Fall in Maple Grove, Vermont is a nightmare. The population of the tiny town I grew up in doubles overnight, everything is suddenly maple flavored, and the weather develops a split personality. I’ve successfully avoided it for more than a decade. But, thanks to my parents’ anniversary celebration, this year I’ll be wedged into the thick of it. These two weeks will challenge my patience, test my tolerance for pumpkin spice, and require lots and lots of aspirin. I thought dealing with the crowds and my mother’s never-ending questions about my social life would be the most stressful part of my trip home. Then I accidentally declare myself Harper Olson’s brand-new fake boyfriend. My attempt to save the girl of my teenage dreams from an awkward situation backfires. Epically. Soon our web of lies is wound so tight I can’t get loose. And maybe I don’t want to. Because Harper’s sweet smiles, terrible poker face, and Wordle addiction are making me think the leaves aren’t the only things falling.
Friends to lovers isn’t my favorite trope but fake dating is my shitttt and this was done really well and super cute!
I loved that Benjamin was portrayed as less of a “manly man” and more reserved, sensitive and caring. It showed him in a much different way than most MMC’s are portrayed and I liked it a lot.
The tension was killing meeeee, the back and forth of the POV and both of them falling but not able to admit it to each other!!! When it all finally worked out I couldn’t have been happier lol
The only thing that I was sad about is Benjamin didn’t tell Harper her loved her out right but she did to him.
The Fall Guy by Janice Whiteaker, writing as Josie Watts, is an absolute delight. It is my new favorite romance read this season. This friends-to-lovers story between Benjamin and Harper hits all the right notes: heart, heat, and the kind of emotional pull that makes this book “a can’t put down read”. This book immediately draws you in. Benjamin and Harper’s accidental dating situation is equal parts sweet and sizzling, making their journey from friendship to love both believable and addictive. Their connection feels genuine, built on years of shared history, which makes their leap into something more even more satisfying. The characters are so relatable and likeable. And it’s not just the leads; the supporting characters are well developed and add depth and warmth, creating a world you don’t want to leave. While part of the Josie Watts book series, this novel can easily be read as a stand-alone, giving both new readers and long-term fans a chance to fall in love with Josie Watts’, aka Janice Whiteaker’s, writing. If you’re looking for an amazing fall read full of charm, chemistry, and heartfelt moments, The Fall Guy is it. This tory delivers a romance that lingers long after the last page.
As a fan of this author, I jumped at the chance to read her latest book, and it is a perfect one for the beginning of the Fall season.
Benjamin has been friends with Harper for years, and while she stayed in their small Vermont town, he left and became a successful business owner in Florida. His return to town for his parent's anniversary put him in a perfect position to be Harper's fake fiancé. Only, building on their years of friendship, it was easy for both of them to feel more! (Why does she need a fake fiancé? Grab this and find out!)
This was an easy story to connect with and the characters are fun. I couldn't stop reading, and loved the dynamics of her book club friend group.
All the entertaining features of a small town read are here, with a steamy connection between Harper and Benjamin that I enjoyed. This connects with the Sweet Side books, so best if you know those characters as well...IMO.
I recommend this author and this story, and suggest reading more from her catalog of unforgettable works, once done here.
Loved this book for Benjamin and Harper. We have the fake fiancé, friends to lovers, both in denial scenario.
This is an absolutely sweet read, with some humour thrown in for good measure.
Benjamin steps in to save the day when Harpers Ex decides to be an overbearing idiot. Things escalated big time from there, small town & gossip go hand in hand and spreads like wildfire.
Only the fake doesn’t last long, both realising they’ve always had feeling just never did anything about it.
This was a fun read, great page turner.
We get a nice link to the Big North West series which I loved and we get to pop back to Sweet Side where all the crazy happens.
I generally like everything I’ve read by this author, but this one wasn’t for me.
I almost immediately stopped a few pages into chapter 1, but I officially called it quits when I got to chapter 3. The book starts with the most ridiculous airplane scenario that was anything but funny. I just kept thinking “there’s no way …” When I finally got to chapter 3 and the ex boyfriend insisted the FMC didn’t mean what she said at any point she said she wanted nothing to do with him, I was done. Between the opening scene, the MC’s mom immediately asking about his love life, and the FMC’s ex, I couldn’t bring myself to care about anything that followed.
Benjamin and Harper have a cute friends to more romance. Their story is one of overcoming fear and going after what you truly want in life.
What do you do when you on and off boyfriend of 10 years won’t honor the final breakup? You pretend with your sweet, hot friend who is kind and has his life together.
There are a lot of laugh out loud moments as well as heat between the two. The side characters are hilarious and they have good families. A nice HEA.
I absolutely love this book! I was waiting for it to come out and it did not disappoint. I just loved everything about this book, I thought the vibes were great, characters are great, I loved character development, I love the pacing, and I really just love the ending. I think this is the perfect book to get you in the fall spirit and I absolutely could not put it down
Harper and Benjamin have been friends for years, having grown up in the same small Vermont town. This fall, Benjamin is home from Florida (Sweet Side) to celebrate his parents' 50th anniversary, and Harper has finally made her on/off again boyfriend off, though the bf will not take the hint that they are done. Thankfully, Benjamin is there to step in as Harper’s almost fiancé, and feelings develop. As always, there is great plot and banter, a wonderful geriatric girl gang, and just the right amount of spice, oh, and fall in Vermont. Enjoy!