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Taking Risks #1
Let's Pretend
It’s supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, but it’s everything but that for Anna Lopez. Not only have her parents disowned her, completely cutting her off, but her landlord is hiking her rent at the beginning of the year.
With the New Year around the corner and her being on winter break, she has a few weeks to figure out a new game plan. Wishing for a Christmas miracle seems hard but not impossible, and she’s willing to do anything to make it happen.
Until it happens in the form of a six-foot-four hockey player, who she doesn’t have fond memories of.
King’s Yard University hockey star Sylas Lenoir Alves has everything anyone could wish for. However, there is one thing he’s not content with and wishes he could end: the need his mom has to pair him with a girl he has no interest in dating or ever marrying.
Feeling overwhelmed with her insistence, he’s wishing for a miracle. Luckily for him, he quickly finds the answers to his problem, but it happens to be the girl who couldn’t care less who he is.
*Book 1 of a Duet series. Has a cliffhanger*
With the New Year around the corner and her being on winter break, she has a few weeks to figure out a new game plan. Wishing for a Christmas miracle seems hard but not impossible, and she’s willing to do anything to make it happen.
Until it happens in the form of a six-foot-four hockey player, who she doesn’t have fond memories of.
King’s Yard University hockey star Sylas Lenoir Alves has everything anyone could wish for. However, there is one thing he’s not content with and wishes he could end: the need his mom has to pair him with a girl he has no interest in dating or ever marrying.
Feeling overwhelmed with her insistence, he’s wishing for a miracle. Luckily for him, he quickly finds the answers to his problem, but it happens to be the girl who couldn’t care less who he is.
*Book 1 of a Duet series. Has a cliffhanger*
222 pages, Paperback
Published December 2, 2025
246 people are currently reading
2488 people want to read
About the author
E. Salvador
5 books1,143 followersE. is a Mexican-American romance author who loves a good happily ever after and iced coffee with light ice.
When E. is not overthinking or creating multiple Pinterest boards for the hundred book ideas she has, she's writing or reading. And when she's not doing any of those things, she's spending time with her two sons and husband.
When E. is not overthinking or creating multiple Pinterest boards for the hundred book ideas she has, she's writing or reading. And when she's not doing any of those things, she's spending time with her two sons and husband.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 278 reviews
December 5, 2025
╰┈➤ 4 stars!
E. SALVADOR, I ATE THIS UP SO MUCH AND I’M ALREADY SAT FOR BOOK 2! call me basic or what but i love me a good, quick sports romance book where the mmc is so down bad for the fmc 🤭
they’re truly so good to each other, and right from the very beginning, i already felt the tension forming between them—this quiet, magnetic pull that neither of them fully understood yet but kept getting stronger with every interaction. what made it even better was how that tension blended seamlessly with the softer, more wholesome moments they shared.
he really tried to make her feel comfortable despite the fact that they come from completely different worlds, and that effort alone spoke volumes. it showed how much he cared, how much he wanted to meet her where she was, and how deeply he valued the space they were building together.
then there’s the matching tattoos they got? such a spontaneous decision, yet somehow it felt so right for them. it didn’t feel reckless; it felt like trust, like this unspoken agreement that they both felt something real enough to mark the moment. and honestly, that little detail made their relationship even sweeter.
but omg, that ending??? i swear, my jaw actually dropped because even though the author said that it will end with a cliffhanger, i wasn’t expecting it to be this shocking! it was in the best—and most painful—way, and now i’m just sitting here absolutely desperate for the second book because there is no way i can function normally after that.
Thank you to E. Salvador for the ARC in exchange of my honest review.
・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・
pre-read:
got the arc for this book 🙂↕️💝 and i’m so happy because this book is also one of my 10 before the end! the blurb is so promising and even though i’ve only read one book of e. salvador, i’m expecting to love this one 🤞🏼😩
E. SALVADOR, I ATE THIS UP SO MUCH AND I’M ALREADY SAT FOR BOOK 2! call me basic or what but i love me a good, quick sports romance book where the mmc is so down bad for the fmc 🤭
they’re truly so good to each other, and right from the very beginning, i already felt the tension forming between them—this quiet, magnetic pull that neither of them fully understood yet but kept getting stronger with every interaction. what made it even better was how that tension blended seamlessly with the softer, more wholesome moments they shared.
he really tried to make her feel comfortable despite the fact that they come from completely different worlds, and that effort alone spoke volumes. it showed how much he cared, how much he wanted to meet her where she was, and how deeply he valued the space they were building together.
then there’s the matching tattoos they got? such a spontaneous decision, yet somehow it felt so right for them. it didn’t feel reckless; it felt like trust, like this unspoken agreement that they both felt something real enough to mark the moment. and honestly, that little detail made their relationship even sweeter.
but omg, that ending??? i swear, my jaw actually dropped because even though the author said that it will end with a cliffhanger, i wasn’t expecting it to be this shocking! it was in the best—and most painful—way, and now i’m just sitting here absolutely desperate for the second book because there is no way i can function normally after that.
Thank you to E. Salvador for the ARC in exchange of my honest review.
・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・
pre-read:
got the arc for this book 🙂↕️💝 and i’m so happy because this book is also one of my 10 before the end! the blurb is so promising and even though i’ve only read one book of e. salvador, i’m expecting to love this one 🤞🏼😩
December 10, 2025
That ending is actually insane... I need the second book right now!!!
December 15, 2025
While this was cute and I always love a man who falls hard, there wasn’t much to it. I did like both main characters. Their romance was sweet and spicy. It was cute how Sylas kept finding excuses to see Anna, and she acted as if he was a bother when it was obvious she was drawn to him just as much.
However, it never got deep into anything. There were still a lot of loose ends that needed to at least be addressed then suddenly, it ended. I don’t know where this duet is going, and I’m scared to find out after that ending.
However, it never got deep into anything. There were still a lot of loose ends that needed to at least be addressed then suddenly, it ended. I don’t know where this duet is going, and I’m scared to find out after that ending.
December 9, 2025
*4.5
E. Salvador, you will be hearing from my lawyer because I feel emotionally FUCKED.
Let me start off by thanking E. For the E-ARC of this book, E is my RIDE OR DIE!! 💖
Now let me talk everything about this book, I picked this up as a treat to myself for finishing up my first final of my senior year of college. Which was questionably the best way to celebrate.
God this was so horny, there is nothing more sexier than a degradation kink written right. Tears were running down my Latina thighs.
Sylas and Anna are ELECTRIC, I’m talking bone shattering. That meme of the lady biting her laptop? That was me expect it was my kindle.
That ending tho? Let’s just say a ball gag wasn’t just used on one of the characters.
I’m genuinely tweaking for book 2, this book is more addicting than crack itself.
Happy Holidays everyone!! Read Let’s Pretend for a Fun and Horny Holiday season 🎄🥵
E. Salvador, you will be hearing from my lawyer because I feel emotionally FUCKED.
Let me start off by thanking E. For the E-ARC of this book, E is my RIDE OR DIE!! 💖
Now let me talk everything about this book, I picked this up as a treat to myself for finishing up my first final of my senior year of college. Which was questionably the best way to celebrate.
God this was so horny, there is nothing more sexier than a degradation kink written right. Tears were running down my Latina thighs.
Sylas and Anna are ELECTRIC, I’m talking bone shattering. That meme of the lady biting her laptop? That was me expect it was my kindle.
That ending tho? Let’s just say a ball gag wasn’t just used on one of the characters.
I’m genuinely tweaking for book 2, this book is more addicting than crack itself.
Happy Holidays everyone!! Read Let’s Pretend for a Fun and Horny Holiday season 🎄🥵
January 2, 2026
I don’t know why I do this to myself, after the author warns us there is a cliffhanger 🫠 Now we have to wait til next year for the second book. I love Anna and Sylas together. Their chemistry was sooo good. The epilogue did me in 😩
December 14, 2025
What did I just read? First of all, there’s no reason to end this stupid book in a cliffhanger like that just to have an excuse to write a second book. There’s no substance to this story. These characters have no chemistry. Everything moved so fast and the smut was incredibly bad 🤮 the dirty talk came out of nowhere! And if you like this kind of thing, good for you, but degradation kinks are not my thing. And I think this is something that requires trust between two partners and in this case they barely knew each other, so there was no time to build that sort of connection. Out of nowhere, he starts calling her a whore, he says that she would be his toy and she was his to use, and, worst of all, he gave her money just so she would pretend to be his girlfriend, admitted that he thought it would be good to also get sex in return, and she agreed because apparently she’s into being treated like a prostitute. Why are so many people giving this 5 stars? 🫠
December 4, 2025
the ending wth.
if u decide to read this be ready for heartbreak (and wait for book2?) bc no.... not possible 😭💔
this was a really cute and fun (spicy!) holiday novella!!!! i love both the mcs and im scared for the second book in this duet....
my first book by the authors and i need to go back and read her backlist asap
thank u e for sending me an arc!!!
if u decide to read this be ready for heartbreak (and wait for book2?) bc no.... not possible 😭💔
this was a really cute and fun (spicy!) holiday novella!!!! i love both the mcs and im scared for the second book in this duet....
my first book by the authors and i need to go back and read her backlist asap
thank u e for sending me an arc!!!
December 13, 2025
First of all…. What the fuck?? The cliffhanger???????
Okay anyways, I just want to preface this with the fact that I’ve never rated anything by this author lower than 4 stars…sooooo this one was disappointing for me.
The insta lust/love was not something I’m used to from this author and it felt like their lust moved WAY too fast. I think if she just released this as one book, it would’ve been better, but all this coupled with the cliffhanger I’m just like…..? If you saw my update for this, you know I wanted to DNF so bad in the first 30ish% lol.
This is what I wrote in my notes on my phone when I was about 16% in:
Literally what the hell is even going on? So to introduce the fmc, she’s a waitress but also cleans houses for super rich families.
It was established in the very beginning been that she hates this man because of an academic thing. Shortly after that point in the story she goes to the club with her friend, sees Sylas and he asks her to dance. They do. After they finish, literally out of nowhere she’s telling him to touch her and he literally pulls her boob out at the club and is saying he’s going to make her cum like this. At this point I’m confused as fuck bc this came out of NOWHERE 😭😂😂😭 like WTF LMAO. and then he tells her to use her spit and “I should get you a collar, maybe a leash, walk you like a dog, fuck you like one too.” Like HUHHH???? HOW HAVE WE PROGRESSED TO THIS DIRTY TALK IN 2 SECONDS???? 😭😭💀 yeah so now she’s drooling on her own tits in the middle of the club with a man she hated 5 minutes ago. OH and he also cums in his pants in the middle of the club. And we’re like 13% in. Ik this book is short, but it’s going to be a duet so I’m like????
It feels like we’re missing massive chunks of writing or something with the way the story has flowed so far.
I also didn’t believe their chemistry or feel it bc it was too rushed.
Only positive was the spice was hot 🤷🏻♀️
Soooooo yeah. This was a disappointment for me coming from this author. Maybe my expectations were too high? Idfk.
Okay anyways, I just want to preface this with the fact that I’ve never rated anything by this author lower than 4 stars…sooooo this one was disappointing for me.
The insta lust/love was not something I’m used to from this author and it felt like their lust moved WAY too fast. I think if she just released this as one book, it would’ve been better, but all this coupled with the cliffhanger I’m just like…..? If you saw my update for this, you know I wanted to DNF so bad in the first 30ish% lol.
This is what I wrote in my notes on my phone when I was about 16% in:
Literally what the hell is even going on? So to introduce the fmc, she’s a waitress but also cleans houses for super rich families.
It was established in the very beginning been that she hates this man because of an academic thing. Shortly after that point in the story she goes to the club with her friend, sees Sylas and he asks her to dance. They do. After they finish, literally out of nowhere she’s telling him to touch her and he literally pulls her boob out at the club and is saying he’s going to make her cum like this. At this point I’m confused as fuck bc this came out of NOWHERE 😭😂😂😭 like WTF LMAO. and then he tells her to use her spit and “I should get you a collar, maybe a leash, walk you like a dog, fuck you like one too.” Like HUHHH???? HOW HAVE WE PROGRESSED TO THIS DIRTY TALK IN 2 SECONDS???? 😭😭💀 yeah so now she’s drooling on her own tits in the middle of the club with a man she hated 5 minutes ago. OH and he also cums in his pants in the middle of the club. And we’re like 13% in. Ik this book is short, but it’s going to be a duet so I’m like????
It feels like we’re missing massive chunks of writing or something with the way the story has flowed so far.
I also didn’t believe their chemistry or feel it bc it was too rushed.
Only positive was the spice was hot 🤷🏻♀️
Soooooo yeah. This was a disappointment for me coming from this author. Maybe my expectations were too high? Idfk.
December 3, 2025
4.5 ⭐️ Review
One thing I can guarantee you with every book E. Salvador writes is an MMC who is down bad for the FMC. And when I say down bad, I mean he will GROVEL for what he wants and you will eat up every second of it.
Add in the kind of spicy scenes that have you pausing to fan yourself, breathe, regroup… yeah, those. Salvador knows exactly what she’s doing.
Watching both the MMC and FMC desperately cling to the idea that their fake dating was still fake while every page made it more and more obvious they were falling hard was everything I needed. The tension, the denial, the slow unraveling of their pretend feelings… chef’s kiss.
It does end on a cliffhanger, so be prepared. I knew one was coming, but this one? Absolutely diabolical. And now I’m impatiently waiting for the next book.
One thing I can guarantee you with every book E. Salvador writes is an MMC who is down bad for the FMC. And when I say down bad, I mean he will GROVEL for what he wants and you will eat up every second of it.
Add in the kind of spicy scenes that have you pausing to fan yourself, breathe, regroup… yeah, those. Salvador knows exactly what she’s doing.
Watching both the MMC and FMC desperately cling to the idea that their fake dating was still fake while every page made it more and more obvious they were falling hard was everything I needed. The tension, the denial, the slow unraveling of their pretend feelings… chef’s kiss.
It does end on a cliffhanger, so be prepared. I knew one was coming, but this one? Absolutely diabolical. And now I’m impatiently waiting for the next book.
December 9, 2025
4.5☆
thank you so much, e salvador, for this arc. did i finish the book or did the book (ending) finish me?
happy release day to this wonderful peace of art.
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sylas and anna were two characters who did not receive the love growing up that they both deserved. the two of them grew up in households with parents who were controlling, demanding and expected things from them that weren’t in their best interests.
sylas and anna needed one another and i strongly stand by that. their chemistry was off the charts and the banter was so fun to read - they both gave it to one another just as well as they took it. in this book, there was ever a dull moment. apart from their closest friends, these two found comfort and a home in one another that you don’t just find on a daily basis. this is something that was meant to happen, they were meant to cross paths in this way, outside of a classroom.
i enjoyed watching their relationship grow - i enjoyed the friendship that they began to build that slowly evolved into something more. they both began to open up slowly over time and it was so beautiful to see them accept their relationship and stop fighting the inevitable… which was, that they are meant to be.
i want sylas, i need sylas. this man is so perfect but as is every man that is written by e. salvador. there hasn’t been a book of hers that i have read that hasn’t consumed me for a period of time. i was left needing and wanting part two of their story sooooo badly, i haven’t stopped thinking about it since i finished book 1.
this was a perfect christmas read but also in a sense that it didn’t only focus on christmas. sylas not liking the holiday but coming around to it and decorating his apartment for her, was so precious. now the ending…. my mind is still reeling, i fear. it’s going 100 miles a minute with thoughts.
if you haven’t yet, i strongly encourage you to pic this book like now. you won’t regret it, i promise you.
thank you so much, e salvador, for this arc. did i finish the book or did the book (ending) finish me?
happy release day to this wonderful peace of art.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. . ݁₊
sylas and anna were two characters who did not receive the love growing up that they both deserved. the two of them grew up in households with parents who were controlling, demanding and expected things from them that weren’t in their best interests.
sylas and anna needed one another and i strongly stand by that. their chemistry was off the charts and the banter was so fun to read - they both gave it to one another just as well as they took it. in this book, there was ever a dull moment. apart from their closest friends, these two found comfort and a home in one another that you don’t just find on a daily basis. this is something that was meant to happen, they were meant to cross paths in this way, outside of a classroom.
i enjoyed watching their relationship grow - i enjoyed the friendship that they began to build that slowly evolved into something more. they both began to open up slowly over time and it was so beautiful to see them accept their relationship and stop fighting the inevitable… which was, that they are meant to be.
i want sylas, i need sylas. this man is so perfect but as is every man that is written by e. salvador. there hasn’t been a book of hers that i have read that hasn’t consumed me for a period of time. i was left needing and wanting part two of their story sooooo badly, i haven’t stopped thinking about it since i finished book 1.
this was a perfect christmas read but also in a sense that it didn’t only focus on christmas. sylas not liking the holiday but coming around to it and decorating his apartment for her, was so precious. now the ending…. my mind is still reeling, i fear. it’s going 100 miles a minute with thoughts.
if you haven’t yet, i strongly encourage you to pic this book like now. you won’t regret it, i promise you.
December 5, 2025
Please be sure to check the trigger warnings for the spicy scenes!
Let’s Pretend takes place over the holiday season and follows Anna and Sylas as they enter a fake relationship to keep Sylas’s parents from setting him up with someone else.
The angst and chemistry between Anna and Sylas are fire-hot from the very first page. Their immediate physical connection in their first scene together is 🥵. As mentioned, please check the trigger warnings as some of the spicy scenes get intense. While I wasn’t personally a fan of the kink elements in Let’s Pretend, they didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment of the novel.
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Despite its 232-page length, Salvador delivers two fully fleshed-out characters, each facing their own challenges as they try to navigate a relationship, territory that neither of them is quite familiar with.
Let’s Pretend ends on a cliffhanger, so if you’re not a fan of those, you might want to wait for the sequel. You’ll definitely want to grab it as soon as it’s out.
Overall, Let’s Pretend is a steamy, addictive read with characters worth rooting for. Just be prepared: the cliffhanger hits hard.
*** I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Let’s Pretend takes place over the holiday season and follows Anna and Sylas as they enter a fake relationship to keep Sylas’s parents from setting him up with someone else.
The angst and chemistry between Anna and Sylas are fire-hot from the very first page. Their immediate physical connection in their first scene together is 🥵. As mentioned, please check the trigger warnings as some of the spicy scenes get intense. While I wasn’t personally a fan of the kink elements in Let’s Pretend, they didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment of the novel.
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Despite its 232-page length, Salvador delivers two fully fleshed-out characters, each facing their own challenges as they try to navigate a relationship, territory that neither of them is quite familiar with.
Let’s Pretend ends on a cliffhanger, so if you’re not a fan of those, you might want to wait for the sequel. You’ll definitely want to grab it as soon as it’s out.
Overall, Let’s Pretend is a steamy, addictive read with characters worth rooting for. Just be prepared: the cliffhanger hits hard.
*** I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
December 28, 2025
3.75⭐️!
“𝓕𝓸𝓻 𝓪𝓷𝔂𝓸𝓷𝓮 𝔀𝓱𝓸𝓼 𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓮 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓿𝓲𝓫𝓮𝓼 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓱𝓸𝓬𝓴𝓮𝔂 𝓱𝓸𝓽 𝓱𝓸𝓬𝓴𝓮𝔂 𝓹𝓵𝓪𝔂𝓮𝓻𝓼.”
That would be me thank you very much🙂↕️
My god, was this good.
I enjoyed this so much, the banter the tension the SPICE🔥🔥 wow.
This was my first E. Salvador book and I just know I’m going to eat up all her other books like I ate up this one.
I loved both Anna and Sylas’ characters. Their chemistry with each other was off the charts.
Sylas was DOWN BAD for Anna. He quit smoking for her after literally talking to her twice.
Because this was a really short book I feel like I still didn’t get to know the characters so much like I’d like to and connect with them. But I’m hoping that in the next book that’ll change.
That ending?! Excuse me, what?
Can’t wait until I find it what happened!
Highly recommend if you’re looking for a quick, spicy, fun read. (*ends in a cliffhanger*)
QUOTES:
I don’t know where it came from, but it made sense. Like we do. I don’t understand it, but it’s comforting being around her. Whether it involves being physical or not.
But is this considered a crush? Is this not too soon? Is this sane? Am I sane? Should I consult my therapist for this? I haven’t spoken to him in a while; surely, he’ll know what’s going on, right?
(lol Sylas not knowing what a crush is😂)
“Are you going to let me have you like you’re mine?” He gently nips my top lip. “Use you like you’re mine?” Now the bottom. “Lick you like you’re mine? Fuck you like you’re mine?” He sucks it between his teeth before he releases it and drags his tongue along it.
I can’t wait to show you off.” Anna giggles when I wrap an arm around her back and draw her to my chest.
“Because I look good?”
“No, because you’re mine.”
“In case you don’t, let me bluntly put it like this: I like you, Anna. I like you a lot. I can’t stop thinking about you. I can’t stop dreaming about you. I can’t stop wanting you. No, this isn’t pretend, fake, or whatever you may think it is. This is real and so fucking honest. I want to make this real. Please tell me you do too.”
“𝓕𝓸𝓻 𝓪𝓷𝔂𝓸𝓷𝓮 𝔀𝓱𝓸𝓼 𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓮 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓿𝓲𝓫𝓮𝓼 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓱𝓸𝓬𝓴𝓮𝔂 𝓱𝓸𝓽 𝓱𝓸𝓬𝓴𝓮𝔂 𝓹𝓵𝓪𝔂𝓮𝓻𝓼.”
That would be me thank you very much🙂↕️
My god, was this good.
I enjoyed this so much, the banter the tension the SPICE🔥🔥 wow.
This was my first E. Salvador book and I just know I’m going to eat up all her other books like I ate up this one.
I loved both Anna and Sylas’ characters. Their chemistry with each other was off the charts.
Sylas was DOWN BAD for Anna. He quit smoking for her after literally talking to her twice.
Because this was a really short book I feel like I still didn’t get to know the characters so much like I’d like to and connect with them. But I’m hoping that in the next book that’ll change.
That ending?! Excuse me, what?
Can’t wait until I find it what happened!
Highly recommend if you’re looking for a quick, spicy, fun read. (*ends in a cliffhanger*)
QUOTES:
I don’t know where it came from, but it made sense. Like we do. I don’t understand it, but it’s comforting being around her. Whether it involves being physical or not.
But is this considered a crush? Is this not too soon? Is this sane? Am I sane? Should I consult my therapist for this? I haven’t spoken to him in a while; surely, he’ll know what’s going on, right?
(lol Sylas not knowing what a crush is😂)
“Are you going to let me have you like you’re mine?” He gently nips my top lip. “Use you like you’re mine?” Now the bottom. “Lick you like you’re mine? Fuck you like you’re mine?” He sucks it between his teeth before he releases it and drags his tongue along it.
I can’t wait to show you off.” Anna giggles when I wrap an arm around her back and draw her to my chest.
“Because I look good?”
“No, because you’re mine.”
“In case you don’t, let me bluntly put it like this: I like you, Anna. I like you a lot. I can’t stop thinking about you. I can’t stop dreaming about you. I can’t stop wanting you. No, this isn’t pretend, fake, or whatever you may think it is. This is real and so fucking honest. I want to make this real. Please tell me you do too.”
December 22, 2025
THAT ENDING WAS ABSOLUTELY UNNECESSARY!
December 12, 2025
nope no, i absolutely loved please don't go, but this was not for me personally. i probably should have dnf'd this book, and that ending????? don't pmo
December 10, 2025
4.5 stars - after that cliffhanger, my heart HUUURTS.
Sylas is rich and a top hockey player at the university. His parents are all about appearances, wanting him to date/marry the daughter of their friends, much to Sylas’ dismay. To rectify his situation, he crosses paths with Anna, a fellow student who can’t stand him (for reasons) and who cleans his penthouse courtesy of the cleaning company his parents hired. They are complete opposites in every way, but that doesn’t stop them from stumbling their way from a fake dating situation to real feelings.
Their connection felt organic. I love when a couple just connects even when it makes no sense to them. They were free to be themselves with each other. The author didn’t hold back on the spice as she showed Sylas and Anna exploring a sexual dynamic that they’d only ever shared with each other.
I can’t wait to see what happens in the conclusion to this duet because I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THAT ENDING.
What to Expect: fake dating, opposites attract, rich hero, he falls first and hard, college students, British/Brazilian hero, Mexican heroine
Sylas is rich and a top hockey player at the university. His parents are all about appearances, wanting him to date/marry the daughter of their friends, much to Sylas’ dismay. To rectify his situation, he crosses paths with Anna, a fellow student who can’t stand him (for reasons) and who cleans his penthouse courtesy of the cleaning company his parents hired. They are complete opposites in every way, but that doesn’t stop them from stumbling their way from a fake dating situation to real feelings.
Their connection felt organic. I love when a couple just connects even when it makes no sense to them. They were free to be themselves with each other. The author didn’t hold back on the spice as she showed Sylas and Anna exploring a sexual dynamic that they’d only ever shared with each other.
I can’t wait to see what happens in the conclusion to this duet because I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THAT ENDING.
What to Expect: fake dating, opposites attract, rich hero, he falls first and hard, college students, British/Brazilian hero, Mexican heroine
December 16, 2025
I’m feeling kind of generous this holiday season and handing out five stars, and I’m not sorry about it at all. I loved this book.
Even though it didn’t quite feel like a holiday read. Yes, everything takes place during Christmastime, but it wasn’t overly festive—and honestly, that’s fine. I already read the super festive ones. I was here for the kink Sylas and Anna accidentally discovered 🤭. Yep, I’m that kind of reader.
Overall, this was a fun read. I always love fake dating in books, and this one is the first in a duet. Fair warning: it ends on a cliffhanger. And not a small one. So if cliffhangers aren’t your thing, you might want to wait for book two—because this one left me needing answers.
Even though it didn’t quite feel like a holiday read. Yes, everything takes place during Christmastime, but it wasn’t overly festive—and honestly, that’s fine. I already read the super festive ones. I was here for the kink Sylas and Anna accidentally discovered 🤭. Yep, I’m that kind of reader.
Overall, this was a fun read. I always love fake dating in books, and this one is the first in a duet. Fair warning: it ends on a cliffhanger. And not a small one. So if cliffhangers aren’t your thing, you might want to wait for book two—because this one left me needing answers.
December 2, 2025
ARC Review:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️ (not for of the quantity of scenes, but for the quality 🤌🏻(degradation k!nk)
There are a few authors I’ll drop everything for, and E. Salvador is absolutely one of them. When the ARC for Let’s Pretend hit my inbox, I didn’t even pretend I had self-control — I devoured it on sight! After Please Don’t Go (still my top read of the entire year), she cemented herself as one of my go-to, drop-everything, auto-buy authors. And with this one? She just keeps proving why.
Let’s Pretend was originally meant to be a novella, but it ended up getting the duet treatment…and trust me when I say: you will feel that cliffhanger in your soul. Cruel doesn’t even begin to cover it.
Anna and Sylas have that electric, push-pull, why-is-my-heart-racing-like-this chemistry that E. Salvador writes so well. The tension is thick from the very first interaction — the kind that steals your breath, leaves you anxious in the best way, and has you rereading spicy highlights like your life depends on it.
Between the college-era chaos, the Mexican household touches (the champurrado mention warmed my heart), the brat-tamer energy, the friend group, this story balances heat, humor, and heart flawlessly.
What to expect:
Bratty banter? ✔️
Piercing scene?? ✔️
Jealousy?? ✔️
Is this what a crush feels like?? ✔️
Soft-boy confessions that make your heart actually hurt? ✔️
As I said before I knew it would be shorter, and I still wasn’t prepared. I’m obsessed, I’m unwell, and I’m already counting the minutes until the conclusion.
E. Salvador, once again, you own my entire heart!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️ (not for of the quantity of scenes, but for the quality 🤌🏻(degradation k!nk)
There are a few authors I’ll drop everything for, and E. Salvador is absolutely one of them. When the ARC for Let’s Pretend hit my inbox, I didn’t even pretend I had self-control — I devoured it on sight! After Please Don’t Go (still my top read of the entire year), she cemented herself as one of my go-to, drop-everything, auto-buy authors. And with this one? She just keeps proving why.
Let’s Pretend was originally meant to be a novella, but it ended up getting the duet treatment…and trust me when I say: you will feel that cliffhanger in your soul. Cruel doesn’t even begin to cover it.
Anna and Sylas have that electric, push-pull, why-is-my-heart-racing-like-this chemistry that E. Salvador writes so well. The tension is thick from the very first interaction — the kind that steals your breath, leaves you anxious in the best way, and has you rereading spicy highlights like your life depends on it.
Between the college-era chaos, the Mexican household touches (the champurrado mention warmed my heart), the brat-tamer energy, the friend group, this story balances heat, humor, and heart flawlessly.
What to expect:
Bratty banter? ✔️
Piercing scene?? ✔️
Jealousy?? ✔️
Is this what a crush feels like?? ✔️
Soft-boy confessions that make your heart actually hurt? ✔️
As I said before I knew it would be shorter, and I still wasn’t prepared. I’m obsessed, I’m unwell, and I’m already counting the minutes until the conclusion.
E. Salvador, once again, you own my entire heart!
December 6, 2025
a fun & spicy time!!! definitely not as hard hitting emotionally as please don’t go, but this ends on a huge cliffhanger so I’m thinking we might get more of that in book 2!
December 11, 2025
(thank you e salvador for gifting me an ARC copy, all opinions are honest and my own ❤️)
okay… excuseme?!?!!?? the ending was CRIMINAL !!! u best believe i DID NOT EXPECT THAT 😫
and yes yes yes e salvador has done it again! i LOVED please don’t go because it was one of the best emotional romances i’ve read, and this one was the same. such staggeringly different circumstances but also similar feelings for both our main characters, which makes them connect so deeply & with so much love. i absolutely adoreddd the romance, and the spice?? 🌶️🌶️
i’m not the biggest fan of degradation, but this one was incorporated very well. it didn’t seem tacky & cringe at all.
however, i definitely thought there were some instances where further editing could’ve been necessary (specifically a spice scene where sylas somehow takes off anna’s shirt twice?). it wasn’t huge but it did take away from the pacing of the book.
i’m so excited for book 2, holyyyy crap. this was such a fun & short book i LOVE IT.
okay… excuseme?!?!!?? the ending was CRIMINAL !!! u best believe i DID NOT EXPECT THAT 😫
and yes yes yes e salvador has done it again! i LOVED please don’t go because it was one of the best emotional romances i’ve read, and this one was the same. such staggeringly different circumstances but also similar feelings for both our main characters, which makes them connect so deeply & with so much love. i absolutely adoreddd the romance, and the spice?? 🌶️🌶️
i’m not the biggest fan of degradation, but this one was incorporated very well. it didn’t seem tacky & cringe at all.
however, i definitely thought there were some instances where further editing could’ve been necessary (specifically a spice scene where sylas somehow takes off anna’s shirt twice?). it wasn’t huge but it did take away from the pacing of the book.
i’m so excited for book 2, holyyyy crap. this was such a fun & short book i LOVE IT.
December 15, 2025
Thank you E. Salvador for the ARC 🎄♥️
First off, she warns you this book is part of duet and IN BOLD: if you aren’t a fan of cliffhangers, WAIT UNTIL BOOK 2 COMES OUT!!!
I have a love/hate relationship with cliffhangers and I definitely DID NOT wait so now I’m crashing out over the ending. GIMMIE BOOK 2 NOW 😭😭😭
It was a short and spicy 233 page read. Sylas is astronomically down bad for Anna. It was quick and tbh, I didn’t connect with their relationship at first. I was super skeptical and wasn’t sure if I liked them. But then chapters 23 & 25 happened and I was like AW okay they’re cute but then BAM. CLIFFHANGER.
First off, she warns you this book is part of duet and IN BOLD: if you aren’t a fan of cliffhangers, WAIT UNTIL BOOK 2 COMES OUT!!!
I have a love/hate relationship with cliffhangers and I definitely DID NOT wait so now I’m crashing out over the ending. GIMMIE BOOK 2 NOW 😭😭😭
It was a short and spicy 233 page read. Sylas is astronomically down bad for Anna. It was quick and tbh, I didn’t connect with their relationship at first. I was super skeptical and wasn’t sure if I liked them. But then chapters 23 & 25 happened and I was like AW okay they’re cute but then BAM. CLIFFHANGER.
January 1, 2026
I enjoyed this. The ending though?! wtf 😃😃
December 12, 2025
I hated this, the characters are terrible. We went from
0 to 100000 % degradation in literally 2 pages ….. I’m like sis … why are you letting him talk to you like that ? The requires trust and he was just gross. Didn’t like Anna either . And he literally paid her ….. so she was a prostitute ? Literally couldn’t care less that they broke up and def won’t read the next one . Peace out ✌️✌️
0 to 100000 % degradation in literally 2 pages ….. I’m like sis … why are you letting him talk to you like that ? The requires trust and he was just gross. Didn’t like Anna either . And he literally paid her ….. so she was a prostitute ? Literally couldn’t care less that they broke up and def won’t read the next one . Peace out ✌️✌️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 7, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
I will eat up a book with a fake-dating trope every time, and that’s exactly what I did with Let’s Pretend by E. Salvador! ❤️
In Let’s Pretend, we follow Anna Lopez, a strong independent woman trying to make the best out of her difficult financial situation and complicated relationship with her family who don’t support her chasing her dreams. While also following Sylas Lenoir Alves, a rich hotshot hockey player for King Yard University who is doing everything in his power to avoid his mother’s plan of pairing him with a family friend’s daughter. With Anna’s financial stress and Sylas’s trying to avoid his mother’s matchmaking, they find themselves in a mutually beneficial agreement to fake-date each other! 🤭
Let’s Pretend is definitely a short and sweet book that will leave you wanting more! I loved the dual POV, and oh my the SPICE! LORD, it was caliente! I love when the spice delivers!! The banter between Anna and Sylas had me blushing!
Don’t even get me started on that cliffhanger! 😭 How am I supposed to wait for more of Anna & Sylas after that ending?! Best believe I will be counting the days until the next book is released!
Thank you so much E. Salvador for an ARC of Let’s Pretend ❤️
I will eat up a book with a fake-dating trope every time, and that’s exactly what I did with Let’s Pretend by E. Salvador! ❤️
In Let’s Pretend, we follow Anna Lopez, a strong independent woman trying to make the best out of her difficult financial situation and complicated relationship with her family who don’t support her chasing her dreams. While also following Sylas Lenoir Alves, a rich hotshot hockey player for King Yard University who is doing everything in his power to avoid his mother’s plan of pairing him with a family friend’s daughter. With Anna’s financial stress and Sylas’s trying to avoid his mother’s matchmaking, they find themselves in a mutually beneficial agreement to fake-date each other! 🤭
Let’s Pretend is definitely a short and sweet book that will leave you wanting more! I loved the dual POV, and oh my the SPICE! LORD, it was caliente! I love when the spice delivers!! The banter between Anna and Sylas had me blushing!
Don’t even get me started on that cliffhanger! 😭 How am I supposed to wait for more of Anna & Sylas after that ending?! Best believe I will be counting the days until the next book is released!
Thank you so much E. Salvador for an ARC of Let’s Pretend ❤️
December 5, 2025
This was a quick and spicy holiday romance between Anna and Sylas. Let me set the scene: we are at a prestigious NYC university. Sylas is the hockey star who comes from a very prominent family. Anna is there on scholarships and working her way through. Sylas comes up with a plan to fake date Anna in order to get his family members to stop pushing another girl on him. Since they are together all of the time because of this scheme they develop feelings for each other quite fast. I do want to give a warning that this is not a completed series. It ends on a big cliff hanger so it may not be for everyone.
December 15, 2025
The pure agony that hit me once I got to the end of this book. THIS ENDS ON A CLIFF HANGER and will leave you emotionally damaged.
But E. Salvador does it again with another absolutely magical romance. This one is spicy and witty, I loved every single second of it.
I WILL BE SAT FOR BOOK TWO!!!
But E. Salvador does it again with another absolutely magical romance. This one is spicy and witty, I loved every single second of it.
I WILL BE SAT FOR BOOK TWO!!!
December 3, 2025
This was a lot of fun. Really good vibes, really kinky and smutty, but not a lot of plot driving the story. I’d recommend if you’re looking for something like and sexy, but don’t plan on thinking too deeply about any of it.
December 15, 2025
4 🌟
I inhaled this holiday novella and I am still not okay. I loved every second… until THAT ENDING!!!!because excuse me??? I knew there was a cliffhanger, but wow, it was brutal and now I desperately need book two. The spice was delicious, the fmc anna was everything, and sylas was truly chef’s kiss 💋 Just make sure you read the trigger warnings and know that it leaves off on a cliff hanger before diving in.
I inhaled this holiday novella and I am still not okay. I loved every second… until THAT ENDING!!!!because excuse me??? I knew there was a cliffhanger, but wow, it was brutal and now I desperately need book two. The spice was delicious, the fmc anna was everything, and sylas was truly chef’s kiss 💋 Just make sure you read the trigger warnings and know that it leaves off on a cliff hanger before diving in.
December 14, 2025
3.75 ✨
The spice was spicing! 🥵
Did not need that cliffhanger though! 😭
The spice was spicing! 🥵
Did not need that cliffhanger though! 😭
December 28, 2025
that cliffhanger was insane. rtc !!
December 14, 2025
Cute but at the same time I didn't feel the connection between them. Maybe because the book was too short and I'm so used to her other books being longer . Also HELLO the ending !!! Can't wait for the second book to be out
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