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You’re My Cherry Pie
Pre-order Athena Carstairs’ new stunning rom-com
You’re My Cherry Pie
now! Your next favourite summer read awaits… 🍒It’s cherry season, and fake dating’s in the air…
🍒 PRAISE FOR ATHENA CARSTAIRS 🍒
'The chemistry, the banter, the arguments, the town, the friends, relationships, everything made for a heart-warming easy to pick up read that I would highly recommend!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'This was absolutely fantastic.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'It’s the kind of book that wraps around you like a blanket, makes you smile at the funny moments, reflect during the heartfelt ones and immediately wish for a sequel.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I loved the autism representation! This is such a cozy and sweet read' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'This is a charming, cozy and light read' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'As an autistic reader, the autism representation in this book is amazing and really meant a lot to me. Honestly got quite emotional as I could relate to a lot of Augusts problems and feelings.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🍒 PRAISE FOR ATHENA CARSTAIRS 🍒
'The chemistry, the banter, the arguments, the town, the friends, relationships, everything made for a heart-warming easy to pick up read that I would highly recommend!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'This was absolutely fantastic.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'It’s the kind of book that wraps around you like a blanket, makes you smile at the funny moments, reflect during the heartfelt ones and immediately wish for a sequel.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I loved the autism representation! This is such a cozy and sweet read' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'This is a charming, cozy and light read' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'As an autistic reader, the autism representation in this book is amazing and really meant a lot to me. Honestly got quite emotional as I could relate to a lot of Augusts problems and feelings.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- GenresRomance
372 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 9, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
July 9, 2026
These two have known each other forever, allegedly can't stand each other, and somehow communicate almost exclusively through competitive bickering and mutual annoyance. Except... the annoyance has always had the energy of two people who would absolutely notice if the other one got a haircut. Then there was that kiss they both agreed to shove into a locked mental filing cabinet labeled "Never Happened," which, naturally, meant neither of them thought about anything else for eight months.
Then Finn accidentally lets his family believe they're dating, and suddenly everyone is committed to this fake relationship except the man who has apparently been in love with Oakleigh since dinosaurs roamed the earth. This wasn't fake dating for him. This was "I've been rehearsing for this role my entire adult life."
Finn absolutely carried this book for me. This man notices everything. He remembers tiny details. He plans around what makes Oakleigh comfortable before she even asks. He's the kind of person who quietly fixes problems before anyone else realizes they exist. Meanwhile Oakleigh keeps staring at this walking green flag like she's waiting for him to reveal he's actually three raccoons in a trench coat.
I did understand why she struggled to trust him. Old hurts have a way of hanging around long after everyone else has moved on. But there were moments where I wanted to gently rotate her shoulders toward the man who was practically holding up a flashing billboard that said, "I HAVE BEEN IN LOVE WITH YOU FOR FIFTEEN YEARS, PLEASE READ THE SIGNS." Girl. The signs are in twelve-foot letters.
The fake dating itself was honestly adorable. Watching them try to convince everyone they were a couple while accidentally becoming... an actual couple... never gets old for me. The little touches, the inside jokes, the moments where they forgot they were supposed to be pretending, those were my favorite parts. It felt less like two people falling in love and more like two people finally catching up to something everyone else had already figured out.
What stayed with me most, though, was Finn. His OCD wasn't treated like something that magically disappeared because he found love. It was simply part of who he was. Some days were easier than others. Some thoughts were louder than others. And seeing someone love him without trying to "fix" him landed harder than I expected. That quiet acceptance ended up being far more romantic than any grand declaration.
By the end I was smiling more than I realized. I still wanted to lovingly shake Oakleigh once or twice, but Finn's patience deserved a standing ovation. Also, if this man looked at me the way he looked at Cherry, I'd probably fake date him too just to see how long it took before everyone admitted we weren't fooling anyone.
This ended up being a solid 3.5 stars for me. Finn is absolutely the reason I'll remember this one. Somebody needs to put that man in a museum labeled "Emotionally Available Heroes We Must Protect at All Costs."
Huge thanks to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, and NetGalley for the ARC. You handed me a fake dating romance featuring a man who has been down catastrophically for fifteen years. That's on me for expecting to keep my blood pressure at a reasonable level.
Then Finn accidentally lets his family believe they're dating, and suddenly everyone is committed to this fake relationship except the man who has apparently been in love with Oakleigh since dinosaurs roamed the earth. This wasn't fake dating for him. This was "I've been rehearsing for this role my entire adult life."
Finn absolutely carried this book for me. This man notices everything. He remembers tiny details. He plans around what makes Oakleigh comfortable before she even asks. He's the kind of person who quietly fixes problems before anyone else realizes they exist. Meanwhile Oakleigh keeps staring at this walking green flag like she's waiting for him to reveal he's actually three raccoons in a trench coat.
I did understand why she struggled to trust him. Old hurts have a way of hanging around long after everyone else has moved on. But there were moments where I wanted to gently rotate her shoulders toward the man who was practically holding up a flashing billboard that said, "I HAVE BEEN IN LOVE WITH YOU FOR FIFTEEN YEARS, PLEASE READ THE SIGNS." Girl. The signs are in twelve-foot letters.
The fake dating itself was honestly adorable. Watching them try to convince everyone they were a couple while accidentally becoming... an actual couple... never gets old for me. The little touches, the inside jokes, the moments where they forgot they were supposed to be pretending, those were my favorite parts. It felt less like two people falling in love and more like two people finally catching up to something everyone else had already figured out.
What stayed with me most, though, was Finn. His OCD wasn't treated like something that magically disappeared because he found love. It was simply part of who he was. Some days were easier than others. Some thoughts were louder than others. And seeing someone love him without trying to "fix" him landed harder than I expected. That quiet acceptance ended up being far more romantic than any grand declaration.
By the end I was smiling more than I realized. I still wanted to lovingly shake Oakleigh once or twice, but Finn's patience deserved a standing ovation. Also, if this man looked at me the way he looked at Cherry, I'd probably fake date him too just to see how long it took before everyone admitted we weren't fooling anyone.
This ended up being a solid 3.5 stars for me. Finn is absolutely the reason I'll remember this one. Somebody needs to put that man in a museum labeled "Emotionally Available Heroes We Must Protect at All Costs."
Huge thanks to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, and NetGalley for the ARC. You handed me a fake dating romance featuring a man who has been down catastrophically for fifteen years. That's on me for expecting to keep my blood pressure at a reasonable level.
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July 3, 2026🥧💕 You're My Cherry Pie 💕🥧
📖 Bookish Thoughts
Full Arc Review to come!
🍒 What to Expect
• Enemies to Lovers
• Fake Dating
• Brother's Best Friend
• Small Town Romance
• Slow Burn Romance
• Cozy Romance
_ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: July 9, 2026
Thank you to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
📖 Bookish Thoughts
Full Arc Review to come!
🍒 What to Expect
• Enemies to Lovers
• Fake Dating
• Brother's Best Friend
• Small Town Romance
• Slow Burn Romance
• Cozy Romance
_ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: July 9, 2026
Thank you to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The writing falls a little flat, but the MMC is to die for.
I ended up liking it just fine, yet there are still some things I wish were different to make me more of a fan, because the potential was much higher than the levels the final product reached.
Starting out with the good - Finley is pure gold. He's sensitive, yearning, supportive, considerate, patient, and oh-so caring. He takes care of Oakleigh even - or especially - when there's really nothing to gain from it, takes the time to actually plan things which she would enjoy, and always makes sure she's okay before he does anything. He's proud of her and celebrates her, values her mind more than her body, actually listens to her, and gives her whatever time she needs even if it's killing him on the inside. I'd say he's a perfect representation of what a green flag guy should look like.
The OCD rep was done well and very respectfully, in my opinion. I don't have that particular disorder, so I can't speak for the people who do, but from my perspective, I feel like it was well-thought-out and not written off as a minor character flaw that's meant to be magically fixed by the end. It was interesting seeing Finn deal with his intrusive thoughts and compulsions, and how everyone else reacted to them.
Now, the reason they are frenemies. At first, I was kind of ticked off, because I thought it's really stupid, but then there was a twist to it all that made everything click into place. Yeah, I'd be scorned, too, if someone said that to teenage me. In the end, I'm all for it, even if it is miscommunication.
Also, weirdly, the fake dating makes sense and is interestingly done. Him being a neurodivergent, deeply-in-love people pleaser and his family being so 'supportive' (large eufemism) make for a perfect opportunity to go for something like this. And I like how it developed, being very real on his side throughout almost all of it, and slowly more and more on Oakleigh's.
Those were some strong pros, I think, but it does have cons, too.
The writing isn't entirely well-done. It's repetitive, unimaginative, and lacks the emotional depth that you'd think would be inevitable with an MMC like this. Maybe it's my bad, because I picked this up right after an incredibly well-written book, so it was immediately in danger of paling in comparison. It's just not gripping and doesn't hold your attention easily, and the language used is not the strongest choice. Also, you need to ignore lots of repetitions - I swear that 'unshed tears' is a phrase I'm deathly allergic to and it's overused here.
Oakleigh’s reasoning at the end and pushing back constantly are simply annoying. If she recognizes that he's a great guy and everyone wants them to be together and she loves him, why the break-up? I get that she's scared of things, but I'd argue that if her reasoning is what it is then for it to make sense she would have to act on it way sooner than she did. If she'd already fallen, it's too late for it to be a sensible choice to protect herself from any hurt. I didn't like that part, felt really forced just to have a 3rd act break-up.
Wren pissed me off, too, but that's more of a personal dislike than something against the book itself - how can you be so selfish to shut someone off like this if you claim to love them and see that they are hurting really badly? How can you be so self-centered that you don't even want to listen to the explanation someone gives you, because it doesn't fit with something you've created in your head? What a self-absorbed prick. And the fact that she never apologizes for being like this and instead is apologized to? She only comes back because of her own feelings, not to be a supportive friend like she should've been the whole time. Who made her the queen? Ugh.
Lastly, drinking and driving. I don't know why people think just one or two drinks is fine and you can still drive. Is this a cultural difference I'm not getting? Alcohol is alcohol - don't drive if you've had any, end of story. I especially don't understand it here since Finn tends to be overcautious because of his OCD.
Overall, it's a cute story and I'm definitely recommending the MMC if you're a fan of acts of service love language.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for letting me read the ARC.
I ended up liking it just fine, yet there are still some things I wish were different to make me more of a fan, because the potential was much higher than the levels the final product reached.
Starting out with the good - Finley is pure gold. He's sensitive, yearning, supportive, considerate, patient, and oh-so caring. He takes care of Oakleigh even - or especially - when there's really nothing to gain from it, takes the time to actually plan things which she would enjoy, and always makes sure she's okay before he does anything. He's proud of her and celebrates her, values her mind more than her body, actually listens to her, and gives her whatever time she needs even if it's killing him on the inside. I'd say he's a perfect representation of what a green flag guy should look like.
The OCD rep was done well and very respectfully, in my opinion. I don't have that particular disorder, so I can't speak for the people who do, but from my perspective, I feel like it was well-thought-out and not written off as a minor character flaw that's meant to be magically fixed by the end. It was interesting seeing Finn deal with his intrusive thoughts and compulsions, and how everyone else reacted to them.
Now, the reason they are frenemies. At first, I was kind of ticked off, because I thought it's really stupid, but then there was a twist to it all that made everything click into place. Yeah, I'd be scorned, too, if someone said that to teenage me. In the end, I'm all for it, even if it is miscommunication.
Also, weirdly, the fake dating makes sense and is interestingly done. Him being a neurodivergent, deeply-in-love people pleaser and his family being so 'supportive' (large eufemism) make for a perfect opportunity to go for something like this. And I like how it developed, being very real on his side throughout almost all of it, and slowly more and more on Oakleigh's.
Those were some strong pros, I think, but it does have cons, too.
The writing isn't entirely well-done. It's repetitive, unimaginative, and lacks the emotional depth that you'd think would be inevitable with an MMC like this. Maybe it's my bad, because I picked this up right after an incredibly well-written book, so it was immediately in danger of paling in comparison. It's just not gripping and doesn't hold your attention easily, and the language used is not the strongest choice. Also, you need to ignore lots of repetitions - I swear that 'unshed tears' is a phrase I'm deathly allergic to and it's overused here.
Oakleigh’s reasoning at the end and pushing back constantly are simply annoying. If she recognizes that he's a great guy and everyone wants them to be together and she loves him, why the break-up? I get that she's scared of things, but I'd argue that if her reasoning is what it is then for it to make sense she would have to act on it way sooner than she did. If she'd already fallen, it's too late for it to be a sensible choice to protect herself from any hurt. I didn't like that part, felt really forced just to have a 3rd act break-up.
Wren pissed me off, too, but that's more of a personal dislike than something against the book itself - how can you be so selfish to shut someone off like this if you claim to love them and see that they are hurting really badly? How can you be so self-centered that you don't even want to listen to the explanation someone gives you, because it doesn't fit with something you've created in your head? What a self-absorbed prick. And the fact that she never apologizes for being like this and instead is apologized to? She only comes back because of her own feelings, not to be a supportive friend like she should've been the whole time. Who made her the queen? Ugh.
Lastly, drinking and driving. I don't know why people think just one or two drinks is fine and you can still drive. Is this a cultural difference I'm not getting? Alcohol is alcohol - don't drive if you've had any, end of story. I especially don't understand it here since Finn tends to be overcautious because of his OCD.
Overall, it's a cute story and I'm definitely recommending the MMC if you're a fan of acts of service love language.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for letting me read the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGaley and the publisher for the eARC!
I have such mixed feelings about "You're My Cherry Pie".
Because on paper, this book should have been a winner for me. Fake dating? Love it. Best friend's brother? Sign me up. A kiss that 'never happened'? Even better. And honestly, Athena Carstairs' writing is as charming and easy to read as ever.
The biggest highlight of this book was Finn. Oh, how I loved Finn.
From the very beginning, he completely stole my heart. He was patient, caring, loyal, and so sure of his feelings. While other romance heroes spend half the book running from their emotions, Finn was basically saying, "I'm all in. Always have been. Always will be." And I absolutely adored that about him.
I also really appreciated the representation of OCD through Finn's character. I don't personally have OCD, so I can't speak to the accuracy of the portrayal, but it was obvious how much care and respect Athena Carstairs put into writing him. It felt thoughtful, compassionate, and integral to who he was as a person rather than simply being a character trait.
Unfortunately, Oakleigh and I just did not get along.
I understood why she was hesitant and why her past made it difficult for her to trust people, but there were so many moments where I wanted to shake her. Finn continuously showed her exactly who he was and how much he cared, yet she kept pushing him away and questioning his feelings. After a while, it became frustrating to watch, especially because Finn was trying so hard to prove that he meant every word he said.
That's what ultimately kept me from loving this book as much as I wanted to. I loved the tropes. I loved the premise. I loved the writing. And I absolutely loved Finn. But my frustration with Oakleigh made it difficult for me to fully enjoy the romance.
Still, if you're a fan of fake dating, best friend's brother romances, and heroes who are down bad from page one, there's definitely a lot here to enjoy.
I have such mixed feelings about "You're My Cherry Pie".
Because on paper, this book should have been a winner for me. Fake dating? Love it. Best friend's brother? Sign me up. A kiss that 'never happened'? Even better. And honestly, Athena Carstairs' writing is as charming and easy to read as ever.
The biggest highlight of this book was Finn. Oh, how I loved Finn.
From the very beginning, he completely stole my heart. He was patient, caring, loyal, and so sure of his feelings. While other romance heroes spend half the book running from their emotions, Finn was basically saying, "I'm all in. Always have been. Always will be." And I absolutely adored that about him.
I also really appreciated the representation of OCD through Finn's character. I don't personally have OCD, so I can't speak to the accuracy of the portrayal, but it was obvious how much care and respect Athena Carstairs put into writing him. It felt thoughtful, compassionate, and integral to who he was as a person rather than simply being a character trait.
Unfortunately, Oakleigh and I just did not get along.
I understood why she was hesitant and why her past made it difficult for her to trust people, but there were so many moments where I wanted to shake her. Finn continuously showed her exactly who he was and how much he cared, yet she kept pushing him away and questioning his feelings. After a while, it became frustrating to watch, especially because Finn was trying so hard to prove that he meant every word he said.
That's what ultimately kept me from loving this book as much as I wanted to. I loved the tropes. I loved the premise. I loved the writing. And I absolutely loved Finn. But my frustration with Oakleigh made it difficult for me to fully enjoy the romance.
Still, if you're a fan of fake dating, best friend's brother romances, and heroes who are down bad from page one, there's definitely a lot here to enjoy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A charming and light fake dating romance that had me hooked!
At the very beginning, we're treated to a steamy kiss between Oakleigh and Finn, then the book opens properly 8 months later, with the kiss trying to be forgotten about. The two are connected via Oakleigh's best friend Wren, who happens to be Finn's sister, and their mom, who Finn accidentally reveals the kiss to in a probing moment. Before they know it, they're fake dating for a set time period of 1 month to keep everyone happy.
This story was cute and an easy read, while also dealing with more heavy hitting topics, such as OCD. The representation and depiction of it seemed realistic; while the condition was a main part of the story, it wasn't the entire story.
There was something of a lack of communication trope going on in this story, alongside enemies/friends to lovers (they sat somewhere in the middle really!) and best friend's brother. While I love the latter two, I'm not a huge fan of the lack of communication thing - but here I can make an exception as it was their previous encounter that had set the tone for their relationship at the beginning of the book, rather than a continuing miscommunication - although it did take a while to set right!
The characters were nicely done. They were believable and cute; I totally felt the chemistry between them and was dying for them to figure themselves out and get it together for real! One thing that irked me just a teeny bit was Finn's nickname for Oakleigh. He called her "Cherry", which was sweet and obviously ties into her personality and the title of the book, but what was odd was calling her that to other people occasionally, who didn't call her Cherry. It felt a bit stilted.
I, of course, loved the small town setting where characters are on top of one another, dipping in and out of the lives of characters from the author's previous book (There's Pumpkin About You) and ones who I'm sure will appear in future books. I'm looking forward to these!
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publishers for an ARC of this book.
At the very beginning, we're treated to a steamy kiss between Oakleigh and Finn, then the book opens properly 8 months later, with the kiss trying to be forgotten about. The two are connected via Oakleigh's best friend Wren, who happens to be Finn's sister, and their mom, who Finn accidentally reveals the kiss to in a probing moment. Before they know it, they're fake dating for a set time period of 1 month to keep everyone happy.
This story was cute and an easy read, while also dealing with more heavy hitting topics, such as OCD. The representation and depiction of it seemed realistic; while the condition was a main part of the story, it wasn't the entire story.
There was something of a lack of communication trope going on in this story, alongside enemies/friends to lovers (they sat somewhere in the middle really!) and best friend's brother. While I love the latter two, I'm not a huge fan of the lack of communication thing - but here I can make an exception as it was their previous encounter that had set the tone for their relationship at the beginning of the book, rather than a continuing miscommunication - although it did take a while to set right!
The characters were nicely done. They were believable and cute; I totally felt the chemistry between them and was dying for them to figure themselves out and get it together for real! One thing that irked me just a teeny bit was Finn's nickname for Oakleigh. He called her "Cherry", which was sweet and obviously ties into her personality and the title of the book, but what was odd was calling her that to other people occasionally, who didn't call her Cherry. It felt a bit stilted.
I, of course, loved the small town setting where characters are on top of one another, dipping in and out of the lives of characters from the author's previous book (There's Pumpkin About You) and ones who I'm sure will appear in future books. I'm looking forward to these!
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publishers for an ARC of this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
If you love enemies to lovers, banter, best friends brother/sisters best friend tropes, then you will absolutely eat up You're My Cherry Pie!
Finnley has a secret, one he has kept for fifteen years. He's in love with his sister's best friend. There is just one little problem.....Oakleigh HATES Finn,
Finn infuriates her to no end. Always looking to get a reaction out of her. Then one night, Oakleigh issues a challenge to Finn that he can;t refuse.....Oakleigh says he is in the best friend's brother zone and has absolutely no chance of getting out of it. Finn sets out to prove her wrong with a kiss that backfires on both of them, and neither one can forget it. Months later after Finns parents return home from a year-long cruise, Finns gets himself in a jam when he accidentally lets slip about the kiss. Though he tries to set it right and deny any feelings, his family has been hoping for years that he and Oakleigh get together and they do not believe him. Finn arrives at Oakleigh's house to break the news: his family thinks they are dating and in order not to break their hearts, they set about having a fake relationship. When the fine lines between pretending and reality blurs, Finn and Oakleigh must learn to navigate their feelings and their own demons to decide, will they part ways at the end of their relationship, or will this happen to be exactly where they were meant to be?
I loved this book! It had me kicking my feet while giggling to myself. I loved the banter and the story and overall the entire book. There were well written secondary characters. I really hope we get more books from Athena Carstairs. She brings the story to life and leaves you wanting more!
Finnley has a secret, one he has kept for fifteen years. He's in love with his sister's best friend. There is just one little problem.....Oakleigh HATES Finn,
Finn infuriates her to no end. Always looking to get a reaction out of her. Then one night, Oakleigh issues a challenge to Finn that he can;t refuse.....Oakleigh says he is in the best friend's brother zone and has absolutely no chance of getting out of it. Finn sets out to prove her wrong with a kiss that backfires on both of them, and neither one can forget it. Months later after Finns parents return home from a year-long cruise, Finns gets himself in a jam when he accidentally lets slip about the kiss. Though he tries to set it right and deny any feelings, his family has been hoping for years that he and Oakleigh get together and they do not believe him. Finn arrives at Oakleigh's house to break the news: his family thinks they are dating and in order not to break their hearts, they set about having a fake relationship. When the fine lines between pretending and reality blurs, Finn and Oakleigh must learn to navigate their feelings and their own demons to decide, will they part ways at the end of their relationship, or will this happen to be exactly where they were meant to be?
I loved this book! It had me kicking my feet while giggling to myself. I loved the banter and the story and overall the entire book. There were well written secondary characters. I really hope we get more books from Athena Carstairs. She brings the story to life and leaves you wanting more!
July 10, 2026
Thank you to the publisher, author and NetGalley for the ARC.
This was a sweet story about two people who *allegedly* have hated each other a bickered since they were teenagers. After meeting through Finn's sister, Oakleigh's best friend, a series of miscommunication, hidden feelings and misunderstandings lead them to an almost enemies type of relationship. Except, I'm pretty sure Finn would give Oakleigh the World if she asked.
Finn shows up. His love language is almost certainly acts of service because this man would drop anything to help Oakleigh out - no need for her to ask. He cooks for her, supports her, picks her up from work when she does graveyard shifts.
Oakleigh is a little guarded after having been jilted in the past. She is supportive and there for Finn when his OCD gets tough for him to deal with. She's his constant and I think that is beautiful.
I don't have OCD, so I can't say how accurate the representation is in the book, but the author does state they had help with the portrayal. However, I feel that it was written tastefully and in a respectful way.
This book was a quick and easy read. I'd recommend it to lovers of romance, and those who enjoy best friends brother stories filled with hidden crushes and fake dating.
This was a sweet story about two people who *allegedly* have hated each other a bickered since they were teenagers. After meeting through Finn's sister, Oakleigh's best friend, a series of miscommunication, hidden feelings and misunderstandings lead them to an almost enemies type of relationship. Except, I'm pretty sure Finn would give Oakleigh the World if she asked.
Finn shows up. His love language is almost certainly acts of service because this man would drop anything to help Oakleigh out - no need for her to ask. He cooks for her, supports her, picks her up from work when she does graveyard shifts.
Oakleigh is a little guarded after having been jilted in the past. She is supportive and there for Finn when his OCD gets tough for him to deal with. She's his constant and I think that is beautiful.
I don't have OCD, so I can't say how accurate the representation is in the book, but the author does state they had help with the portrayal. However, I feel that it was written tastefully and in a respectful way.
This book was a quick and easy read. I'd recommend it to lovers of romance, and those who enjoy best friends brother stories filled with hidden crushes and fake dating.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
ARC for review, thanks to the publisher and NetGalley.
Having read "There's Pumpkin About You" and absolutely loved it, this definitely had a lot to live up to! It was great, don't get me wrong, but unfortunately it just wasn't as good as I'd hoped it would be.
I love the representation, autism in the last book and OCD in this one - these are usually just skimmed over in a book (and give the impression that it's just there to tick a box) so for it to feature so heavily and accurately in a storyline, but still without being too much, is a selling point within itself.
Oakleigh wasn't my favourite character ever, I loved Finn though and together they are great! I love a fake dating trope, and although it's incredibly predictable overall, I love the point where you can tell the dynamic is starting to change between them and they ultimately get their happy ending!
I'd definitely recommend this book, it is worth the read, it was just lacking a little bit for me. I can't quite put my finger on what exactly, because it definitely was still a great book, it just didn't have that wow factor this time.
Having read "There's Pumpkin About You" and absolutely loved it, this definitely had a lot to live up to! It was great, don't get me wrong, but unfortunately it just wasn't as good as I'd hoped it would be.
I love the representation, autism in the last book and OCD in this one - these are usually just skimmed over in a book (and give the impression that it's just there to tick a box) so for it to feature so heavily and accurately in a storyline, but still without being too much, is a selling point within itself.
Oakleigh wasn't my favourite character ever, I loved Finn though and together they are great! I love a fake dating trope, and although it's incredibly predictable overall, I love the point where you can tell the dynamic is starting to change between them and they ultimately get their happy ending!
I'd definitely recommend this book, it is worth the read, it was just lacking a little bit for me. I can't quite put my finger on what exactly, because it definitely was still a great book, it just didn't have that wow factor this time.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.75 ⭐
This is the cutest book I've read in a while. This book is set in the same world, with the same characters as There's Pumpkin About You.
This book follows Oakleigh and Finn. Oakleigh is a trauma nurse and aspiring writer. Finn owns his own construction company.
Oakleigh and Finn have known each other for 15 years thanks to Finn's sister Wren aka Oakleigh's best friend.
Finn has been in love with Oakleigh since they first met but never considered himself good enough for her.
After a steamy kiss eight months ago, Oakleigh can't stop thinking about Finn. How different Finn was during that kiss. He wasn't his usual nice, kind and considerate self. Instead he was a little dark and possessive.
To ease his mother's worries, Finn decides to fake date Oakleigh. They didn't expect everyone to have strong feelings about the beginning, or the end.
*Fake dating
*Best friend's brother
*He falls first
Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter for this ARC read!
This is the cutest book I've read in a while. This book is set in the same world, with the same characters as There's Pumpkin About You.
This book follows Oakleigh and Finn. Oakleigh is a trauma nurse and aspiring writer. Finn owns his own construction company.
Oakleigh and Finn have known each other for 15 years thanks to Finn's sister Wren aka Oakleigh's best friend.
Finn has been in love with Oakleigh since they first met but never considered himself good enough for her.
After a steamy kiss eight months ago, Oakleigh can't stop thinking about Finn. How different Finn was during that kiss. He wasn't his usual nice, kind and considerate self. Instead he was a little dark and possessive.
To ease his mother's worries, Finn decides to fake date Oakleigh. They didn't expect everyone to have strong feelings about the beginning, or the end.
*Fake dating
*Best friend's brother
*He falls first
Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter for this ARC read!
June 19, 2026
Best friend’s older brother, fake dating, and that long-standing “we don’t actually like each other”… except we clearly do. 🍒✨
Those tropes were the highlight for me. The tension, the history, and the way everything slowly blurred into something real felt natural and well done.
One of the strongest parts of this book for me was the OCD representation. I appreciated that Finn’s journey wasn’t simplified into “love fixes everything.” Therapy, support systems, and honesty all played an important role, and that felt thoughtful and well handled.
That said, this one felt a bit uneven for me. The writing leaned more toward telling than showing, the dual POV voices weren’t very distinct, and a few plot elements felt underdeveloped.
Overall, this is a sweet, trope-forward romance with some strong elements, even if it didn’t fully come together for me. 💫
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Those tropes were the highlight for me. The tension, the history, and the way everything slowly blurred into something real felt natural and well done.
One of the strongest parts of this book for me was the OCD representation. I appreciated that Finn’s journey wasn’t simplified into “love fixes everything.” Therapy, support systems, and honesty all played an important role, and that felt thoughtful and well handled.
That said, this one felt a bit uneven for me. The writing leaned more toward telling than showing, the dual POV voices weren’t very distinct, and a few plot elements felt underdeveloped.
Overall, this is a sweet, trope-forward romance with some strong elements, even if it didn’t fully come together for me. 💫
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 2, 2026
I loved this sequel to there’s pumpkin about you. This time we follow Finley and the girl he has been in love with for 15 years,Cherry. Now they have sparred forever keeping each other at arms length until one night Cherry drunkenly kisses Finley. Then they spend 8 months months more ignoring the kids. Unto l he mistakenly lets the secret about the kiss drop to his Mum and sister Wren. Then it snowballs and he begs her to pretend to be in a relationship with him to keep his Mum and Sister quiet. She agrees and they set about fooling the town. Only go him it’s not acting and for her it becomes less of a chore. This is a spicy book with a great heart. It was great to catch up with book one characters and see how their lives have progressed. There was also a really sensitive approach to a serious topic of ocd and male mental health too. I loved this book.
Thank you NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
July 9, 2026
Last year I read Athena’s fall book and loved it. This one however was a miss. Here’s what worked and what didn’t. I loved the disability rep. Finley (MMC) is neurodivergent and has OCD. We witness as readers his compulsions, intrusive thoughts, and self sabotaging behavior as a result. We sit it on his therapy sessions to help him control his OCD. I feel like this was well done and therapy can be a decisive topic and it was used in a positive light. He was an all around wonderful character. What fell short was the FMC Oakleigh. Although they are frenemies and supposedly fake dating-Oakleigh treats Finn as an annoying little brother rather than a person she loves and is dating. The fake dating trope just didn’t work here. Also, Oakleigh nickname in the book is Cherry and the references to that were just too much. Everything has the word Cherry in it or alludes to Cherries. It was just too much. However, those who appreciate fake dating and disability rep may enjoy this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
You’re My Cherry Pie was such an easy book to enjoy. The banter is exactly the kind I love — quick, playful, and genuinely fun rather than forced. The chemistry between the characters comes through so naturally that I found myself grinning at their interactions.
What really made it stand out for me, though, was the OCD storyline. It’s handled with care and honesty, and it adds a layer of depth that makes the romance feel more grounded. I appreciated seeing it portrayed in a way that felt real rather than stereotyped.
Overall, it’s warm, funny, and heartfelt — a solid four‑star read that left me feeling really satisfied.
Thank you to net galley, Athena Carstairs and Harper Collins One More Chapter for allowing me to receive an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
What really made it stand out for me, though, was the OCD storyline. It’s handled with care and honesty, and it adds a layer of depth that makes the romance feel more grounded. I appreciated seeing it portrayed in a way that felt real rather than stereotyped.
Overall, it’s warm, funny, and heartfelt — a solid four‑star read that left me feeling really satisfied.
Thank you to net galley, Athena Carstairs and Harper Collins One More Chapter for allowing me to receive an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley, One More Chapter and the author for this ARC!
Ahhh I'm so happy to be back in this world!! I loooved There's Pumpkin About You so when I got this in the mail I was ecstatic!
This universe honestly owns my heart, I love the atmosphere so much and the author does a great job making it feel like a part of the plot. And the characters... guys I love my baby Gus but Finnley, goddamn, where can I get one? The way this man is down baaaad >>>>>> walking green flag fr
Finn and Lee's dynamic is sooo good, and the way their relationship evolves, I'm a sucker for a fake relationship that was never fake to begin with.
Cannot praise this book and the author enough, the vibes are immaculate, read it, you won't regret it!
Ahhh I'm so happy to be back in this world!! I loooved There's Pumpkin About You so when I got this in the mail I was ecstatic!
This universe honestly owns my heart, I love the atmosphere so much and the author does a great job making it feel like a part of the plot. And the characters... guys I love my baby Gus but Finnley, goddamn, where can I get one? The way this man is down baaaad >>>>>> walking green flag fr
Finn and Lee's dynamic is sooo good, and the way their relationship evolves, I'm a sucker for a fake relationship that was never fake to begin with.
Cannot praise this book and the author enough, the vibes are immaculate, read it, you won't regret it!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
You're My Cherry Pie is such a fun read. It's perfect for when you want something light and fluffy to read. From the first chapter I was hooked and I kept reading until the end as I wanted to know what happened. I loved the chemistry between the main characters and I wanted them to have their happy ending. I also loved the author's writing style and the place settings in the story sounded so cute. I also loved the other characters in the story. I highly recommend it and I look forward to reading more by the author.
🩷 Thank you to One More Chapter, the author Athena Carstairs and Netgalley for my arc ebook copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
🩷 Thank you to One More Chapter, the author Athena Carstairs and Netgalley for my arc ebook copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the chance to review this book. This unfortunately was not a good read for me. My main gripe with this book(other than the typos) was that it leaned heavy on stereotypes. Not just with the neurodivergent characters but with the “queer” ones too. And it does in a way that isn’t clever or inventive. Kind of like going for the low hanging fruit with some of the jokes and jabs and coming off a bit insulting. I didn’t believe in connection between the main couple and I think the plot suffered from a lack of character building. I have read problematic characters before (and still love them )but I could not muster up the same care with this book. I was glad to be done reading
June 28, 2026
I received this ARC from NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter. Oakleigh has spent 15 years baiting Finn Southwick. Finn has spent 15 years convincing Oakleigh that he hates her too. In this enemies to lovers small town romance we watch the FMC and the MMC fight battles within themselves to overcome heartache and finally see what’s right in front of them. This book was very cute read. I love a good small town romance and this one did not disappoint. Athena Carstairs shows very well the complications these two have to go through to find love within themselves and for themselves.
July 9, 2026
Arc from NetGalley: I really enjoyed this one! Finn was definitely my favourite part of the book. I loved how his OCD and the battles that came with it were woven into the story, and I thought it was handled really well without defining his whole character.
The romance was sweet, the characters were easy to root for and it was just a really enjoyable read overall. My only complaint is that I would have happily taken a bit more spice 🤣 Other than that, it was a lovely romance and I’m glad I picked it up!
The romance was sweet, the characters were easy to root for and it was just a really enjoyable read overall. My only complaint is that I would have happily taken a bit more spice 🤣 Other than that, it was a lovely romance and I’m glad I picked it up!
July 14, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley and One More Chapter for the advanced reader's copy of You're My Cherry Pie.
I enjoyed You're My Cherry Pie. It was a cute, lighthearted romance with an enjoyable enemies-to-lovers dynamic that kept me smiling throughout. Adding in the "best friend's brother" trope made it even more fun. The chemistry between the characters developed naturally, and I found myself rooting for them as they worked through their differences. Overall, it was a sweet, feel-good romance that was an easy and enjoyable read.
I enjoyed You're My Cherry Pie. It was a cute, lighthearted romance with an enjoyable enemies-to-lovers dynamic that kept me smiling throughout. Adding in the "best friend's brother" trope made it even more fun. The chemistry between the characters developed naturally, and I found myself rooting for them as they worked through their differences. Overall, it was a sweet, feel-good romance that was an easy and enjoyable read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
NETGALLEY ARC REVIEW - I love this storyline so much! The touches on Finn's OCD is so relatable and seeing how it affects his life and the relationships around him. Seeing his relationship blossom with Lee is very endearing. We all know that one couple who started out as hating each other but was just a disguise for their love for one another. The story was the perfect mix of sweet, steamy, and messy. It is a great summer read for sure!
June 28, 2026
I could not wait for book two in this series! When I found out it was going to be about I was even more excited! If you like small town, fake dating, enemies to lovers, and best friend’s brother/sisters best friend this book is for you. This book in my opinion does a great job representing OCD (I don’t have it but I think it was a job well done). Finn and Oakleigh have known each other each other for over 15 years. They both have “hated” each other for as long as they can remember. Finn is actually in love with her and knows everything about her! Well when Finn accidentally spills something that happens between them people now think they are dating. Finn comes up with a plan to fake date. He treats her like she is everything to him. She is not use to this from him and think it’s all a game. When the timeline is up will they stay together or will it not work?
July 10, 2026
Ugh Finn, what a sweetheart!
An extremely cute read. Somewhere along the way, I got so into it that I had a hard time putting it down. I LOVE a good 'enemies to lovers,' and this did not disappoint. I really enjoyed the story. Characters were great, and I loved how OCD was represented.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publishers for an ARC of this book.
An extremely cute read. Somewhere along the way, I got so into it that I had a hard time putting it down. I LOVE a good 'enemies to lovers,' and this did not disappoint. I really enjoyed the story. Characters were great, and I loved how OCD was represented.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publishers for an ARC of this book.
July 13, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the E - ARC!
Enemies to lovers is one of my favourite trope ever, so plus points already :) but this book reads itself really fast. I ate it up... Finn, oh my, a perfect man...I did not like Cherry and I did not quite understand why was Finn so in love with her, but hey no judging :) I still enjoyed it
So definately recommend 3,5 stars from me.
Enemies to lovers is one of my favourite trope ever, so plus points already :) but this book reads itself really fast. I ate it up... Finn, oh my, a perfect man...I did not like Cherry and I did not quite understand why was Finn so in love with her, but hey no judging :) I still enjoyed it
So definately recommend 3,5 stars from me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I LOVE fake dating, so this book was definitely for me! I read Athena's last book, There's Pumpkin About You, and really enjoyed it so I was excited to read this!
One thing Athena does so well is representation. Her previous book featured autism representation, and this one has OCD representation. I really appreciate how she handles it because it feels authentic and natural. It's never overdone, but it's never ignored either. I think it feels genuine and not just thrown in there to be there.
This was such a sweet and charming book. Oakleigh and Finn have so much chemistry, and I loved when their fake dating arrangement slowly turned into something more. The enemies to lovers dynamic was so much fun too, especially since they've spent years driving each other crazy. I always love when you feel that shift between kind of sort of hating each other (or at least strongly disliking) to really falling for each other.
It's just cute and fun, and I enjoyed it so much!
Thank you to NetGalley, Athena Carstairs, and One More Chapter for the eARC of this book.
One thing Athena does so well is representation. Her previous book featured autism representation, and this one has OCD representation. I really appreciate how she handles it because it feels authentic and natural. It's never overdone, but it's never ignored either. I think it feels genuine and not just thrown in there to be there.
This was such a sweet and charming book. Oakleigh and Finn have so much chemistry, and I loved when their fake dating arrangement slowly turned into something more. The enemies to lovers dynamic was so much fun too, especially since they've spent years driving each other crazy. I always love when you feel that shift between kind of sort of hating each other (or at least strongly disliking) to really falling for each other.
It's just cute and fun, and I enjoyed it so much!
Thank you to NetGalley, Athena Carstairs, and One More Chapter for the eARC of this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Excellent read once again! I really enjoyed pumpkin about you so had high expectations for this book as well.
The different representations were done perfectly. Finn and Oakleigh had perfect chemistry and I enjoyed the enemies to lovers/ fake dating. It was overall a really enjoyable read and I look forward to reading more from this author.
The different representations were done perfectly. Finn and Oakleigh had perfect chemistry and I enjoyed the enemies to lovers/ fake dating. It was overall a really enjoyable read and I look forward to reading more from this author.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
You’re My Cherry Pie is a sweet, comforting, yet emotionally satisfying romance that does not disappoint. It proves that sometimes the person you think you hate the most is the one who has been holding your heart the entire time. Highly recommend picking this up for a perfect weekend read!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Talk about a man obsessed, geez louise. He was so in love her and it was everything that I needed. Finn had so much happening in his head but she could almost always quiet it down. Oakleigh is perfect for him and he is perfect for her. I need more of this series.
I received an arc through netgalley.
I received an arc through netgalley.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Enemies to lovers never tasted so good — and honestly, this lived up to that tagline.
Book two in the series, this one follows Finn and Oakleigh, his sister’s best friend, after the events of There’s Pumpkin About You. Years of bickering, one kiss neither of them will admit happened, and a fake relationship that gets complicated fast — it ticks all the trope boxes I love: enemies to lovers, fake dating, he falls first.
I read the first book last summer and loved getting back into this world. This one is a quick, fun, easy read with genuine chemistry between the leads.
Four stars — a great quick romance read. Recommend if you enjoyed book one. 📚
Book two in the series, this one follows Finn and Oakleigh, his sister’s best friend, after the events of There’s Pumpkin About You. Years of bickering, one kiss neither of them will admit happened, and a fake relationship that gets complicated fast — it ticks all the trope boxes I love: enemies to lovers, fake dating, he falls first.
I read the first book last summer and loved getting back into this world. This one is a quick, fun, easy read with genuine chemistry between the leads.
Four stars — a great quick romance read. Recommend if you enjoyed book one. 📚
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