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Good at Being Alive
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 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 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.
Rebecca “Bex” Daniels has just lost 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 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.
354 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 16, 2026
About the author
Elizabeth O'Roark
40 books8,227 followersElizabeth 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 940 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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!!
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!!
May 27, 2026
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.
🌶️🌶️🌶️
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.
🌶️🌶️🌶️
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October 22, 2025Releasing June 16, 2026!
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Amazon Worldwide: https://mybook.to/lvRanA
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Nook: http://bit.ly/4n8Avdp
Kobo: http://bit.ly/3JfLmnX
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Audible: http://bit.ly/4orWL3b
Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/47ojRlk
September 1, 2026
2 Vulgar and yet sweet ⭐️⭐️
When the FMC jokes about having **** a bottle, it’s almost a guaranteed DNF. I made it to 60%, but she was so vulgar and, at times, a little icky that I finally gave up.
Rebecca is the misunderstood black sheep of her family, and Theo is her grumpy, straitlaced British business partner. Together, they fake a dream European honeymoon for a reality TV show that could save their struggling travel agency.
Rebecca has just lost her entire family in a train accident, leaving her completely alone in the world and responsible for the US side of the family travel agency.
Only a few months after the tragedy, her father’s UK business partner, Theo, reveals that the company is about to go under. Their only hope? A reality TV deal brokered before her father’s death, with a rebrand.
Bex and Theo are to pose as lovers while travelling across Europe on an extended honeymoon.
Theo can’t help but get swept up in the brilliant whirlwind that is Bex. She is a LOT. A lot of sex, a lot of partying, a lot of everything. Eventually, it became distracting from the romance rather than adding to it. If she were my friend, we would have had conversations.
And that was my biggest issue: at 60%, there was still a real lack of vulnerability, and the romance arc felt stagnant. Their arguments were supposed to feel like foreplay, but for me, they mostly felt like cringey humor.
Which is a shame, because underneath all the vulgarity and chaos, there is something in this story. The premise is fun, the characters have potential, and there are glimpses of a genuinely sweet romance.
Had it not been for the humor, I probably would have hung in there. But eventually, the cringe outweighed the romance for me.
Should you read it? I’m honestly unsure. There is something here, but you’ll have to decide how much vulgar humor you can tolerate.
Chance of divorce? They didn’t make it that far.
When the FMC jokes about having **** a bottle, it’s almost a guaranteed DNF. I made it to 60%, but she was so vulgar and, at times, a little icky that I finally gave up.
Rebecca is the misunderstood black sheep of her family, and Theo is her grumpy, straitlaced British business partner. Together, they fake a dream European honeymoon for a reality TV show that could save their struggling travel agency.
Rebecca has just lost her entire family in a train accident, leaving her completely alone in the world and responsible for the US side of the family travel agency.
Only a few months after the tragedy, her father’s UK business partner, Theo, reveals that the company is about to go under. Their only hope? A reality TV deal brokered before her father’s death, with a rebrand.
Bex and Theo are to pose as lovers while travelling across Europe on an extended honeymoon.
Theo can’t help but get swept up in the brilliant whirlwind that is Bex. She is a LOT. A lot of sex, a lot of partying, a lot of everything. Eventually, it became distracting from the romance rather than adding to it. If she were my friend, we would have had conversations.
And that was my biggest issue: at 60%, there was still a real lack of vulnerability, and the romance arc felt stagnant. Their arguments were supposed to feel like foreplay, but for me, they mostly felt like cringey humor.
Which is a shame, because underneath all the vulgarity and chaos, there is something in this story. The premise is fun, the characters have potential, and there are glimpses of a genuinely sweet romance.
Had it not been for the humor, I probably would have hung in there. But eventually, the cringe outweighed the romance for me.
Should you read it? I’m honestly unsure. There is something here, but you’ll have to decide how much vulgar humor you can tolerate.
Chance of divorce? They didn’t make it that far.
December 9, 2025
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.
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.
June 29, 2026
Time of death: 10:40 am (WAT) at 40% in.
In the 40% of this book I managed to get through, there's been a number of deportation jokes—which, considering the current state of immigration politics in both the US and UK, is extremely distasteful. There's also been several instances of referring to women as "females" which I was willing to overlook the first time because the mmc is a piece of shit so obviously misogyny is part of the package and character growth arc maybe?? but after the next couple mentions, it's clear to me that the author is just misogynistic enough that this is a regular way she thinks of women.
The way Bex is written too is infuriating. I understand that the constant sexual jokes and degradation of herself for male attention is her attempt at deflecting due to how she was raised but it passed the line of traumatized to being quite gauche. She was a stereotype and I didn't enjoy that.
One could say that it's my month's long depressive episode that's made me this short with books but I think I gave it a fair enough chance.
In the 40% of this book I managed to get through, there's been a number of deportation jokes—which, considering the current state of immigration politics in both the US and UK, is extremely distasteful. There's also been several instances of referring to women as "females" which I was willing to overlook the first time because the mmc is a piece of shit so obviously misogyny is part of the package and character growth arc maybe?? but after the next couple mentions, it's clear to me that the author is just misogynistic enough that this is a regular way she thinks of women.
The way Bex is written too is infuriating. I understand that the constant sexual jokes and degradation of herself for male attention is her attempt at deflecting due to how she was raised but it passed the line of traumatized to being quite gauche. She was a stereotype and I didn't enjoy that.
One could say that it's my month's long depressive episode that's made me this short with books but I think I gave it a fair enough chance.
December 2, 2025
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
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
June 24, 2026
I mean, this was entertaining, but it got more & more frustrating as it went on. By the end, I actually wanted to kick the MMC in the nuts. This is a grown ass man with absolutely no idea how to communicate. He treated the FMC so poorly, gave her absolutely nothing to go on & expected her to somehow read his mind & just know how he was feeling about her????? All while knowing how horribly she was treated by her own family too??? & then sends his ex to somehow convince Bex that she was in the wrong for not hearing him out when he had MONTHS to open up to her & chose not to??? & then she opens up to him & tells him why she’s so frustrated with him & ALL HE HAS TO SAY IS “OKAY”?!?!?!?!? I despise this man. & Bex, babe, STAND UP that grand gesture was barely a gesture & he’s instantly forgiven??? My god, I can’t.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 12, 2026
Good at Being Alive is funny. I never guess that Miss O'Roack can write rom com. Usually her books are more serious.
I enjoyed it. The comedy is light and not over dramatic.
The story gives a easy breezy fun vibe.
4 stars
I enjoyed it. The comedy is light and not over dramatic.
The story gives a easy breezy fun vibe.
4 stars
July 4, 2026
Bex and Theo have wrecked my sleep!! What sort of magic did Elizabeth pour into this?? A gazillion stars!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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!
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!
January 17, 2026
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!
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!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 2, 2026
This starts as a dark comedy of sorts, then gets very dynamic and banter-filled!
I loved everything about this book, except the way the hero handled the main conflict at the end.
Still would highly recommend it to anyone! 🙌
I loved everything about this book, except the way the hero handled the main conflict at the end.
Still would highly recommend it to anyone! 🙌
July 1, 2026
They meet at a funeral for her whole family because they died in a train crash that she was supposed to be on but missed because she was too hungover! And she instantly kisses him!
May 26, 2026
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
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
June 24, 2026
A solid 4 stars! Though it took me a while to buy into the romance, because of that it felt like a slow burn. There was definitely some physical attraction up front but woah was there no chemistry out the gate. They snark at each other and it feels uncomfortable. But then the chemistry starts bleeding into the romance as they learn about each other and start looking out for one another. The banter warms up and something real emerges.
The heroine started as one of my least favorite Elizabeth heroines — entitled, a little dim, that 2010s "I love bacon and hate exercise" personalities (looking at you Jennifer Lawrence circa American Hustle release) BUT she grew on me as you get into her past. She's someone who got labeled a certain way, was treated that way, became it as a result. And as she is rediscovering herself without other people's stories about her shaping what she thinks, she really begins to shine with her snarky humor intact. There's so much complicated grief in here as well which adds depth and complexity to this story and made the grief feel more real. I enjoyed the hero slowly becoming more relaxed, but I wish we'd gotten more of him. Even the heroine complains she barely knows him, so I'm sure that was a narrative choice, but his life sound so interesting and I wanted more of it.
One thing that genuinely threw me: the sheer number of Harry Potter references. I'm shocked those got left in, given how horrible that author has turned out to be.
It definitely took me a while to settle in this was such a fun summery romance. I have a feeling this is one I'd like even more on reread.
The heroine started as one of my least favorite Elizabeth heroines — entitled, a little dim, that 2010s "I love bacon and hate exercise" personalities (looking at you Jennifer Lawrence circa American Hustle release) BUT she grew on me as you get into her past. She's someone who got labeled a certain way, was treated that way, became it as a result. And as she is rediscovering herself without other people's stories about her shaping what she thinks, she really begins to shine with her snarky humor intact. There's so much complicated grief in here as well which adds depth and complexity to this story and made the grief feel more real. I enjoyed the hero slowly becoming more relaxed, but I wish we'd gotten more of him. Even the heroine complains she barely knows him, so I'm sure that was a narrative choice, but his life sound so interesting and I wanted more of it.
One thing that genuinely threw me: the sheer number of Harry Potter references. I'm shocked those got left in, given how horrible that author has turned out to be.
It definitely took me a while to settle in this was such a fun summery romance. I have a feeling this is one I'd like even more on reread.
August 18, 2026
Messy. I feel like she should have definitely seen a therapist to deal with her childhood and her grief but overall, it was a summery fun hot romance.
November 28, 2025
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!
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!
July 2, 2026
it is 2026, i thought we’ve moved past the need to include harry potter references in books
August 20, 2026
4 stars for me.
Such a emotional yet fun read.Rebecca “Bex” Daniels just lost her family and her father’s UK partner, Theo Porter after a few months declare that they may file for bankruptcy.Now the only hope is to save reality TV and both of them will pretend to be married and travel to save themselfs.Both could be no more different,yet after a while getting to know each other Bex and Theo may not want to pretend anymore.
I really had a few laughs,could not wait what will come out from Becca's mouth,and Theo was also a good one to shoot something back.Don't get me wrong there were also very emotional moments,and Bex really had to deal with a lot of guilt,then forgiveness.I wish that she get to say to the family what she really wanted,it was painful to see how horrible her step mother was growing up.The banter between Rebecca and Theo was fun,the tension and chemistry explosive,this was a get to really know each other romance that have it all.My first book by this author and already brought two more.
If you looking for emotional,dislike to love and fun romance I would recommend this one.
Thank you netgalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for arc,my review is honest and my own.
Such a emotional yet fun read.Rebecca “Bex” Daniels just lost her family and her father’s UK partner, Theo Porter after a few months declare that they may file for bankruptcy.Now the only hope is to save reality TV and both of them will pretend to be married and travel to save themselfs.Both could be no more different,yet after a while getting to know each other Bex and Theo may not want to pretend anymore.
I really had a few laughs,could not wait what will come out from Becca's mouth,and Theo was also a good one to shoot something back.Don't get me wrong there were also very emotional moments,and Bex really had to deal with a lot of guilt,then forgiveness.I wish that she get to say to the family what she really wanted,it was painful to see how horrible her step mother was growing up.The banter between Rebecca and Theo was fun,the tension and chemistry explosive,this was a get to really know each other romance that have it all.My first book by this author and already brought two more.
If you looking for emotional,dislike to love and fun romance I would recommend this one.
Thank you netgalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for arc,my review is honest and my own.
September 21, 2026
Rating: 3.5 Stars
From a tragic beginning came quite a funny rom-com. The heroine was a bit too crass for me at times, but her personal journey was worth reading. I also felt she had a great dynamic and enjoyed watching their hate turn to love.
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From a tragic beginning came quite a funny rom-com. The heroine was a bit too crass for me at times, but her personal journey was worth reading. I also felt she had a great dynamic and enjoyed watching their hate turn to love.
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March 15, 2026
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.
June 19, 2026
O'Roark's best romance in a while.
August 26, 2026
I loved this but I needed more conflict and resolution at the end. It felt too rushed.
December 7, 2025
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! ✨
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! ✨
July 2, 2026
CW: death of family, death of sibling by suicide, child abuse (remembered - food insecurity and emotional abuse), cheating (adultery, OM/OW). These themes are for the entire book, not just mentions or to add depth for characters.
This book was not a romance. I normally enjoy O’Roark but this was a trauma porn, trauma-processing nightmare pretending to have a plot. I can’t remember the last time I read a book and hated the MMC this much. I kept hoping he would get better. But he was literally the worst. He hides his emotions, keeps her in the dark, betrays her, and the FMC settles for him. And the FMC just had the worst life and we had to relive all her trauma - just when you think there is a breakthrough, some new trauma was introduced. I would give this zero stars if possible.
This book was not a romance. I normally enjoy O’Roark but this was a trauma porn, trauma-processing nightmare pretending to have a plot. I can’t remember the last time I read a book and hated the MMC this much. I kept hoping he would get better. But he was literally the worst. He hides his emotions, keeps her in the dark, betrays her, and the FMC settles for him. And the FMC just had the worst life and we had to relive all her trauma - just when you think there is a breakthrough, some new trauma was introduced. I would give this zero stars if possible.
July 21, 2026
I didn't realize this was going to be an age gap romance (24 vs 36), and while I don't always avoid them this one didn't land for me because there also seemed to be a huge maturity gap. She's constantly making references to sex dares she's done and calling him Harry Potter because he's British while he keeps going on about running the business. It just makes them come across as really poorly matched. It's one of those books where it feels like if they both weren't really hot they wouldn't have gotten together.
That being said, the banter is well written and I thought she handled the balance of the romance with the pretty serious family dynamics and grief well. Bex was an interesting character but it really felt like she just stumbled into a relationship with the first hot man who told her she's smart? It also didn't compute to me that she had zero friends when a big part of the plot was how charming and sociable she was. I really would have preferred for her to have a support network of girlfriends instead of one man who's a whole middle schooler older than her. I would have liked this book more with someone closer in age to her that matched her energy better where they felt more compatible.
That being said, the banter is well written and I thought she handled the balance of the romance with the pretty serious family dynamics and grief well. Bex was an interesting character but it really felt like she just stumbled into a relationship with the first hot man who told her she's smart? It also didn't compute to me that she had zero friends when a big part of the plot was how charming and sociable she was. I really would have preferred for her to have a support network of girlfriends instead of one man who's a whole middle schooler older than her. I would have liked this book more with someone closer in age to her that matched her energy better where they felt more compatible.
April 25, 2026
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.
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.
September 2, 2026
"You're quite possibly the best fake wife I've ever had."
Well I certainly didn't see that twist coming in the beginning. Had I read the blurb, I would have, but I like to live on the edge when it comes to reading romance. And that had me SAT.
From there though, I admit I had mixed feelings. While I have come to love the author's banter and wit, sometimes it could be too much/too over the top here. I mean, Bex alone was ALOT. So much negative self talk. And a GLASS BOTTLE? Really?
It took me some time to warm up to the idea of these two. I mean neither was all that likeable. While it was fun and entertaining at times, I felt it missed the depth of a romantic connection to swoon over. This all just felt very lusty.
Overall I liked it. Not a new favorite of the authors. But I was able to read it in a day, so captivating enough!
3.5 Stars ⭐
Well I certainly didn't see that twist coming in the beginning. Had I read the blurb, I would have, but I like to live on the edge when it comes to reading romance. And that had me SAT.
From there though, I admit I had mixed feelings. While I have come to love the author's banter and wit, sometimes it could be too much/too over the top here. I mean, Bex alone was ALOT. So much negative self talk. And a GLASS BOTTLE? Really?
It took me some time to warm up to the idea of these two. I mean neither was all that likeable. While it was fun and entertaining at times, I felt it missed the depth of a romantic connection to swoon over. This all just felt very lusty.
Overall I liked it. Not a new favorite of the authors. But I was able to read it in a day, so captivating enough!
3.5 Stars ⭐
July 14, 2026
4.5 stars - I read a bunch of the reviews here before I read this book and sheesh... some people here think that this book was written as "great literature" and should be judged accordingly. lol. It's a quirky romance people. For me, it was an incredibly fun romp. I got how damaged the FMC was due to her upbringing with a stepmother who constantly put her down and convinced her to be less so as not to make her stepsister feel bad and a father who went along to keep the peace. I loved her instantly and found her inner dialogue a delight. I found myself laughing out loud on almost every page and when I wasn't laughing I wanted to give her a big hug. This might be one of my favorite Elizabeth O'Roark's yet. I really didn't want this one to end.
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