was such a chaotic character but i absolutely loved her, some of her one liners had me crying with laughter. I loved Theo too, he was so grumpy but also so sweet and caring. Their banter and chemistry was everything!!! I also absolutely loved the tv show premise, I’m such a sucker for a reality show trope.

The grief storylines were so beautifully interwoven, I wanted to give both characters a big hug. I do wish we got a bit more of Theo’s story and I felt like the ending was wrapped up a bit too quickly though! Could’ve used an epilogue further into the future.

Overall I had a great time, Elizabeth O’Roark remains an auto read author for me!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Emily Olson · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

Elizabeth O’Roark does an amazing job blending romance, humor, and learning how to process grief in Good at Being Alive. The banter between main characters Bex and Theo throughout their fake marriage and reality TV stardom is top tier. Reading the story from both characters’ points of view heightened the chemistry and emotional vulnerability. Their miscommunication dragged out longer than I would have liked, but that could just be me not being a fan of the trope. Overall a great contemporary B.R.A.D. that kept me entertained!

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐️

[Shannai · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐

Thank you to Ballantine, Dell and NetGalley for the e-arc of Good at Being Alive in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

I love me an Elizabeth O'Roark book; she hasn't written a book that I haven't enjoyed, and let me tell you this didn't disappoint. One thing I love about Elizabeth's writing is the banter and charisma her characters have and how multi-layered they are. Going into this I was expecting for a light, summer read with how the cover and blurb gave the vibes of exploring Europe, and while it certainly had elements of that, this story is steeped in grief, vulnerability and heartache and Elizabeth done an incredible job of not only portraying that, but balancing it with the humour and romance.

This story that follows Bex and Theo is steeped in grief, as Bex lost her immediate loved ones in a train crash. Having always felt like an outsider within her own family and an identity crisis which was nurtured by her step-mother, who went to some extreme lengths of ostracising her and constantly putting Bex down; Bex plays into the narrative of the black sheep of the family, but when they all suddenly pass away, she is now left to save the family travel agency business, thus ensuing a marriage of connivence between herself and Theo Porter, her father’s UK partner.

Bex and Theo could not be more opposite from each other and I think they really balanced each other well with how polar opposite they were. Theo is also grieving for his brother, who tragically committed suicide. He has his own preconceptions about Bex, which was largely influenced by Bex's step-mother, but they are forced to spend time together and get to know one another, he realises that is actually a very vulnerable woman, who has been diminished for majority of her life.

It was actually quite sad how much Bex had suffered, and even without realising it, until Theo was able to show her otherwise, and that she was more than just the fake persona she put on and was made out to be.

They were a lot of fun, and enjoyed how they visited parts of Europe together, even if it was staged, their growing feelings for each other weren't. That said, Theo was holding back towards Bex, and his friends, they were an interesting group let's say, I'm not really sure why he was friends with them, they all felt different to what he was like and not genuine. There was a bit of miscommunication, just with how Theo was holding back some truths from Bex, which again, I didn't quite understand, but it didn't take too much away from them, as they were able to move past it.

All in all, this was a beautifully told story about two people healing after loss, finding love and themselves again.

Tropes

grumpy x sunshine
reformed playboy
age gap
fake marriage of convenience
reality tv show

[Catarina Vieira | umlivroduplicado · Rating 5 out of 5]

"You're good at being alive."

Every time I pick up an Elizabeth O’Roark book, I go in as blindly as possible because, deep down, I know she’s going to deliver a story that I’ll fall completely in love with. But even with those expectations, I was not prepared for what I found in Good at Being Alive.

Let me warn you: this is a deep book. It explores life, death, identity, grief, and the ways we allow ourselves to be seen by others. And I’m not exaggerating when I say that this story changed something in me. It felt as though, by the end, I had learned how to be a little better at being alive too.

As always, Elizabeth left me speechless with her heroine. Bex is such a beautifully layered character, and getting to know her was an absolute privilege. Truly. I loved everything about her and found myself wishing she were real because I desperately wanted to give her a hug. She feels incredibly authentic, especially if you’ve ever been in your early twenties, lost, and trying to figure out who you are after losing the people and things you thought defined you.

But this is an Elizabeth O’Roark book, so of course she also gave us a British grump to fall head over heels for. Theo is exactly that. His love for Bex makes you fall in love not only with him, but with yourself too. He sees her in a way that encourages her, and us, to embrace who we truly are. He’s kind, incredibly sexy, and just as layered as Bex. Theo quickly became one of my favorite Elizabeth heroes and, quite honestly, the new love of my life.

Elizabeth O’Roark is more than a writer; she’s a storyteller. She creates stories that make us believe in love, but more importantly, believe in ourselves. Good at Being Alive is a journey through grief, healing, self-discovery, and connection. It’s so much more than a romance novel… it’s a moving, unforgettable experience about relationships, acceptance, and learning to embrace who we truly are at our core.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elizabeth O’Roark always delivers a great read. Her latest, Good at Being Alive, is another touching book with unexpected depth and great character development.

The storyline here is somber and sad and my heart really did hurt for Bex, the FMC. While her self-doubt and ongoing sense of failure are the result of an uncaring and selfish stepmother, her solid character and big heart are all her own. Bex is a great character who hides her insecurities and doubts behind a party girl no-f’s-given attitude. Her grief and slow unwinding is really well done and you care very much about what happens to her.

Theo, the MMC, is drawn differently. While Bex is open and forthcoming about everything, Theo holds everything back. His character isn’t fully developed until close to the end of the book. It’s intentional to keep the edge of unknown but it did make it hard to see depth in his connection with Bex. Sure, they had physical chemistry, but he is so emotionally removed for so long that it feels callous at times. It still worked and their relationship builds as the story progresses but I wish we had gotten a slower and earlier unwinding from Theo so the depth of the relationship came through on both sides. My only minor issue!

Overall, highly enjoyable read with a touching story and great characters. Elizabeth O’Roark is just so consistently good!

Thank you to NetGalley, Ballantine Books and Elizabeth O’Roark for the opportunity to read an ARC of this great book and share my thoughts.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elizabeth O'Roark is an automatic read author for me so I went into this one knowing nothing of the premise of the book. Therefore, I was caught a bit unaware by the early tragedy in this one.
However, Bex, the fmc is one I have come to expect from O'Roark - a strong female who has sacrificed her sense of self for the sake of others or for her own mental state. Of which I can relate.
It was at times difficult reading about how much Bex sacrificed to fit into her family and yet never felt she achieved that of which she longed for.
Theo was an mmc that I thought was unnecessarily cruel past a certain point. I understand the misconceptions he had of Bex and his treatment of her made sense at first, but at a certain point, as he learned more about her, his treatment of her lasted just a tad longer than I was comfortable with. I also didn't love all of Theo's choices but of course, I came to love Theo and Bex and while I felt the ending was a bit rushed, I did thoroughly enjoy this one.

[Ellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. The slow burn was top tier. I cried several times, in the best way. I absolutely loved the way Theo showed up for Bex and the whole premise of this story. There were a few jokes I felt were maybe crossing the line but otherwise I enjoyed it so much.

[Anna Margaret Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, thank you NetGalley and Ballentine books for an advanced copy of this book!

4.5 ⭐️ I absolutely loved this book. The banter between the characters was so much fun to read. Theo and Bex had the kind of dynamic that makes you smile while reading, and once the book ended, I genuinely wasn’t ready to let them go. Honestly, Elizabeth could write another 500 pages about Theo and Bex’s life after this book and I would happily read every single one.

The only thing that held this back from a full five stars for me was the lack of communication. So much of the conflict could’ve been avoided with one simple conversation. That said, I understand every book needs a bit of drama, and it didn’t stop me from loving the story overall.

If you enjoy strong chemistry, great banter, and characters you don’t want to say goodbye to, this one is absolutely worth the read.

[Maddie Carr · Rating 5 out of 5]

At the very beginning of the story I wasn’t sure that this was going to be for me and I was pleasantly surprised that I ended up absolutely loving it. Our MCs provided top tier banter, a slow burn worth waiting for and dual POV with an intense amount of pining and angst. These characters had a great amount of depth and I really appreciated some of the real world things that O’Roark tackled - grief, infidelity, problematic blended families. Highly recommend picking up this on pub day, June 16th.

read if you like:
- grumpy sunshine
- marriage of convenience
- age gap
- grief
- travel TV show
- top tier banter

thank you so much to Dell for allowing me to be an early reader. All thoughts are my own!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Dell Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and an opportunity to do an early review. I absolutely love Elizabeth O’Roark’s writing style and her latest, Good At Being Alive, proved to be another 5 star read for me!

This book deals with some darker themes around grief, infidelity and problematic blended families. I always appreciate how Elizabeth provides depth to her characters with challenges they wrestle with from their past, in order to find happiness in their future. Her trademark brilliant banter and witty humor manage to also make you, the reader, laugh out loud at some of their antics and conversations. The chemistry between Bex and Theo, our leads, is off the charts from the get go, even if they are both quite scared of letting anyone in at the outset. This one is a slow burn but when we get to the steam, it is WORTH the wait!

I love to travel and Elizabeth finds a way in so many of her books to take readers to epic destinations that come alive off the page. In this book, we get to visit Iceland and many locations throughout Europe including Paris and the Amalfie Coast. This was icing on the cake for me in an otherwise super enjoyable romance.

Overall, I loved rooting for a happy ending for Bex and Theo and flew through this one!

[Kari Bunce (Books With Herb) · Rating 5 out of 5]

How often do you actually giggle out loud while reading? Elizabeth O’Roark manages to make it happen every time. Her characters shine—especially her heroines, who always feel like chocolates with a caramel center: a tough exterior wrapped around a surprisingly tender heart. And her heroes? They may appear aloof, but they’re usually the ones who fall first, which is one of my favorite dynamics.

This story is packed with sharp, witty banter (including some genuinely funny British jokes), and the settings—Paris, Italy, and beyond—add so much charm that you can practically feel yourself being swept away. It’s one of those books you keep telling yourself you’ll put down or read more slowly… and then you never do.

I can’t wait for everyone else to get their hands on this one. Elizabeth O’Roark never misses.

[Mariah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the perfect amount of tension, quick witty banter, and spice! I always love Elizabeth O'Roark's work because of these things and this one was no different!

My only complaint is that at times I felt a little lost with some of the outlying characters. Because of this I felt that the plot was kind of just throw in at the end. I didn't quite understand the friend group (Theo's) until the very end which was disappointing. If I had grasped the friends and their importance I might have enjoyed the ending more! But, I still would recommend this especially for my KU people!

Trigger warnings: tragic death of family members, suicide

Thanks to Ballantine and O'Roark for this eARC!

[Stephanie]

3.5

Good at Being Alive is quite good at exploring grief, in unpacking trauma, and in finding deserving love. It's a story that feels real and raw in its delivery, echoing life's highs and lows. All throughout I was impacted emotionally, even during stumbles, I felt moved by this work. I left with complex feelings which given the narrative feels fitting.

Bex has just lost her entire family. Her father, sister, and stepmother were killed in a train crash, They leave behind a travel company on the brink of collapse, until an idea for a reality show comes into play to salvage the company. An idea that can only work if Bex’s late father’s partner, Theo, agrees to co-star with Bex. The catch? Bex and Theo need to pose as newlyweds.

Gosh, this story took me through a series of emotions. Mostly positive, but sometimes admittedly not. But all in all, always feeling real, which I appreciate. Firstly, I just want to say I adored Bex. She’s crass, crude, and blunt. But she’s also strong, caring, witty, attentive, and incredibly intelligent. She’s freaking brilliant. But it’s a brilliance she purposely dulls. A shine she wipes away, stemming from unexplored childhood trauma in which she was conditioned to feel smaller than everyone else. To not take up space, to not be brilliant. This story takes Bex on a journey to allow herself to shine. I loved how she’s almost a walking contradiction. Some may see her as unfocused and undependable, but she’s incredibly attentive. We see how she comes to know each crew member of the reality show, and shows genuine care about their lives. We see how she can spout out the most random facts born from the most inquisitive of minds. And we see how she undersells and undervalues herself. And my heart just broke for her, again and again. It just broke for her. For me, the greatest strength in this work is seeing Bex take hold of her worth and believe in it. As I always believed in her throughout this journey.

As much as I enjoyed our fmc, I found myself stumbling with our mmc, Theo. Loving him didn’t come easily. I absolutely appreciate complex, flawed mcs. Which Theo 100%. He absolutely is, and I feel hypocritical in taking issue with his characterization when it ultimately serves positively in terms of character building. My problem is it took me too long to appreciate his evolution, because it takes a touch too long to get going. I found myself more frustrated than understanding of Theo for a good chunk of this work. He kept himself tightly wound, never allowing Bex in, the way she did for him. Even when it’s clear he sees her true value, he doesn’t grant her the trust she deserves. The boy got me frustrated, I must confess! That said, one of my favorite parts of this work comes from him. It comes from how he clearly sees Bex. As mentioned, he absolutely sees her true value. He initially misjudges her, but he starts to take note of every time she proves him and others wrong, realizing her true self. And he doesn’t allow anyone, even herself, to continue making her feel small nor diminish her in any way. I think the best of his character is how his realization leads to encouragement, encouraging Bex to own up to who she is rather than to diminish herself. So yeah, I had some complicated feelings towards Theo, but he comes through in the end.

My other stumble came in the form of incessant Harry Potter references, especially in the first half of the work. Considering its author’s controversy, as well as simply the sheer number of references, I just found myself irked by the constant barrage of references than humored. Besides that inclusion, I did overall enjoy the dark toned humor in the narrative, courtesy of Bex. And besides my tepid reception of Theo, I did come to really love his dynamic and romance with Bex.

It’s complex, it’s complicated! And it’s also how I received this work. I remain a steadfast fan of Elizabeth O’Roark’s work. This may not dethrone my favorite title by her, but it’s a work I’m glad to know.

Thank you kindly to Dell Romance and NetGalley for this complimentary eARC, I leave this honest review voluntarily.


_____
original post-read thoughts

I'm torn about this one. I'm thinking to settle on 3.5, but I'm just so torn because I have always loved Elizabeth O'Roark's works and expected to fall as easily into love with this book as I did her others. But I leave with mixed emotions. There *are* things I loved, but also things I didn't.

Some quick thoughts as I draft up my review:

It took me a long time to warm up to the mmc. I feel a bit of a hypocrite letting that bother me because I always, always prefer flawed mcs. I like to see protagonists that evolve, and Theo absolutely does. But it took me longer than expected to warm up to him.

The Harry Potter references. There were so many! Too many! It detracted from the narrative due to its excess. I just found it distracting and honestly surprising with all things considered, it was off-putting seeing it referenced over and over again. It took me away from the story at times.

Those are my two big qualms. But I still loved the final act of the work and I especially loved our fmc. But yeah...torn. I do lean mixed-to-positive so I think I'll stick with 3.5

full review to come.

[Whitnie Clarke-Barrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s something that happens when you pick up an Elizabeth O’Roark book. Your shoulders drop. Your nervous system sighs. You think: okay, I’m in good hands now. And then she proceeds to pull the floor out from under you — gently, expertly, with full premeditation — and you thank her for it anyway.

Good at Being Alive has a premise that sounds like peak romance candy — party girl and grumpy British CEO fake a honeymoon for a reality TV show to save their travel agency — and it is that, completely and deliciously. But O’Roark, being O’Roark, is also doing something much quieter underneath all the sundrenched villas and European backdrops. She’s telling a story about grief. About the roles we fall into within families just to keep the peace, even when those roles slowly hollow us out. About what it looks like to stop performing your life and actually live it.

Bex is the kind of heroine you don’t so much meet as get ambushed by. Her dark, morbid, slightly inappropriate humor had me endeared to her within the first chapter and completely devoted by the end. She’s unapologetically herself — foul-mouthed, mostly self-aware, deeply funny — and watching Theo see exactly who she is and want more of her? Genuinely one of my favorite things a romance can do. He’s quiet and broody in all the right ways, the kind of man who won’t announce that he’s taking care of you, he’ll just… do it, and you’ll realize three scenes later that your whole chest hurts.

The banter is exceptional. O’Roark writes wit like it’s a second language she’s been fluent in since birth, and the slow burn here has enough “will they, won’t they” tension to keep you absolutely feral the entire time. Add in opposites attract, an age gap, low-stakes OW drama that serves its purpose without overstaying its welcome, and — I cannot stress this enough — an impressive amount of masterfully placed Harry Potter-themed sexual innuendo, and you have everything I personally require from a romance novel.

I finished this in one day. One. I have children and a job and responsibilities and I finished it in one day.

Also, fuck Jessie.

If you’re looking for romance at its core — the kind that makes you believe in love but also, more importantly, in yourself — this is it. Elizabeth O’Roark isn’t just writing books. She’s building a body of work that keeps reminding us what it means to be good at being alive.

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this so much! The banter is top-notch and I laughed out loud throughout the entire book. This story also explores heavy themes of grief that are balanced by the humor.

Bex has just lost her entire family in a tragic train crash that she only avoided because she missed her flight. They were supposed to be heading to London to film a reality TV series that would help save their family-friendly travel agency on the verge of bankruptcy. Now she is left alone to manage the agency with Theo, her father’s London-based business partner whom she has never met.

Despite never meeting before, Theo has heard plenty about Bex from her father and step-monster—all of it negative. Yet when Theo meets Bex he cannot reconcile the girl he has just met to the one her parent’s described. In just a few days time, Bex has managed to set up a meeting with a top reality TV network exec and completely rebrand the show. Unfortunately that rebrand features her and Theo getting married and traveling as newlyweds across the world. What could go wrong?

I absolutely adored Bex and Theo. Bex is so fun and brings humor and light to almost every situation. Theo is definitely more of a stick in the mud—but he does begin to develop a personality as the story progresses. Each burdened by their own grief, they begin to rely on one another as they develop a real connection. Both of them realizing they may have completely misjudged one another from the start.

I just thought this was excellent. The reality TV plot is definitely secondary to the romance, with a little less emphasis on the destinations than I expected. It is a slowww burn and on the longer side for a romance but I loved every second of it. I’m a huge Elizabeth O’Roark fan and this did not disappoint.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Misty • booksplusplants · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just want to start this by saying that I love Elizabeth O’Roark. I’ve read and enjoyed many of her books. This, however, was a bit of a miss for me.

First I need to get this off my chest... Why are there several Harry Potter references and jokes about deportation in the year 2026? Gross.

Second of all, I did not really care for Theo for the majority of the book. Bex just lost her entire family in one swoop. She was grieving, and I felt some of his comments were just rude.

Even though Theo was kind of a jerk, I was still eating up the banter and tension. Bex was so quick-witted and entertaining. I loved her character. Honestly, my heart broke for her. I can’t imagine leading the life that she has where you feel like your father doesn’t care about you. Your stepmom is a witch. Your stepsister is the only person you have and that’s only because you’ve been hiding so much of yourself from her. All so you can make her believe your family is happy.
Truly heartbreaking. I did love how Theo (eventually) would remind her she was not the person her stepmom portrayed her to be. Bex had incredible growth throughout the book and that was hands down my favorite part.

Theo has a secret and when it is revealed at the end, it felt hypocritical and icky. He never redeemed himself for me.

I LOVE Elizabeth’s writing. I am always going to be a big fan, that’s not going to change. I really loved the traveling aspect. Elizabeth does a fantastic job of painting a very vivid setting!

I look forward to whatever is next from Elizabeth.

ARC review