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Total Abandon
Grumpy single dad billionaire meets fiery redhead in steamy slow burn Manhattan romance…Welcome to the first instalment in the Billionaire Row Series, by Caroline Whiteley. Perfect for fans of Anna Huang, Lucy Score and Elsie Silver.
The deal should have been simple. The money I desperately need in exchange for pretending to be his fiancée. Except I can’t keep away from him and he cant keep his hands off me.
Zeke Guerra is eleven years older than me and seated at the throne of a self-made empire. He’s cold, enigmatic and entirely off limits. That is until fate pulls us together in a tangle of schemes.
Forced to share a home, tension rises until all bets are off – and so are our clothes. With nothing left between us but the secrets we bear, I see a side to the sharp, filthy mouthed mogul that softens my heart. He says this is only temporary, so why do I feel more cherished than I ever have in his arms?
But secrets have a way of coming out, and when they do, will I be able to walk away with my heart intact?
The deal should have been simple. The money I desperately need in exchange for pretending to be his fiancée. Except I can’t keep away from him and he cant keep his hands off me.
Zeke Guerra is eleven years older than me and seated at the throne of a self-made empire. He’s cold, enigmatic and entirely off limits. That is until fate pulls us together in a tangle of schemes.
Forced to share a home, tension rises until all bets are off – and so are our clothes. With nothing left between us but the secrets we bear, I see a side to the sharp, filthy mouthed mogul that softens my heart. He says this is only temporary, so why do I feel more cherished than I ever have in his arms?
But secrets have a way of coming out, and when they do, will I be able to walk away with my heart intact?
315 pages, Paperback
Published December 1, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
March 22, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
The group chats are LIFE!! This book had me howling! But I also cried a little. The characters were captivating, the relationship was fun and full of banter, and ultimately even the third act breakup didn’t ruin it like most do for me 🤣…. The only things that would have made this perfect were: more Diego and more honesty. I get why they didn’t tell each other about their secrets since it took them so long to realize their love for each other, but I was dying for them to just be vulnerable!! Still, I would absolutely recommend this one!
The group chats are LIFE!! This book had me howling! But I also cried a little. The characters were captivating, the relationship was fun and full of banter, and ultimately even the third act breakup didn’t ruin it like most do for me 🤣…. The only things that would have made this perfect were: more Diego and more honesty. I get why they didn’t tell each other about their secrets since it took them so long to realize their love for each other, but I was dying for them to just be vulnerable!! Still, I would absolutely recommend this one!
March 12, 2026
Hated every second of this book.
April 1, 2026
Fastest DNF in my life 7%
She was hired to work in his company. While she was working they haven’t met for 4 weeks. One night they met, she lied to some one that she has a boyfriend and then she and mmc are having a dialog
He: “Boyfried?”
She: “mhm. Military man, big guy, buns so tight you could bounce a quarter-“
He: “whatch your mouth” growls, grabbing her wrist
She: “or what?”
He: drags a broad thumb across my lips. “Or I’ll stuff it full for you, mi fuego”
No, thank you.
She was hired to work in his company. While she was working they haven’t met for 4 weeks. One night they met, she lied to some one that she has a boyfriend and then she and mmc are having a dialog
He: “Boyfried?”
She: “mhm. Military man, big guy, buns so tight you could bounce a quarter-“
He: “whatch your mouth” growls, grabbing her wrist
She: “or what?”
He: drags a broad thumb across my lips. “Or I’ll stuff it full for you, mi fuego”
No, thank you.
March 9, 2026
TikTok made me do it. It wasn’t horrific, and it filled a gap in time nicely but definitely not the best book of the year.
March 6, 2026
Fake fiancé, filthy-mouthed billionaire… and I was absolutely not prepared for Zeke Guerra
4.5 ⭐️ | 3.5 🌶️
I went into Total Abandon by Caroline Whiteley expecting a fun billionaire romance. What I did not expect was to spend most of the book either giggling like an idiot or kicking my feet every time Zeke Guerra opened his mouth. And yet… here we are. 😌
This was my first Caroline Whiteley book and honestly? I’m already side-eyeing the rest of her catalogue because if they’re anything like this one, my TBR is in danger.
The story kicks off with Chloe, our neurospicy, chaotic-in-the-best-way FMC. She’s a tech employee who recently left one of the biggest tech companies in New York and is searching for a new job. By pure coincidence, she meets a mysterious man in her therapist’s waiting room… not realizing he’s actually the CEO of the company she’s about to be hired at. Iconic meet-cute energy right there.
Enter Zeke Guerra.
Grumpy. Controlled. Filthy-mouthed. Billionaire CEO. Single dad. Eleven years older. Emotionally locked down tighter than Fort Knox.
Naturally, things spiral quickly when he asks Chloe to become his fake fiancée so he can convince his father to leave his family home in Colombia to him. The arrangement should be simple: pretend engagement, shared house, keep it professional.
Except… these two have zero chill around each other.
The grumpy billionaire vs. loud-mouthed, says-whatever-is-on-her-mind heroine dynamic is chef’s kiss. Chloe absolutely refuses to be intimidated by Zeke’s broody billionaire act, and watching her bulldoze through his emotional defenses was endlessly entertaining.
But the real star of this book? The banter.
Not just between the main characters (which is top-tier), but with the side characters too. The dialogue is sharp, chaotic, and genuinely hilarious. I was LMFAO-ing throughout huge chunks of this book, which is not something I say lightly about romance novels.
And then there’s the chemistry. 🔥
This is very much a slow burn, but the tension builds in such a satisfying way. The forced proximity, the fake engagement, the moments where they almost say what they really feel… it all simmers beautifully.
Also; and I must address the elephant in the room: Zeke is Colombian.
Which means he occasionally leans in and whispers sweet (and definitely not innocent) things to Chloe in Spanish because she doesn’t understand the language.
Reader, I was SAT. Ay Dios mío, papi. I folded instantly. 🧎🏼♀️
Beneath the humor and heat, though, there’s also a softer emotional layer. Zeke tries to keep his distance because he knows this relationship is supposed to be temporary, while Chloe slowly and unintentionally makes herself at home in his life, and in his heart. Watching that shift happen felt really satisfying.
Yes, the ending is a little predictable. But honestly? I didn’t even mind. Sometimes you just want a romance that delivers exactly the emotional payoff you’re hoping for, and this one absolutely did.
Overall, this was a funny, steamy, addictive quick read with great character dynamics, a grumpy billionaire who secretly melts, and a heroine who refuses to be anything but unapologetically herself.
And if the rest of the Billionaire Row series has this same energy? I’m already seated. 🍿
Grumpy billionaire + chaotic redhead + fake engagement + Spanish whispers = I regret nothing. 😏
4.5 ⭐️ | 3.5 🌶️
I went into Total Abandon by Caroline Whiteley expecting a fun billionaire romance. What I did not expect was to spend most of the book either giggling like an idiot or kicking my feet every time Zeke Guerra opened his mouth. And yet… here we are. 😌
This was my first Caroline Whiteley book and honestly? I’m already side-eyeing the rest of her catalogue because if they’re anything like this one, my TBR is in danger.
The story kicks off with Chloe, our neurospicy, chaotic-in-the-best-way FMC. She’s a tech employee who recently left one of the biggest tech companies in New York and is searching for a new job. By pure coincidence, she meets a mysterious man in her therapist’s waiting room… not realizing he’s actually the CEO of the company she’s about to be hired at. Iconic meet-cute energy right there.
Enter Zeke Guerra.
Grumpy. Controlled. Filthy-mouthed. Billionaire CEO. Single dad. Eleven years older. Emotionally locked down tighter than Fort Knox.
Naturally, things spiral quickly when he asks Chloe to become his fake fiancée so he can convince his father to leave his family home in Colombia to him. The arrangement should be simple: pretend engagement, shared house, keep it professional.
Except… these two have zero chill around each other.
The grumpy billionaire vs. loud-mouthed, says-whatever-is-on-her-mind heroine dynamic is chef’s kiss. Chloe absolutely refuses to be intimidated by Zeke’s broody billionaire act, and watching her bulldoze through his emotional defenses was endlessly entertaining.
But the real star of this book? The banter.
Not just between the main characters (which is top-tier), but with the side characters too. The dialogue is sharp, chaotic, and genuinely hilarious. I was LMFAO-ing throughout huge chunks of this book, which is not something I say lightly about romance novels.
And then there’s the chemistry. 🔥
This is very much a slow burn, but the tension builds in such a satisfying way. The forced proximity, the fake engagement, the moments where they almost say what they really feel… it all simmers beautifully.
Also; and I must address the elephant in the room: Zeke is Colombian.
Which means he occasionally leans in and whispers sweet (and definitely not innocent) things to Chloe in Spanish because she doesn’t understand the language.
Reader, I was SAT. Ay Dios mío, papi. I folded instantly. 🧎🏼♀️
Beneath the humor and heat, though, there’s also a softer emotional layer. Zeke tries to keep his distance because he knows this relationship is supposed to be temporary, while Chloe slowly and unintentionally makes herself at home in his life, and in his heart. Watching that shift happen felt really satisfying.
Yes, the ending is a little predictable. But honestly? I didn’t even mind. Sometimes you just want a romance that delivers exactly the emotional payoff you’re hoping for, and this one absolutely did.
Overall, this was a funny, steamy, addictive quick read with great character dynamics, a grumpy billionaire who secretly melts, and a heroine who refuses to be anything but unapologetically herself.
And if the rest of the Billionaire Row series has this same energy? I’m already seated. 🍿
Grumpy billionaire + chaotic redhead + fake engagement + Spanish whispers = I regret nothing. 😏
August 22, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½
TOTAL ABANDON by Caroline Whiteley 💍🖤
Give me a grumpy billionaire, a fake engagement, an age gap, and a single dad and I am SOLD. 😮💨🔥
This was such a fun, addictive romance! The fake engagement trope was so entertaining, and watching the relationship develop from pretending to something much more real had me completely invested. Add in the grumpy billionaire energy and the single-dad angle? Absolutely delicious. 🥵
I loved the chemistry, the tension, the banter and all those little moments where the characters started letting their guards down. And the single-dad moments definitely added an extra layer of sweetness that I wasn't expecting. 🥹❤️
Was it perfect? Not quite, which is why I'm landing on 4.5⭐️, but this was exactly the kind of escapist romance I needed — swoony, spicy, dramatic and ridiculously easy to binge!
Grumpy billionaire + age gap + fake engagement + single dad = YES PLEASE. 💍🔥
TOTAL ABANDON by Caroline Whiteley 💍🖤
Give me a grumpy billionaire, a fake engagement, an age gap, and a single dad and I am SOLD. 😮💨🔥
This was such a fun, addictive romance! The fake engagement trope was so entertaining, and watching the relationship develop from pretending to something much more real had me completely invested. Add in the grumpy billionaire energy and the single-dad angle? Absolutely delicious. 🥵
I loved the chemistry, the tension, the banter and all those little moments where the characters started letting their guards down. And the single-dad moments definitely added an extra layer of sweetness that I wasn't expecting. 🥹❤️
Was it perfect? Not quite, which is why I'm landing on 4.5⭐️, but this was exactly the kind of escapist romance I needed — swoony, spicy, dramatic and ridiculously easy to binge!
Grumpy billionaire + age gap + fake engagement + single dad = YES PLEASE. 💍🔥
May 3, 2026
Wow what a stunner I loved this book. What a perfect mix of story and character banter. It was chefs kiss. The way it's read it in my mind felt like I had watched a movie. There was drama, comedy romance and all of that mashed together created such a fun read. I do hope there is more to come from this but either way I enjoyed it.
May 17, 2026
This was such a fun easy read! The FMC was hilarious! And the group chats were hilarious. The vibes were prefect and I loved every second of this book!
April 23, 2026
This was my first book by the author, and I really liked her writing style. However, there were several issues with the storyline that kept it from fully convincing me. Chloe and Zeke meet in a therapy waiting room, and on the very same day, she unknowingly ends up having her job interview with him. Their interactions were very entertaining and immediately drew me in. Chloe has a rival ex boyfriend who is ruthless and has caused her a lot of pain. He appears occasionally throughout the story and creates problems toward the end due to his manipulative nature and the lies he spreads. However, he doesn’t take up much space in the story itself, it’s more about dealing with the consequences of his actions.
Zeke is a billionaire and a single dad, and he feels an instant attraction to Chloe. At the same time, he’s portrayed as a playboy, and this is mentioned far too often. His father pressures him into finding a fake fiancée, which is how Chloe ends up in that role. What really bothered me, though, was that he gives her a 24 hour window to decide, and during that time, he still hooks up with one of his casual f**k buddies. It’s even mentioned that he can’t stop thinking about Chloe, which just made the situation feel even more off. Even though their relationship starts as fake, this aspect completely pulled me out of the story. I’m generally not a fan of other women being brought up when they don’t play a meaningful role later on, especially not within that short decision window.
The attraction between Chloe and Zeke is definitely there, and it does develop into something more. Chloe’s relationship with his son Diego was especially heartwarming and enjoyable to read. Overall, Chloe is a very funny and engaging character. With Zeke, though, there was just too much emphasis on his past with women, we get it, he’s a playboy, but it felt excessive, as if that trait overshadowed everything else about him, instead of also highlighting his roles as a single dad, billionaire, and brother etc. Unfortunately, this made it harder for me to fully connect with the story, which is a shame because it had a lot of potential. On top of that, the pacing toward the end was too rushed, with too many developments happening at once, leaving little room for emotional depth or a believable buildup. Overall, the story had great potential, but it lacked balance in character development, relationship depth, and plot progression.
Zeke is a billionaire and a single dad, and he feels an instant attraction to Chloe. At the same time, he’s portrayed as a playboy, and this is mentioned far too often. His father pressures him into finding a fake fiancée, which is how Chloe ends up in that role. What really bothered me, though, was that he gives her a 24 hour window to decide, and during that time, he still hooks up with one of his casual f**k buddies. It’s even mentioned that he can’t stop thinking about Chloe, which just made the situation feel even more off. Even though their relationship starts as fake, this aspect completely pulled me out of the story. I’m generally not a fan of other women being brought up when they don’t play a meaningful role later on, especially not within that short decision window.
The attraction between Chloe and Zeke is definitely there, and it does develop into something more. Chloe’s relationship with his son Diego was especially heartwarming and enjoyable to read. Overall, Chloe is a very funny and engaging character. With Zeke, though, there was just too much emphasis on his past with women, we get it, he’s a playboy, but it felt excessive, as if that trait overshadowed everything else about him, instead of also highlighting his roles as a single dad, billionaire, and brother etc. Unfortunately, this made it harder for me to fully connect with the story, which is a shame because it had a lot of potential. On top of that, the pacing toward the end was too rushed, with too many developments happening at once, leaving little room for emotional depth or a believable buildup. Overall, the story had great potential, but it lacked balance in character development, relationship depth, and plot progression.
April 23, 2026
Dnf @21% this story had so much potential 😔 but it was so rushed and the storyline did NOT connect well or flow, felt like we were skipping around and skimming. Imagine pressing fast forward multiple times and you can’t stop it but you’re so confused bc the scenes are skipping and when you try to rewind it you find out the scenes actually ARE skipping. Felt like I had no idea what was going on bc so much was just missing. Like a badly cut movie
February 18, 2026
I was honestly really irritated by the fact that the MMC was such a huge playboy. And if the FMC didn’t mind, maybe it would’ve been easier to read — but she clearly did care, and it obviously hurt her. Which is completely understandable. Who would want to get engaged to a guy who has slept with practically every girl we meet? In my eyes, he was just way too much of a manwhore.
And yes, I get that it was a fake engagement, but still — his behavior felt so typical and honestly kind of gross. What annoyed me even more was that he acted jealous whenever someone showed interest in the FMC, but when another girl wanted him, he didn’t refuse because he was obsessed with the FMC or truly wanted only her. He refused only because he promised FMC that they will not fuck anyone else (that was part of their agreement). So basically, if they hadn’t set rules, he would’ve slept with anyone.
The moment he proposed the fake engagement and then immediately went to bed with someone else really pissed me off. I personally prefer when the MMC is so taken with the FMC that he doesn’t even want anyone else.
Honestly, I also don’t understand what was supposed to be so special about the MMC in the first place. Apart from his money and looks, he didn’t really have much to offer. He didn’t do anything particularly meaningful for the FMC, his personality felt pretty average, and he was also a very average father. Overall, he just wasn’t that impressive. Is being rich and attractive really enough for every woman to fall at his feet? At the very least, I expected the FMC to be a bit more put together and not so easily impressed.
On top of that, the book was extremely boring. I found myself skipping through dialogues just to get through it, and in the end I didn’t even finish it. I stopped around 60% because nothing was holding my interest.
I’m also not planning to give the next book in the series a chance, because the MMC in the second part is apparently just as much of a playboy. Seriously — he had to sleep with the FMC’s sister? Absolutely not for me. Maybe some people enjoy these tropes, but this series is definitely not my thing.
Just to be clear:
There wasn’t strict cheating here, but I also really dislike when the MMC sleeps with other women after already meeting the FMC. Even if they’re not officially together yet, that’s a major trigger warning for me.
Spoiler alert: The FMC hasn’t been sleeping with anyone and turns down every man from the start, while the MMC continues having sex with other women — even on the same day he proposes the fake engagement. Right after sleeping with another woman, he gets a message from the FMC agreeing to the engagement, and then tells the other girl he’s leaving to buy a ring for someone else. Even if it’s a fake relationship, it still felt wrong. Cosidering that OW is in the same social circle he is making it look like he has relationship with FMC and he is so into OW that he needs this last one night before going all in with FMC. Disgusting and completely unnecessary for the story IMO.
The whole book also revolves around constantly running into women from his past or women still throwing themselves at him even though he’s “engaged.” It completely ruined the MMC for me. Especially that most of the time he doesn't do anything to stop them.
So if this kind of dynamic also makes the MMC instantly unattractive to you, I’d honestly recommend skipping this book. I really regret buying it — I wouldn’t have wasted my time or money if I had known.
And yes, I get that it was a fake engagement, but still — his behavior felt so typical and honestly kind of gross. What annoyed me even more was that he acted jealous whenever someone showed interest in the FMC, but when another girl wanted him, he didn’t refuse because he was obsessed with the FMC or truly wanted only her. He refused only because he promised FMC that they will not fuck anyone else (that was part of their agreement). So basically, if they hadn’t set rules, he would’ve slept with anyone.
The moment he proposed the fake engagement and then immediately went to bed with someone else really pissed me off. I personally prefer when the MMC is so taken with the FMC that he doesn’t even want anyone else.
Honestly, I also don’t understand what was supposed to be so special about the MMC in the first place. Apart from his money and looks, he didn’t really have much to offer. He didn’t do anything particularly meaningful for the FMC, his personality felt pretty average, and he was also a very average father. Overall, he just wasn’t that impressive. Is being rich and attractive really enough for every woman to fall at his feet? At the very least, I expected the FMC to be a bit more put together and not so easily impressed.
On top of that, the book was extremely boring. I found myself skipping through dialogues just to get through it, and in the end I didn’t even finish it. I stopped around 60% because nothing was holding my interest.
I’m also not planning to give the next book in the series a chance, because the MMC in the second part is apparently just as much of a playboy. Seriously — he had to sleep with the FMC’s sister? Absolutely not for me. Maybe some people enjoy these tropes, but this series is definitely not my thing.
Just to be clear:
There wasn’t strict cheating here, but I also really dislike when the MMC sleeps with other women after already meeting the FMC. Even if they’re not officially together yet, that’s a major trigger warning for me.
Spoiler alert: The FMC hasn’t been sleeping with anyone and turns down every man from the start, while the MMC continues having sex with other women — even on the same day he proposes the fake engagement. Right after sleeping with another woman, he gets a message from the FMC agreeing to the engagement, and then tells the other girl he’s leaving to buy a ring for someone else. Even if it’s a fake relationship, it still felt wrong. Cosidering that OW is in the same social circle he is making it look like he has relationship with FMC and he is so into OW that he needs this last one night before going all in with FMC. Disgusting and completely unnecessary for the story IMO.
The whole book also revolves around constantly running into women from his past or women still throwing themselves at him even though he’s “engaged.” It completely ruined the MMC for me. Especially that most of the time he doesn't do anything to stop them.
So if this kind of dynamic also makes the MMC instantly unattractive to you, I’d honestly recommend skipping this book. I really regret buying it — I wouldn’t have wasted my time or money if I had known.
February 12, 2026
Editing and updating because GR won’t let me comment to reply to the author.
My first review stated that the book lost a star for me (now reinstated) when I read the following (with the context that the FMC asked the MMC if he was autistic)
“I’m serious. They have dating services for people like that, you know. I saw it on Netflix. Maybe you could find someone just as socially stinted as you and live happily ever after?”
I was concerned that the comment was in poor taste and was negatively stereotyping autistic people. However the author commented below and as I said, GR won’t let me reply so I thought I’d do it here.
Hey Caroline, I don’t know if you’ll see this but I genuinely appreciate you commenting. I was concerned about the way it came across (especially because the rest of the banter in the book was top notch!) but knowing you actually didn’t mean it in that way is totally reassuring. Thank you, I look forward to reading Logan’s book x
I do still feel that that particular comment could be perceived as negative towards autistic people but can appreciate that the author didn’t mean it to be. And I reaffirm that the rest of the interactions between the main characters was bloody excellent, they really did have a spark in an affectionately bullying kind of way.
I look forward to reading the rest of the series with the knowledge that that little blip wasn’t meant negatively ❤️
Favourite bits and highlights - SPOILERS
“I could try and rustle up some fava beans and a nice Chianti, but it might be a stretch at this time of night,” I quip, narrowing my eyes at a line of code that is suddenly making zero sense to me. “Did you just… compare me to Hannibal Lecter?”
“You mean…” She trails off, her brow furrowed as her gaze skates over the car. “This isn’t the Volvo?”
My first review stated that the book lost a star for me (now reinstated) when I read the following (with the context that the FMC asked the MMC if he was autistic)
“I’m serious. They have dating services for people like that, you know. I saw it on Netflix. Maybe you could find someone just as socially stinted as you and live happily ever after?”
I was concerned that the comment was in poor taste and was negatively stereotyping autistic people. However the author commented below and as I said, GR won’t let me reply so I thought I’d do it here.
Hey Caroline, I don’t know if you’ll see this but I genuinely appreciate you commenting. I was concerned about the way it came across (especially because the rest of the banter in the book was top notch!) but knowing you actually didn’t mean it in that way is totally reassuring. Thank you, I look forward to reading Logan’s book x
I do still feel that that particular comment could be perceived as negative towards autistic people but can appreciate that the author didn’t mean it to be. And I reaffirm that the rest of the interactions between the main characters was bloody excellent, they really did have a spark in an affectionately bullying kind of way.
I look forward to reading the rest of the series with the knowledge that that little blip wasn’t meant negatively ❤️
Favourite bits and highlights - SPOILERS
“I could try and rustle up some fava beans and a nice Chianti, but it might be a stretch at this time of night,” I quip, narrowing my eyes at a line of code that is suddenly making zero sense to me. “Did you just… compare me to Hannibal Lecter?”
“You mean…” She trails off, her brow furrowed as her gaze skates over the car. “This isn’t the Volvo?”
June 27, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐¼ | 4.25 Stars
Total Abandon was such a fun, chaotic read. Caroline Whiteley absolutely nailed the banter, and I laughed out loud more times than I expected.
Chloe is hilarious, confident, and completely unapologetic about who she is, while Zeke is equal parts grumpy, jealous, protective, and emotionally clueless. Their fake engagement setup was entertaining from start to finish, and Chloe’s eccentric family, the infamous potato, and Diego’s scene-stealing antics made this book feel warm, quirky, and full of personality.
The humor carried this story for me. The text messages were so so good, family interactions, and running jokes had me smiling throughout, and Diego was an unexpected favorite.
My biggest issue was Zeke. While he clearly loves Chloe deeply by the end, I struggled with the fact that he slept with another woman after meeting her and later considered hooking up with someone else during their third-act breakup. He ultimately couldn’t go through with it because he realized how much Chloe meant to him, but I personally prefer heroes who become all-in much earlier.
Still, the chemistry was great, the found-family vibes were adorable, and the ending had me laughing all over again.
If you’re looking for a romance packed with banter, lovable chaos, fake engagement shenanigans, and a cast that feels like family, this one is definitely worth picking up. 🥔😂
“I’m so… SO… HORNY!” may just be one of the funniest final scenes I’ve ever read. 😆
Total Abandon was such a fun, chaotic read. Caroline Whiteley absolutely nailed the banter, and I laughed out loud more times than I expected.
Chloe is hilarious, confident, and completely unapologetic about who she is, while Zeke is equal parts grumpy, jealous, protective, and emotionally clueless. Their fake engagement setup was entertaining from start to finish, and Chloe’s eccentric family, the infamous potato, and Diego’s scene-stealing antics made this book feel warm, quirky, and full of personality.
The humor carried this story for me. The text messages were so so good, family interactions, and running jokes had me smiling throughout, and Diego was an unexpected favorite.
My biggest issue was Zeke. While he clearly loves Chloe deeply by the end, I struggled with the fact that he slept with another woman after meeting her and later considered hooking up with someone else during their third-act breakup. He ultimately couldn’t go through with it because he realized how much Chloe meant to him, but I personally prefer heroes who become all-in much earlier.
Still, the chemistry was great, the found-family vibes were adorable, and the ending had me laughing all over again.
If you’re looking for a romance packed with banter, lovable chaos, fake engagement shenanigans, and a cast that feels like family, this one is definitely worth picking up. 🥔😂
“I’m so… SO… HORNY!” may just be one of the funniest final scenes I’ve ever read. 😆
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 18, 2026
He’s super rich and runs a tech company. She works for him. But before she gets the job they meet in the waiting room of a therapist. She’s court mandated to go because her ex is a psychopath and set her up even though she caught him cheating. She smashed everything in his apartment so he retaliated by making her look like a stalker.
He needs to get a fake fiance so he can take over his dads company so he asks Chloe to name her price and her price is the cost of her apartment. He also has a secret four year old son.
She moves into his place, falls in love with the kid and then with him and even though he swears he will never get married he falls in love with her and wants to get married for real.
Cue the evil ex who is stealing software from him and comes in with a file of chaos claiming Chloe has been back to her stalking ways. He believes the ex and freaks out on Chloe. She quits her job and moves out.
Then his brother or friend tells hom what a jackass he is and shows him the real info. They end up arresting the dad to get out of the whole marriage deal and Chloe is oops pregnant and they get back together and plan to get real married the end.
# Total Abandon
# 5/17/2026 ~ 5/18/2026
# 3.5 / 5.0
He needs to get a fake fiance so he can take over his dads company so he asks Chloe to name her price and her price is the cost of her apartment. He also has a secret four year old son.
She moves into his place, falls in love with the kid and then with him and even though he swears he will never get married he falls in love with her and wants to get married for real.
Cue the evil ex who is stealing software from him and comes in with a file of chaos claiming Chloe has been back to her stalking ways. He believes the ex and freaks out on Chloe. She quits her job and moves out.
Then his brother or friend tells hom what a jackass he is and shows him the real info. They end up arresting the dad to get out of the whole marriage deal and Chloe is oops pregnant and they get back together and plan to get real married the end.
# Total Abandon
# 5/17/2026 ~ 5/18/2026
# 3.5 / 5.0
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 31, 2026
Honestly, this was a great read!!
Chloe is such a fun fmc, her vibes are just so great. She goes for what she wants, despite the things from her past. I felt so bad learning what Sweeney did to her, making her look bad, and the way he treated her. She didn’t deserve it at all, no one does. I love the way she didn’t settle, didn’t force anybody to want her, and didn’t let Zeke get away with how he acted for a single second. Badass strong book women are my favourite.
Zeke is such a sweetheart. The way he is instantly drawn to Chloe is so funny. He tries to resist so hard, but can’t. I admire the way he goes to such lengths for his mother, but also how much he was willing to sacrifice to show Chloe how he felt about her. But the way he was so quick to believe the worst made me so mad. I get it to a point, clearly he’s been used in the past by women, specifically Diego’s mother, but it was still no excuse not to at least hear Chloe out before believing the worst.
The texts at the beginning of each chapter were so funny, I loved them. And the side characters are so fun too!!
Chloe is such a fun fmc, her vibes are just so great. She goes for what she wants, despite the things from her past. I felt so bad learning what Sweeney did to her, making her look bad, and the way he treated her. She didn’t deserve it at all, no one does. I love the way she didn’t settle, didn’t force anybody to want her, and didn’t let Zeke get away with how he acted for a single second. Badass strong book women are my favourite.
Zeke is such a sweetheart. The way he is instantly drawn to Chloe is so funny. He tries to resist so hard, but can’t. I admire the way he goes to such lengths for his mother, but also how much he was willing to sacrifice to show Chloe how he felt about her. But the way he was so quick to believe the worst made me so mad. I get it to a point, clearly he’s been used in the past by women, specifically Diego’s mother, but it was still no excuse not to at least hear Chloe out before believing the worst.
The texts at the beginning of each chapter were so funny, I loved them. And the side characters are so fun too!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 23, 2026
If you’re looking for a new author to fall in love with give Caroline Whitley a try.
This is the first book I’ve read by her and I’m honestly shocked she isn’t getting more attention. The plot was compelling the romance felt natural and deeply emotional and the spice? Perfectly passionate without overpowering the story too much.
What really stood out to me was the quality of the writing and character development. Every interaction felt intentional. The emotional beats landed exactly where they should. I’ve read plenty of “viral” books with thousands of reviews that didn’t have half the depth or care this one did.
This story felt thoughtfully written, immersive and wel paced from beginning to end. I’ll absolutely be reading more from this author.
Highly recommend giving her a chance. She deserves a much bigger spotlight.
This is the first book I’ve read by her and I’m honestly shocked she isn’t getting more attention. The plot was compelling the romance felt natural and deeply emotional and the spice? Perfectly passionate without overpowering the story too much.
What really stood out to me was the quality of the writing and character development. Every interaction felt intentional. The emotional beats landed exactly where they should. I’ve read plenty of “viral” books with thousands of reviews that didn’t have half the depth or care this one did.
This story felt thoughtfully written, immersive and wel paced from beginning to end. I’ll absolutely be reading more from this author.
Highly recommend giving her a chance. She deserves a much bigger spotlight.
April 5, 2026
Hilarious
I really enjoyed this book. I couldn’t help but laugh at loud at all the banter between all the characters. I loved the relationships between Chloe and her family i let out a few tears from crying laughing lol. The spice and the growing relationship ship between Zeke and Chloe was well written and i really felt like i knew both characters well. Just a few things held it from a five. I feel like when you have a child, it’s really much more involved. There were times when i wondered what happen to him, shouldn’t he be there. I loved his relationship he created with chloe and wish we could have seen more of it. I also just ish we wrapped up more on the story. Like getting to see the revenge stuff. I wanted chloe to get justice and for that creep to go down! Other than these few things i had a really good time with this read
I really enjoyed this book. I couldn’t help but laugh at loud at all the banter between all the characters. I loved the relationships between Chloe and her family i let out a few tears from crying laughing lol. The spice and the growing relationship ship between Zeke and Chloe was well written and i really felt like i knew both characters well. Just a few things held it from a five. I feel like when you have a child, it’s really much more involved. There were times when i wondered what happen to him, shouldn’t he be there. I loved his relationship he created with chloe and wish we could have seen more of it. I also just ish we wrapped up more on the story. Like getting to see the revenge stuff. I wanted chloe to get justice and for that creep to go down! Other than these few things i had a really good time with this read
June 2, 2026
The text threads were everything to me.
I appreciate that both of them got the opportunity to grovel (LOVE when the fmc has to grovel) but it kind of just felt like I read the same irritatingly avoidable fight twice...
----
*the one liners in this were stunning*
“It is I, the spectacularly gigantic asshole himself,”
“Anyway, I’m all good. I'm a big girl. I have my big girl pants on. You, big dick. Me, big girl pants. Anyway, gotta go, bye!”
Why am I finding out about my daughter's engagement in the New York Times?
Tilly: I’ve decided to join a cult.
Mom: That’s fine, just don’t drink the Kool-Aid. Chloe??
“You’d visit me in prison?”
“Woman, I’d visit you in hell if it meant I got to spend more time with you,”
I appreciate that both of them got the opportunity to grovel (LOVE when the fmc has to grovel) but it kind of just felt like I read the same irritatingly avoidable fight twice...
----
*the one liners in this were stunning*
“It is I, the spectacularly gigantic asshole himself,”
“Anyway, I’m all good. I'm a big girl. I have my big girl pants on. You, big dick. Me, big girl pants. Anyway, gotta go, bye!”
Why am I finding out about my daughter's engagement in the New York Times?
Tilly: I’ve decided to join a cult.
Mom: That’s fine, just don’t drink the Kool-Aid. Chloe??
“You’d visit me in prison?”
“Woman, I’d visit you in hell if it meant I got to spend more time with you,”
July 18, 2026
He hooks up with another woman the night he proposes the fake engagement with the mfc... Even if it's not technically cheating... To me in book world, that feels like cheating. Then while he still has a condom on his limp d... (Because he couldn't get it up for his normal f buddy) he gets the text that she is gonna say yes to his proposal and he brags to the girl he's with about having to go buy an engagement Ring... Usually I would have stopped there but I feel like I have DNFed too many books lately so I pushed through. He later called a flight attendant "baby" which absolutely gave me the ick. Thankfully the OW drama calmed down after that sorta...
April 3, 2026
not for me
Honestly I was expecting a comedic romance and funny banter that works its way up yo romance.
Instead I got instalust ( can’t stand insta) on both ends.
The banter was not there at all. Just lusty thoughts & inner monologue about the flesh of one another.
Even with the characters situation the book just wasn’t interesting enough to keep you hooked or invested
The inner monologue’s were dragging tbh also nothing of importance in them but lusty thought.
Jokes were dry and sadly this became a dnf @ 30%.
Honestly I was expecting a comedic romance and funny banter that works its way up yo romance.
Instead I got instalust ( can’t stand insta) on both ends.
The banter was not there at all. Just lusty thoughts & inner monologue about the flesh of one another.
Even with the characters situation the book just wasn’t interesting enough to keep you hooked or invested
The inner monologue’s were dragging tbh also nothing of importance in them but lusty thought.
Jokes were dry and sadly this became a dnf @ 30%.
July 23, 2026
I liked the book, for me it was an easy read, the story was fun, it has spice, a little bit of drama, funny moments but the reason I did not rate this book higher it’s because of the use of some of the Spanish, it was so not accurate and me being a Spanish speaker, whenever those expressions appeared just cut my attention hard and was very difficult to get back on track, don’t get me wrong it’s not absolutely terrible but since I enjoyed the book so much, I really wish those details were fixed to make it perfect… for me.
July 29, 2026
This sat on my TBR for months, the cover really put me off and I only started it because I promised to start working through my list instead of just adding to it - and what a total pleasant surprise!
I absolutely adored this story and the characters, and I guessed the surprise 👀 and was hoping I was right. The only gripe I have is that the ending felt sooo rushed, I would have liked more detail in the downfall of his dad/Sweeney.
Haven’t looked into the rest of the series but got my fingers crossed that Chase gets his own book as I loved him!!
I absolutely adored this story and the characters, and I guessed the surprise 👀 and was hoping I was right. The only gripe I have is that the ending felt sooo rushed, I would have liked more detail in the downfall of his dad/Sweeney.
Haven’t looked into the rest of the series but got my fingers crossed that Chase gets his own book as I loved him!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 23, 2026
sensitivity topics should be better researched
The premise was good but there’s a few disappointing parts that override any of the romantic humor. The “have you been tested for autism” as a punchline/dig between the main characters. Asking for a safe word, knowing she was uncomfy with the act happening, then finishing as she uses the safe word which is followed by her crying. Now tears with a release aren’t abnormal but they never had another conversation about it. Plus the brand instead of country was used in reference to the MMCs home region.
The premise was good but there’s a few disappointing parts that override any of the romantic humor. The “have you been tested for autism” as a punchline/dig between the main characters. Asking for a safe word, knowing she was uncomfy with the act happening, then finishing as she uses the safe word which is followed by her crying. Now tears with a release aren’t abnormal but they never had another conversation about it. Plus the brand instead of country was used in reference to the MMCs home region.
February 3, 2026
wow just wow
This is my first time reading this author and omg she did not disappoint!!
I laughed so hard all throughout - the ‘family group chats’ 🤣 PG’s name there’s so many bits that had me laughing out loud.
The steamy scenes HOT!!!! Extremely well written.
I could write so much more about this book but honestly if you haven’t read it, read it now! You will not be disappointed
Hats off you to Caroline I can’t wait to read more of your books 🙌
This is my first time reading this author and omg she did not disappoint!!
I laughed so hard all throughout - the ‘family group chats’ 🤣 PG’s name there’s so many bits that had me laughing out loud.
The steamy scenes HOT!!!! Extremely well written.
I could write so much more about this book but honestly if you haven’t read it, read it now! You will not be disappointed
Hats off you to Caroline I can’t wait to read more of your books 🙌
April 21, 2026
Okay this was just fun from start to finish. The banter? Elite. The kind that has you smiling to yourself like you’re in on the joke.
I flew through this one - it’s light, entertaining, and doesn’t try too hard, which honestly made it even better. The group chat dynamic absolutely stole the show for me. It added such a fresh, chaotic (in the best way) layer to the story and I was fully invested in every message.
Also… Chace 👀
I need answers. I need closure. I need his book. Immediately.
I flew through this one - it’s light, entertaining, and doesn’t try too hard, which honestly made it even better. The group chat dynamic absolutely stole the show for me. It added such a fresh, chaotic (in the best way) layer to the story and I was fully invested in every message.
Also… Chace 👀
I need answers. I need closure. I need his book. Immediately.
May 3, 2026
Zeke and Chloe
First read by this author and I’m immediately stating the next one. It’s been a long time since I have laughed out loud while reading followed by looking around to see if people are watching me read because the spice. Zeke was a perfect book boy friend and Chloe was a hoot of a character while owning her craze. It had a great happy ending and I was sad that it was over.
First read by this author and I’m immediately stating the next one. It’s been a long time since I have laughed out loud while reading followed by looking around to see if people are watching me read because the spice. Zeke was a perfect book boy friend and Chloe was a hoot of a character while owning her craze. It had a great happy ending and I was sad that it was over.
May 23, 2026
This has been on my TBR for a while!! I got it from a TikTok I saw of funny messages and when I tell you this book had me laughing out load! HAHA. the fmc’s family was a HOOT; I’m lowkey mad that the second book isn’t the sister Tilly. Like i wanted more of that family god damn. The MMC has a kid and it was the thing that kept me in this story 100% because he’s such an ass and I don’t think I recovered from it lowkey.
May 31, 2026
I got a little irritated at the inconsistencies regarding Diego's age and features (it's a pet peeve of mine when people write kids but then don't know anything about that age range.) Like at four he's gonna have all his baby teeth unless he's got a dental problem. Other than that this book was hilarious and great.
Oh, stop using AI for book covers. Really made me not want to read this because 9 times out of 10 if it's got an AI cover most of it was AI generated and that's just dumb.
Oh, stop using AI for book covers. Really made me not want to read this because 9 times out of 10 if it's got an AI cover most of it was AI generated and that's just dumb.
July 24, 2026
Just need to say this first I was actually laughing so hard at the ending 😂😂😂 i loved chloes relationship with diego and the ways zeke showed he cared quietly. What frustrated me to no end was their COMMUNICATION also was not a fan of how zeke was still friendly with other women maybe just me?I needed more from them than just physical but more so making up for the fact that zeke should have opened his eyes and made up for it more
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