International Relations

by Zac Hammett

Max has never had time for a relationship - working in the high-stakes world of international diplomacy, the best he can manage is squeezing in one-night stands with "himbos" between his ongoing efforts to win a promotion. But when he tries to multitask by hooking up with a visiting dignitary at a black-tie dinner, it blows up spectacularly in his face and Max is discreetly advised that his personal life is not helping his career ambitions. In this line of work, appearances matter, and Max is losing ground to his long-term rival, happily married 'family man' Quentin.

Max decides to beat Quentin at his own game by recruiting a fake boyfriend, Leo, from an actors' agency. But some visa complications force Max and Leo to make their relationship official by getting married, the stakes are raised higher than Max ever intended. There's only one thing that could make all this even more complicated - if Max and Leo's feelings for each other start becoming real . . .

International Relations is a fake dating romance filled with glamorous locations, laugh-out-loud set pieces, and a love story that will capture your heart.

Tropes
Fake dating
Marriage of convenience
Grumpy x sunshine

Genres: Romance, Queer, Contemporary, M M Romance, Adult, LGBT, Fake Dating

320 pages, Paperback

Expected publication August 4, 2026

About the author

Zac Hammett is an author of romantic comedies. His debut novel, See You At The Finish Line, was heralded as “a triumph” by Publishers Weekly and “unputdownable” by Kirkus Reviews. His second novel, International Relations, will follow in 2026.

He has had an eclectic career as a writer, which includes co-writing the Gold-Certified Clean Bandit single Baby, participating in the writers room for the Disney Plus series Rivals, and writing the acclaimed memoir A Class of Their Own: Adventures in Tutoring the Super-Rich.

He grew up on the south coast of England, the second of four children to two teachers, and now lives in London.

His favourite romantic comedy of all time is Notting Hill.

Reviews

[Jordan Fischer | julietfoxreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, listen. If you’re looking for a delightful low angst romcom that has Boyfriend Material vibes mixed with a little bit of Winging It With You, you will LOVE @zachammettwrites’ International Relations!! Max and Hunter decide to get fake married so Max can get the job of his dreams and so Hunter can get a visa, but they end up being so real and honest with each other that they end up reflecting on what they really want out of life….. and one thing they want is definitely each other 😏. SWOON.

The romance is lovely - the guys try to stay away from each other because their relationship is fake but they CANNOT, you can really feel the obvious chemistry from the moment they meet. And though their situation feels pretty dire at the end there, I absolutely loved where things ended up, with lots of character growth AND a HEA.

The side characters and all of their shenanigans were SO FUN. Doily is INCREDIBLE (I need to know how Zac came up with all her anecdotes?), Max’s coworkers were fascinating, and I loved Hunter’s friends. And MR. PEANUT!! Any book with a cute dog character gets an extra star from me so….. 🥹🥹. And all of the excellent banter and the fast-paced, often hilarious plot!! What more could you want?

This book was THE BEST time and I absolutely flew through it. It’s out August 26, but it’s available now on NetGalley if you want to give it a shot!!

[Lance · Rating 4 out of 5]

E-ARC generously provided by Zando in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much!

4 stars. Sexy, compelling, and quintessentially British in its humor and prose, International Relations is an absolute romp of a romance that convinced me that I absolutely need to read more Zac Hammett.

[charisse ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

book 11 of my 24hr arc readathon!

i don't know how i feel about this book honestly? like i loved them both sm, but at the same time i feel like both of them don't act like what diplomatic ppl should act like? they just kinda seem childish at times and idk.. also the "i love you but i want to put my career first" thingy went back and forth SO MUCH so that it made the book drag.. full rtc!!

⤷ thank you to netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me the pleasure of receiving this book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was heartwarming, easily hilarious and overall, incredibly enjoyable.

The story is a dual POV between Max, an aspiring diplomat, and Hunter, a struggling actor, as they navigate the intricacies of a marriage of convenience in the face of conflicting career goals.

The writing was so well done that I genuinely felt the emotions that each character felt as they worked through their struggles and joys. There was moments of laughter, kicking-my-feet happiness and existential dread. I was rooting for both MMCs right from the beginning and also fell in love with the side characters along the way. I also really enjoyed the little added extras of British pop culture moments that had me smiling at the truthness of them as a 90s baby.

This is one of few books that ended exactly how I hoped it would, with a few twists and turns thrown in that had me believing that it was going to end in an entirely different way.

This book is a spectacular journey of self-discovery, love and learning that you need your village.

[Thomas Yates]

I went into International Relations not entirely sure what to expect, but it ended up being one of those books that’s just really easy to sink into. It has that light, rom-com energy that makes you want to keep turning pages, but there’s also enough emotional depth to keep it from feeling shallow.

What stood out to me most was the character dynamic. The contrast in personalities feels natural rather than forced, and the banter genuinely works—it’s sharp, funny, and never feels overdone. I found myself enjoying the quieter moments just as much as the more playful ones, which usually means the characters are doing something right.

The writing style is very approachable, which makes it a good pick if you’re in the mood for something engaging but not overly heavy. It leans into familiar romance tropes, but in a way that feels comforting rather than predictable. If anything, it knows exactly what it wants to be and doesn’t try to overcomplicate things.

I also liked the overall tone. It’s warm and entertaining, with just enough emotional weight to make the story feel meaningful without dragging it down. It never takes itself too seriously, which works in its favour.

If I had one small criticism, it’s that the setting feels more like a backdrop than a fully immersive world—but honestly, that didn’t take away from my enjoyment. I read this more for the characters and their connection than anything else, and it delivered on that front.

Overall, I’d recommend International Relations if you’re looking for something fun, character-driven, and easy to get into. It’s the kind of book you pick up when you want to relax and end up finishing faster than you expected.

[Tiegan | Bookstagram · Rating 4 out of 5]

“International Relations” is basically “The Proposal”, but make it queer. One MMC, Max, is a diplomat who hires the other MMC, Hunter, to be his fake boyfriend/ husband. This is a mutually beneficial arrangement for them: Hunter will be the partner Max needs on his arm to land a job he desperately wants, and Hunter gets ‘husband’ status, which means he can stay in London to pursue his acting career. Over time, pretending at being a couple morphs into real feelings… And a beautiful love story.

Tropes:
💍 “The Proposal” x “Red, White and Royal Blue”
🌶️ 1st-person dual POV
💍 Grumpy x sunshine
🌶️ Marriage of convenience
💍 Queer romance
🌶️ Fake dating
💍 Cute dog
🌶️ Greek island
💍 Celebrity name-dropping
🌶️ S*x on government property
💍 Explicit spice

“International Relations” is an ARC I somewhat reluctantly picked up at first, due to being a bit of a mood reader, but I’m so glad that I did! This book was fast, adorable, and contained multitudes of hilarious cringe and immersive chaos.

Each of the characters have traumatic histories that they are still trying to make peace with. But Max and Hunter help each other with that. Hunter in particular is good at being honest without being too brutal.

I didn’t particularly care for any of the side characters. However, there are 3 in particular who I remember with fondness for quite some time because of how they coaxed a special kind of pity, confusion, competitiveness or jealousy out of the MMCs. If you know, you know.

If you’re looking for a fast and low-maintenance contemporary romance read to bring you some laughs, this will be the perfect book for you!!

✨ 4/5
🌶️ 2/5

[Brittney]

International Relations by Zac Hammett

📖 A chaotic, laugh out loud rom com with high stakes, fake marriage drama, and unexpectedly soft feelings. A grumpy diplomat hires a fake boyfriend for appearances… and ends up legally married thanks to visa complications. What makes this one shine is the humor, the banter, and how quickly fake turns into something very real.

Tropes & Vibes
💍 Fake dating turned marriage
🌍 Political workplace chaos
😒➡️☀️ Grumpy sunshine
🏠 Forced proximity
😂 Rom com banter
🐶 Cute dog sidekick

Read this if you like
Queer rom coms with humor, fake relationships that spiral, witty banter, and low angst stories with big heart.

#InternationalRelations #MMRomance #FakeDatingRomance #RomComReads #ZAndoSlowburn

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and Zac for this arc. International Relations was such a fun, heartfelt read. At this point, I genuinely think Zac Hammett is becoming a favourite author for me. This was every bit as enjoyable as his debut novel, which I also loved, and I’m already excited to see what he writes next.

I’m an absolute sucker for fake dating romances, and this one did not disappoint. The yearning and tension between Max and Hunter were so well done, and I loved watching their relationship slowly blur the line between performance and reality. Their chemistry was brilliant.

It was genuinely funny, but it also had plenty of sweet, tender, and emotional moments that gave the story real heart. The romance felt both entertaining and sincere, which made it incredibly easy to get invested in.

Tropes:
💍 Fake dating
💍 Marriage of convenience
💍 Forced proximity
💍 Slow burn
💍 Opposites attract

[Belinha · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Zando for this ARC! I’d seen this book and author for the first time on social media, and the cover immediately pulled me in. This was a delight to read, very wholesome and fun with characters you can’t help but love. I just wish it was a little longer and a little slower-paced, as their romance felt a bit rushed—but maybe that’s just the slow burn lover in me. I’m excited to read Zac Hammet’s first novel, which is on my list.

[Glenn Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

International Relations by Zac Hammett is an absolute five-star read and easily one of my top of 2026. As an American theatre maker living in London, this romance felt uncannily up my alley: international diplomacy, performance, auditions at The Globe, identity, and one of my favourite tropes: fake dating.

The novel follows Max, an ambitious policy officer working in the high-stakes world of international relations, where optics are currency and perception can make or break a career. He’s gunning for a promotion but losing ground to his long-time rival Quentin, whose image with his perfect partner, Fiona, gives him a strategic edge. Determined to level the playing field, Max hires a fake boyfriend from an actors’ agency. Enter Hunter. What begins as a calculated professional maneuver escalates quickly when visa complications force their staged romance into a very real marriage of convenience. Suddenly, the stakes aren’t just professional, they’re personal, legal, and heartbreakingly emotional.

One of the strongest elements of this novel is how deeply both men care about their careers. There’s an underlying tension throughout the book that asks a powerful question: are you willing to give up what might be love to pursue the path you believe is right for you? That struggle feels real and grounded.

Hunter’s theatre background adds a fascinating layer to Max’s world. Through Hunter, we see how much of diplomacy is performance, and how often success depends on playing a role, selling a narrative, and faking confidence until it becomes real. The parallels between stagecraft and statecraft are clever and sharp without ever feeling heavy-handed. As someone immersed in theatre, I loved how that lens reframed Max’s political life.

What makes this romance soar is that Hunter and Max don’t tumble into instant love. Their relationship builds on friendship, trust, and companionship. They don’t need each other to be complete, but together they become better versions of themselves. Watching that evolution unfold felt earned and deeply satisfying.

The pacing is propulsive. I was reading well into the night, completely hooked. The final forty pages are a whirlwind, and I devoured them, desperate to see how it would all resolve. Hunter’s irrational fear of customs, convinced he’ll be detained no matter how innocent he is, made me laugh in painful recognition. Same. Every time I go through customs, I assume I’m about to be interrogated.

The romance is spicy in places, but it feels organic to their growing intimacy. The side characters round out the world beautifully. Doily and Fiona are standouts, and Mr. Peanut might be the cutest dog in fiction.

Though technically a standalone, I would happily revisit this world and these characters at another stage in their lives. If you’re looking for a fast-paced, funny, heartfelt MM romance with fake dating and marriage of convenience, read this immediately. Zac Hammett is a phenomenal storyteller, and I’ll absolutely be picking up more of his work.

[Jack Pusloskie · Rating 4 out of 5]

For fans of:

Red, White, & Royal Blue
The Love Hypothesis
Role Model

International Relations is a sharp, charming romantic comedy about ambition, appearances, and unexpected love. Max has always prioritized his fast-paced career in international diplomacy over relationships, relying on brief flings while chasing a long-awaited promotion. But when Max is left standing alone outside Buckingham Palace, while a formal event takes place inside, this threatens both his reputation and his career prospects. Max realizes he needs to clean up his image fast.

Determined to outshine his polished, happily married rival, Quentin, Max hires Hunter, a warm, charismatic actor, to play the role of his perfect boyfriend. What begins as a strategic fake relationship quickly spirals into something far more complicated when visa issues force them into a very real marriage of convenience. A glamorous assignment, political pressure, and workplace competition raise the stakes. Max and Hunter must convince everyone their relationship is real while trying to ignore the fact that their feelings may be becoming genuine.

This book includes:
-Fake dating
-Marriage of convenience
-Grumpy x sunshine

I was worried at first that this would lean heavily into the miscommunication trope, which is one of my least favorites. Luckily, it turned out to be the complete opposite—it just took a little time to get there. Max and Hunter are probably two of the most honest MMCs I’ve read in a long time. I loved how clearly it was communicated that neither would sacrifice their own goals or dreams for the other, no matter how strong their feelings grew. What made this story stand out most was how deeply they supported each other’s ambitions, even when it wasn’t convenient or personally beneficial. They both played a role in helping each other heal from past trauma, which gave the romance more emotional depth and made their connection feel earned.

My only small critique was the climax after Hunter returned from Greece—I felt that moment could have been drawn out a bit more and given extra drama. Still, overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was witty, heartfelt, and full of chemistry, with characters I genuinely rooted for.

I received this eBook ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Zac Hammett, and Zando for the opportunity to review this book. This review has been posted on my Goodreads: @jack-pusloskie. Check out my Goodreads profile.

https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1...

[ivanareadsalot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to thank NetGalley and Zaffre for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

What a charmer OMG!!! I LoOoOOOoooved EVERY SINGLE THING ABOUT THIS!

I'm not sure how much of this will come off as a coherent review, but I'm all about how GOOD this romance made me feel from start to finish, and that's really what it all comes down to at the end of a reading day!

I was chuckling from the jump
and all my notes were variations of "I'm howling/cackling/dying" and "I'm in love with this"
And I very much COULD NOT GET ENOUGH of all the shenanigans and swoony heart eyes!

This was one of the best times I've had with a rom-com in a really long time because

The
Story
Was
Fun.

Max was so precious and sunshine sweet, and I dug his flavour of "ambitious" as he hired a babe to be his bae and then fell in love with his own love story. He was adorable, lovable, and supremely cuuuute,
and I was a MEGA fan
of all the ways
HUnter
ate
him
Up ;p

Hunter was poetry in motion, with a song in his heart, and a dream to build his performing arts career in London before his visa ran out. He was so layered, so resilient, and beyond committed to his craft. And he had such a confidence to him, that even now I'm sitting here still F E E L I N G his star-power emanating like he's a rl emerging talent to keep an eye on.

Hunter's backstory was piercing, and his whole needing to escape NY due to ex-drama complications that had stymied his dreams
felt
so
real
that it was chilling to read. It was a relatable dimension of toxic relationship ewwws that had me invested in Hunter and Max's HEA like it was my own!

I loved their chemistry, and how they brought out the best in each other. I also loved that they were so different, but still brilliant at being each other's anchor.

And it wasn't only Max and Hunter who made this romance a home for performing arts wildlings + the agent who loved them! Every single character was a riot and truly owned their individual energy!

Shout out to Doily who wore the crown of quirky competency like no other character I've ever seen or read before!

International Relations was dynamic, and funny, and charming, and sweet, and sexy, and just a really really good romance overall!! This was the epitome of cheery, upbeat, yellow energy that sings, and it was the kind of lovely marvel I could have read into 2027 and still want more! Loved this!

[Rhiannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

So, here's the thing: The Proposal is my favorite movie of all time. It's funny, it's romantic, and Sandra Bullock is in it. 10/10. Despite that, I don't generally enjoy the fake dating or marriage of convenience tropes in books. I couldn't explain that discrepancy if my life depended on it. But, you know, if a book is likened to my all-time favorite movie, I'm obviously going to read it.

I wish I could say I liked this one, but alas...

While this was a quick, easy read, I just didn't find it very compelling. Neither Max nor Hunter were particularly interesting to me, and I didn't feel the chemistry between them. The whole premise of this book was a bit over the top, and I struggled to suspend my disbelief enough to fully immerse myself in the characters' reality. To be fair, I know essentially nothing about diplomacy or international government relationships, but everything about this felt implausible and silly, and I would've preferred more realism for the sake of being able to feel invested in the stakes.

Admittedly, I didn't love the writing in this book either. I will always prefer third-person over first-person POV, and I especially struggled with it in this book because of the way the characters seemed a little too privy to one another's internal thoughts and feelings at times. Sure, it's not always overwhelmingly difficult to tell what's going on in someone else's head, but there were several instances when I couldn't help but think the POV character was too confidently asserting what the other was thinking or feeling. If you're going to write that way, why not just use third-person POV? It's so much less clunky and awkward.

This is a smaller critique, I suppose, but I didn't resonate with the humor in this book at all. It came across like the author was trying too hard to make this book funny and quirky, and it didn't really land for me. YMMV. That's extremely subjective, so I'm sure plenty of people will find this book hilarious even if I didn't.

Anyway. International Relations will unfortunately not be added to the very short list of books that have made me rethink my dislike of the fake dating/marriage of convenience tropes. No one is more bummed about that than me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Slowburn for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Smallbob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC!

First of all, I love fake dating, and this book has that AND a marriage of convenience! I love how Max and Hunter start off a little wrong-footed during their initial fake-dating phase, before bonding and gradually learning to open up to each other. The hijinks that they go through to prove their relationship is legit, while also trying to deny their feelings for each other, was so silly and entertaining!

My favourite part is how Max and Hunter complement each other. They both pull their weight when it comes to maintaining the deception of their fake relationship/marriage. It initially appears like Hunter, as an actor, is the one doing most of the heavy lifting, but Max also contributes in other ways. I also love how they push each other out of their comfort zones to try new things or show each other new perspectives strawberry lemon corrected i wanna lemon lime from a new perspective

I also found some of the scenarios that occur to be a little unrealistic. Like, I'm not a diplomat so what do I know, but I don't think diplomat job interviews work like that. Of course, this is not an issue if you can ignore it, but I will admit it took me out of the story a little.

I was also a little let down by how (not) political this book turned out to be. I didn't expect an expose about actual international relations, but this book as a whole feels sort of deliberately apolitical. There are very brief references to certain topics that the characters have the correct opinions on, but it never goes any deeper than that. Max talks about how he wants to pursue this career as a diplomat because he wants to make the world a better place (very vague), but by the end of the book it's unclear what sort of changes he intends to/ is able to make.

I suppose a lighthearted romcom isn't really the place for it, but given everything going on in the world, it's hard to put it out of mind.

Anyway, ignoring all that, this really was a fun and engaging read! I will definitely be reading more from this author.

[Eva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never let the truth get in the way of a good story could be the motto for International Relations by Zac Hammett in so many ways. Max is a budding junior diplomat at the British Embassy vying for a promotion to the Greek posting, Hunter is an American actor trying to get his break in London after having been blacklisted from Broadway. One needs a boyfriend to look stable for the old guard diplomats; the other needs a husband to stay in the country. Who doesn’t love a double fake dating conceit!?

As their plans fall into place, a wedding is held and the simmering sparks start to fly for this fated couple, one fact remains - marrying someone does not grant them permission to work in the UK. And yes I know it’s fiction but so many other moments in this story felt so wonderfully true and realistic such as bickering over Elgin’s Marbles, classic British acting agencies and an iconic dare to steal Elton John’s gnome that when one moment (and the basis of the plot) is just blatantly false it does pull one out of the experience. But as I know it’s hard to base a romance about having to live together for two years in another country before you can even apply to relocate to the UK, I will let this legal indiscretion go.

Our lovebirds are well-written with emotional depth and in particular Hunter’s take on the acting industry feels very lived in. There could be more work done on giving the two men individual voices; the first person narrative switches so often it’s hard to keep up with who is speaking. The story has pace, some wonderful local references and hilarious side characters.

A sweet concept centered on two endearing characters, International Relations shows Hammett has all the makings of an excellent romance writer once they develop their narrative voice. And maybe consider a little more research into the UK visa and immigration system!

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Karen Rós · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the best way I could've ended my easter holiday - I tore through this because I was just having so much fun. It's no secret that my all time favourite trope is fake dating (including fake marriage and marriage for convenience) which this absolutely delivered on. Max and Hunter were both fantastic characters and the way they supported each other and brought out the best in each other was so delicious - plus, of course, their chemistry was off the charts.

the best romances are the ones where it really looks like they can't have their happily ever after due to very real roadblocks (in this case, their career trajectories were too divergent) and where that issue gets resolved in a *believable* way. In this case, the seeds for the change were sown throughout so when one character (trying to stay spoiler free here, guys) comes to realise that actually, y is better than x, it's an inevitability, and not an engineered solution. it made sense. and I'm so delighted!

my only quibble with this book is minor - and since this is an ARC it may very well be changed or improved in the final book, I don't know - at the end when Hunter gets arrested by immigration due to the Visa shenanigans, the fix came a little too easily and was a bit too off-page for my taste. It almost felt unecessary - why arrest him if it's going to be fixed in a page and a half? I didn't feel like I got my anxiety up enough about the situation before it was suddenly resolved. in the grand scheme of things this is a very minor quibble as the entire rest of the book more than made up for it and I won't hesitate to recommend it to everyone I know.

the blurb says 'the proposal meets red white & royal blue' and look, The Proposal is probably in top five of my all time favourite movies, and while I haven't read RWRB I've seen the film. and this book does for me what RWRB never quite managed. I loved it.

I received an ARC From Bonnier Zaffre and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Siobhan · Rating 4 out of 5]

International Relations is a romance novel about a diplomat in need of a boyfriend so he can advance in his career and an actor whose visa is about to run out. When there's an opening at the Greek embassy, Max is desperate for the job, but he's advised that if he wants to compete with other candidates, he'd benefit from a charming partner for work events. He hires Hunter, an American actor whose British visa is about to run out, but whose charisma wins over people at Max's work. As Hunter needs a marriage to stay and Max needs Hunter by his side, it seems like there's an obvious fix, but their marriage might not be as fake as they intended.

Having read Hammett's previous See You at the Finish Line, I was hoping this one would be another fun and plot-filled queer romance, and I wasn't disappointed. The chapters swap between Max and Hunter's perspective so you get the chance to see both of their feelings and motivations, and I really liked how the tension in this book wasn't based around miscommunication. In fact, one of the major themes of the book was learning to be honest with yourself and others, and it was refreshing to have a lot of the tension come from external factors rather than irrationally blaming the other person for a misunderstanding.

The plot is undeniably silly—fake dating and fake marriage for the sake of major career advances for each of them, plus an unrealistically neat ending—but it stays charming in its ridiculousness. There are also a lot of comedy fake film and TV projects for name-dropped celebrities to be working on, which I think people's mileage may vary on whether they're fun or a bit wearing. I liked the side characters, especially Hunter's ridiculous agent, and generally this is a well-rounded romance that gives its protagonists depth whilst staying light and fun.

[Avery Tussing · Rating 4 out of 5]

I genuinely think I’m the target audience for this book. Like... MM grumpy x sunshine, fake dating turned marriage of convenience, with politics AND musical theatre in LONDON, sign me up. It is definitely a queer-coded version of the movie, The Proposal, and if you liked Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston or Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall, this is for you.

I really loved this. It was sweet and earnest in a way that I don’t always get from romance novels. Max and Hunter were well-rounded, different people, but still fit in the romance like puzzle pieces. I adore that their relationship is built on communication and friendship, rather than physical intimacy—though, of course, it gets there. I do think this was marketed as a slow burn, and I don’t really think it is… feelings start to simmer pretty early, but I was ok with it, I’m not a slow burn purist.

This book was laugh-out-loud funny. Many times I found myself dying with laughter. Some of this comes from me simply being the target audience—aka a ragging theatre kid—but nonetheless, I haven’t laughed that hard in a book in a while. But this book wasn’t all laughter. I felt things in my chest for these characters because I wanted them to work out so badly. I was absolutely rooting for them.

My biggest gripe is gonna be that climax, it felt pretty rushed, and a bit underwhelming. Genuinely, it felt so sped through that conflict was happening, and then two seconds later I had finished the epilogue…

Overall, super adorable. Made me feel like I was watching an early 2000s romcom.

Thank you, Zando and NetGalley, for the eARC!

[Jace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm still learning how to write a good review so please bear with me. I want to start by thanking the publisher and NetGalley for getting me access to an ARC (advanced reader copy). Now, onto the book itself! International relations is a romance novel about Max, a British aspiring diplomat, and Hunter, an American actor. They cross paths when Max hires Hunter to pretend to be his boyfriend, to help him compete against his rival. Max's rival has been getting help from their girlfriend to charm clients. Max decides to try to even the playing field by hiring Hunter. Things quickly take on a life of their own though and they find themselves getting married so Hunter can stay in the country legally.

I really enjoyed Hunter and Max as characters. Max took a bit longer to grow on me, his stiffness and discomfort from the outside made him unlikable to me. However, seeing his awkwardness from his point of view helped win me over in the end. His relationship with his family made my heart ache and really brought a lot of depth to his character. I think he was really well written.

Hunter on the other hand, had me from the beginning. He's very personable and his predicament made him sympathetic. As a couple, Max's awkwardness and Hunter's charm were major players in balancing each other out. They felt like such a magnetic duo, I don't blame anyone for thinking they're a real couple. They have great chemistry and it took no time for me to want them to hurry up and fall in love already and tell each other!

Overall, I thought International Relations was a fun read and super cute. I would strongly recommend it.

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was a perfectly ok book. it’s cute, has short chapters, is easy to read, hits all the romance genre conventions and tropes, and i was decently engaged throughout. but i don’t think it’s one of those books that will stick with me forever. it kept me occupied for 2 days and now i move on. all in all, a completely satisfactory reading experience, a solid 3 stars.

i thought i would really enjoy the diplomacy stuff since it’s similar to what i’m currently studying at uni, however at times it was kind of boring (but shout out to this version of the british museum actually returning stolen artefacts. if only…)

it also felt like we were going in circles in regards to their relationship. too much of the book is spent with them lamenting about how they can’t have both the job and the man and it got really repetitive. i’m also not a super fan of the ending. i thought it wrapped up too neatly.

on the positive, i really liked seeing all the fancy locations and exploring london and athens. and of course, my queens doily and the brilliant flora forbes.

also i’m sorry, but i truly can’t believe that hunter, theatre kid extraordinaire, would give up starring on actual BROADWAY for his loser ex (not a spoiler as this happens before the book starts). the plot of this book requires a high suspension of disbelief (which ok easy enough) so it’s kinda funny to me that that was the thing that kept taking me out lol. thank god, he finally started seeing sense in london.

i know this book comps the proposal and rwrb which i would say is accurate, but lowkey, i couldn’t stop thinking about 90 day fiancé the entire time. make of that what you will 🥸

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

[Jerome Garnier · Rating 5 out of 5]

📚✨ Five stars for International Relations by Zac Hammett! This story follows Max, an ambitious diplomat determined to secure his dream role, who hires Hunter, a charismatic actor, to pose as his boyfriend. What starts as fake dating quickly spirals into a marriage of convenience, and suddenly the line between pretend and real begins to blur in the most delicious way.
💼🌍 From start to finish, the story is excellent. I was completely hooked by the blend of humour, tension, and swoony romance, and the pacing kept me fully invested the entire way through. The fake dating to fake marriage trope was executed so well and made every moment feel engaging and addictive.
💼🌍 The story shines from beginning to end. I was completely hooked by the blend of humour, tension, and swoony romance, and the pacing kept me fully invested the entire way through. The fake dating to fake marriage trope was executed so well and made every moment feel engaging and addictive.
💞🥹 Max and Hunter absolutely stole my heart. They are so charming, warm, and full of personality that you cannot help but root for them from the very beginning. Their chemistry is undeniable, and watching their relationship evolve from something staged into something real was incredibly heart-warming.
🌈🔥 If you love MM romance with iconic tropes, emotional payoff, and characters you will fall in love with, this one is a must-read. It is fun, romantic, and completely unforgettable.
#MMRomance #BookstagramReads #QueerRomance #FakeDating #BookstagramCommunity

[Brady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Slowburn and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. I enjoyed this one so much!! Max has dreamed of becoming an ambassador for England as long as he can remember and now he has the opportunity to work in the ambassadors office in Greece. He and his team were a big part of the new trade deal between England and Greece so he’s definitely a front runner. Only problem is his work nemesis Quentin is also a front runner. And he has something Max doesn’t, a stable relationship. That shouldn’t matter but Max not having a steady boyfriend is hurting his chances for a promotion. In order to achieve his goals he’ll need to find a fake boyfriend to show off to the selection committee. Enter Hunter, and out of work American actor whose visa is about to expire. Hunters desperate to stay in London so he’ll agree to Max’s deal, only with a condition of his own they get married. After all who really marries for love these days? It should be the perfect situation but soon both find themselves falling for the other. That’s not the plan as feelings will only complicate what they are doing. Besides if they both get what they want they’ll end up in different places anyway. And what happens if they get caught? Will their love be stronger than any trials they have coming their way? Or are they destined for ruin? This was fast paced and absolutely sucked me in! I loved both Hunter and Max and their chemistry was amazing! If you enjoyed The Proposal (one of my absolute favorite movies) you will love Zac Hammett’s new book! Sweet, funny, endearing, charming, and spicy!

[Alex DS · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aspiring Diplomat Max is in need of a partner to improve his chances of securing a promotion, Hunter is an aspiring actor in need of a visa so he can stay in the UK. Naturally, fate leads them meet and get married so they can both achieve their career goals.

However, their evident mutual attraction causes complications when their chosen careers will see them living in different countries. Can they overcome these challenges and make their marriage work for real?

Romance books often require you to suspend belief to fully enjoy them, but in this instance it was a little bit too far. In fairness, this is possibly because I am someone who has been through the trials and tribulations of securing a spousal visa 😅

The main characters are cute (Max especially) and they are very sweet together but it was a struggle to get over the insta lust. It did seem a little bit forced. I adored Doily though, I would love to hear more about her career as an agent!

I did sometimes feel like Max and Hunter’s personalities overlapped; in some chapters they didn’t have a distinct voice. This may have been intentional as their characters did evolve over the course of the book but it did often take me out of the story.

Whilst funny in parts, the humour felt a little corny and repetitive to me (a lot of jokes surrounding names of characters). Many of the jokes fell flat.

There was also a bit of trouble with the pacing of the book, some bits felt really rushed and resolved quickly.

Overall an easy and fairly enjoyable read but won’t be something I pick up for a reread.

[Kaitlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

✨ Rating: 4.75 ✨

I really enjoyed See You At The Finish Line by this author, so I was *very* excited when I found out about this book. The Proposal meets Red, White and Royal Blue?? Say less—this book was practically written FOR me. There's just something about a marriage of convenience, especially for visa reasons, that I just eat up every time and this was no exception! I had so much fun with this one.

Both MCs are really sweet and genuine, which I loved. They're both really passionate about their own work and even when it threatens to destabilize their relationship, they stay supportive of each other's dreams. Neither of them even considers trying to hold the other back. I really enjoyed their chemistry and banter as well. Doily was another fun character. She's definitely the type of character some people would find OTT but I loved her ridiculous name drops and general wackiness, like her beef with Elton John and the hijinks that ensued because of it.

This was really just peak romcom for me; it was fun, light, funny and sweet. And even though I know how all romcoms end, I did still find I wasn't 100% sure exactly which path they would take to reach that end. I had a lot of fun with this one and definitely recommend for anyone who likes romcoms and just a little bit of fraud. (for legal reasons that's totally a joke 😏)

[Renee (aredheadwithbedhead) · Rating 4 out of 5]

“No more second-guessing. We don’t just want this—we need this. We need each other. These feelings have been growing in intensity ever since that first kiss. We can worry about the consequences tomorrow.”

⭐⭐⭐.75 🌶️🌶️

International Relations is a feel good, easy to dive into, fake dating romance. I was enchanted from the start by Max and Hunter and the different plights that led them to their outlandish fake dating to marriage scheme. They were both loveable MCs with quirks that endeared me to them quickly and I found myself rooting for them so hard by the end!

The novel kicks off with Max as he sets his sights on an ambassadorial job in Athens. He quickly learns that his single status won’t win him any points in the world of international diplomacy. In a desperate measure, he phones a talent agency to find himself a fake boyfriend. In comes Hunter, a charismatic actor in need a spouse to obtain a green card. A match made in chaotic heaven.

I really enjoyed the differences in personality between Max and Hunter. Max is a golden retriever optimist who will stop at nothing to get his dream position but has never been in love. Hunter is charming but jaded after his former relationship left him with trust issues. There is a real element of hurt/comfort on both sides with these MCs and I felt it really came through in Zac’s writing.

Max and Hunter are also supposed by a cast of unique characters that made this a really fun read. There’s humorous chaos, tense moments related to Max’s career and some lovely found family vibes throughout the whole book.

International Relations is a great read for fans of “The Proposal” and feel-good comfort reads! Thank you so much to Zando & NetGalley for the arc opportunity 🫶🏻

[Nausicaa Sessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an absolute emotional rollercoaster. It took me by surprise and made me feel all kinds of ways.

I loved how different the protagonists are, quite the opposite of each other. While Hunter is easygoing, sure of himself, and well… a little cocky, Max is very shy, reserved and sometimes does not believe in himself. They complete each other, they create a special kind of balance which feels like perfection. They also help each other grow and shine, both in work and in life.

The tension between the characters, the highs and lows they faced, the complications… forming a bond that was only meant to help each other out with their goals and then actually falling in love, finding one another. Finding that kind of love you can’t help but dive deeply into, a love that makes you a better person, truer to yourself. This is what they built.

I absolutely loved this book and it also taught me a couple of things. First, we need to be as sincere as possible, not only with the people around us, but also with ourselves. Second, we have to fight for our dreams, for what we truly want. Giving up is not an option.

I compliment the author for how smoothly the story flows. Between romance, tension and also a little bit of irony, everything falls into place. The story hooks you from the start.

I am forever grateful for having received this ARC. It was truly a wonderful experience. Thank you Bonnier Books and Zac Hammett for this.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trigger warning for this story: there is a lot of talk about a deceased parent, so make sure you're in a good mental place if that's the kind of thing you need a warning for!

On to the review, though:

Who doesn't love a good right place/wrong time story? I do, at any rate! Max is desperate for a job, but he knows that many of the other candidates have something he doesn't have: a partner to make them look good. So he does what any perfectly sane person would do and hires an actor for the position! Hunter accepts ... on the condition that Max marry him so he can stay in London. And while that's already not a recipe for a smooth relationship, it's certainly not easy for anyone.

There are misunderstandings, but both men are adult enough to do crazy things like communicate about their feelings. Hunter's been burned before, and Max had a lot of unresolved family trauma to sort through ... together. We love to see two grown men acting like grown men!

The cast of supporting characters in their lives are insane and chaotic in the best way possible. Doily's client list alone and the ridiculousness of the industry makes me dead curious about Anna Karenina on Ice--not a Tolstoy fan, me, but maybe skating would make it palatable, yeah?

Highly recommend this one! All roads lead Max and Hunter to where they belong, and this book belongs in my library.

[Lucy Larsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would first like to start this review by thanking Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an eARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I did enjoy this book, but I will admit that I actually did not like it as much as I liked his debut book. I think the only thing that I had a hard time with in this book was that I felt that parts of the story felt missing or skimmed over and because of that there were parts where the chronology and smoothness of the writing style felt kind of weird.

But mostly, I really enjoyed this story. It helps that I’m a big sucker for fake dating romance stories and fake marriage is just a step up and even better than fake dating. I really liked both Max and Hunter. I thought that Max was kind of a funny character. The way he learned through his fake relationship how to be honest about his feelings with his friends and family was kind of a fun ironic twist. I also appreciated getting to see Hunter and how much love and support he put into all of those around him but how he really just needs support too. This story was really just a story of ironic situations and I loved it. The spicy level was a level 4.

Overall, I would rate this book a 4 out of 5 star rating. I enjoyed it, but I actually liked Zac Hammett’s debut book more.

[m✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

i will blame this rating to the fact that i've been on a reading slump and can't get outttt no matter what i do.

i liked this book, but it was not something i would pick up again o reread until i know dialogues from memory.

the plot was interestings, i mean, who doesn't like fake dating turned into fake marriage turned into real marriage? well, i do.

i did enjoy max and hunters dynamic and how their relatiosnhip developped, but at one point it felt like they were walking in circles regarding their i-want-to-be-together-but-also-want-to-have-a-career, which is valid, but it was so repetitive i found myself wishing to skip some parts of it towards the end of the story.

however, the whole political aspect of the story threw me off, because they were behaving like what i hope diplomatic people actually don't behave like; it felt at times like a joke.

the ending caught me off guard, because it felt like a really serious thing to happen travelling while your visa is expired and getting arrested, and i'm supposed to believe it got fixed with a phone call?

also, the biggest lie is the british museum returning the stolen goods, lol

thanks to NG, and Zando for the arc of international relations!

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zac Hammet’s take on the fake-dating-turned-romance trope is a delightful departure from the norms we’ve grown accustomed to in romcoms.

Not enemies-to-lovers.
Not friends-to-lovers.
Not even reunited-childhood-friends-to-lovers.

Max and Hunter are complete strangers both in need of the cover provided by a serious relationship, and who must then fight to keep their instantaneous mutual attraction secret from the other. Because what they’re each getting out of their arrangement, and why they’ve got one in the first place, renders any exploration of something real between them wholly impossible. When there’s no room for permanence, when you’re headed in opposite directions, why risk your heart?

Even as you watch Max and Hunter fall in love, you’ll be left wondering how on earth the Hammet will manage to conclude their story on a romance, because the things keeping them apart aren’t fantastical—their firmly based in the realities of navigating real love.

But don’t be mistaken—Hammet delivers plenty of the “com” in romcom via a semi-ridiculous cast of supporting characters from Hunter’s agent, Doily, to the Max’s nemesis and co-worker Quentin.

Silly, spicy, sad, and sweet, International Relations will sweep you off your feet.