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Contracted Hearts #1
The Terms of Us
Julian North doesn’t believe in love.
He believes in leverage.
When his family pressures him to settle down, he drafts a contract, clean, controlled, and emotion-proof.
A marriage on paper.
No complications.
No expectations beyond the fine print.
Lucy Bennett agrees for practical reasons. With a mother whose health is fragile and a family that depends on her steadiness, security isn’t a luxury; it’s survival.
What she doesn’t expect is how real it begins to feel.
Because somewhere between shared mornings and unguarded moments, the lines start to blur. Julian softens. The walls shift. And Lucy dares to believe that what they’re building might be more than a carefully negotiated arrangement.
Until she says three words he doesn’t know how to receive.
And everything fractures.
Silence replaces closeness. Distance replaces warmth. And when outside forces begin to pull at the fragile foundation they built, Lucy is left questioning whether she was ever more than a convenient choice.
She’s spent her life being strong for everyone else.
She won’t beg to be chosen.
Julian has always controlled the narrative of his life.
But love was never part of the contract.
And when Lucy walks away, he’s forced to confront the one thing he’s never risked before...
Vulnerability.
The Terms of Us is a contemporary billionaire marriage-of-convenience romance featuring grumpy/sunshine tension, emotional slow burn, family interference, a heroine who knows her worth, and a hero who has to fight for his happily ever after.
Guaranteed HEA.
He believes in leverage.
When his family pressures him to settle down, he drafts a contract, clean, controlled, and emotion-proof.
A marriage on paper.
No complications.
No expectations beyond the fine print.
Lucy Bennett agrees for practical reasons. With a mother whose health is fragile and a family that depends on her steadiness, security isn’t a luxury; it’s survival.
What she doesn’t expect is how real it begins to feel.
Because somewhere between shared mornings and unguarded moments, the lines start to blur. Julian softens. The walls shift. And Lucy dares to believe that what they’re building might be more than a carefully negotiated arrangement.
Until she says three words he doesn’t know how to receive.
And everything fractures.
Silence replaces closeness. Distance replaces warmth. And when outside forces begin to pull at the fragile foundation they built, Lucy is left questioning whether she was ever more than a convenient choice.
She’s spent her life being strong for everyone else.
She won’t beg to be chosen.
Julian has always controlled the narrative of his life.
But love was never part of the contract.
And when Lucy walks away, he’s forced to confront the one thing he’s never risked before...
Vulnerability.
The Terms of Us is a contemporary billionaire marriage-of-convenience romance featuring grumpy/sunshine tension, emotional slow burn, family interference, a heroine who knows her worth, and a hero who has to fight for his happily ever after.
Guaranteed HEA.
404 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 24, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
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April 13, 2026Part 1
I really tried but…🤷🏻♀️
Lucy was a wonderful and mature character, Julian’s was frosty and clinical.
The story was longwinded and it was taking forever for the romance to pick up.
Dnf @ 50%
I really tried but…🤷🏻♀️
Lucy was a wonderful and mature character, Julian’s was frosty and clinical.
The story was longwinded and it was taking forever for the romance to pick up.
Dnf @ 50%
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March 23, 2026I’m not quite sure how to rate this yet so I’ll just write my review and come back later. There were things I loved and things I really didn’t care for:
✔️ very safe. Pasts barely mentioned. Both never been in love.
✔️ lots of groveling. Bro messes up a lot but he always makes up for it.
✔️super loveable FMC. The way she takes care of her family and puts everyone first was amazing to watch unfold. She wasn’t pathetic or boring. She was strong and empowered.
✔️ fun found family
✔️barely any detailed intimate scenes. I preferred this bc there was a lot of story to tell and it was already pretty long.
❌ some chapters repeated the previous chapter but from the other POV. It was annoying. I understood wanting the reader to understand both POV during the situations, but a recap would have sufficed.
❌ he messed up A LOT. Like, IRL if the was my friend I would have been pissed at her for taking him back so many times. He really was emotionally constipated and it was pretty frustrating watching him treat her like garbage repeatedly.
❌the scene where he brought her to the gala and danced with a bunch of other women to “play his dads game” pissed me off. At that point I wanted her with Theo or Graham….
❌ there were times I thought other men cared about her more than he did…..
✔️ very safe. Pasts barely mentioned. Both never been in love.
✔️ lots of groveling. Bro messes up a lot but he always makes up for it.
✔️super loveable FMC. The way she takes care of her family and puts everyone first was amazing to watch unfold. She wasn’t pathetic or boring. She was strong and empowered.
✔️ fun found family
✔️barely any detailed intimate scenes. I preferred this bc there was a lot of story to tell and it was already pretty long.
❌ some chapters repeated the previous chapter but from the other POV. It was annoying. I understood wanting the reader to understand both POV during the situations, but a recap would have sufficed.
❌ he messed up A LOT. Like, IRL if the was my friend I would have been pissed at her for taking him back so many times. He really was emotionally constipated and it was pretty frustrating watching him treat her like garbage repeatedly.
❌the scene where he brought her to the gala and danced with a bunch of other women to “play his dads game” pissed me off. At that point I wanted her with Theo or Graham….
❌ there were times I thought other men cared about her more than he did…..
February 26, 2026
There are alot of this troupe around and tbh it's not my favourite genre but this book just really worked.
I loved it.
Hero is emotionally constipated due to his upbringing, boarding school an extremely manipulative father.
The heroine is the main provider for her sick mum and her younger sister.
He views everything as a transaction and expects their relationship to be that way.
There are no intimate details other than the Hero and heroine.
Hero dances with several other women at a function. Heroine dances with other man.
Other man is possibly interested but the heroine doesn't seem to realise, they have business dealings.
Hero's father uses other woman to make it appear he's unfaithful, Hero never considered it.
When he messes up, she walks away.
He grovels.
HEA
Future books planned about the brothers and childhood friends of the Hero.
Dual POV.
One small criticism its dual POV and on a couple of occasions the scene/conversation is repeated just from the other POV with a few added things from that perspective, I found that a tad repetitive but it only happens a couple of times.
I loved it.
Hero is emotionally constipated due to his upbringing, boarding school an extremely manipulative father.
The heroine is the main provider for her sick mum and her younger sister.
He views everything as a transaction and expects their relationship to be that way.
There are no intimate details other than the Hero and heroine.
Hero dances with several other women at a function. Heroine dances with other man.
Other man is possibly interested but the heroine doesn't seem to realise, they have business dealings.
Hero's father uses other woman to make it appear he's unfaithful, Hero never considered it.
When he messes up, she walks away.
He grovels.
HEA
Future books planned about the brothers and childhood friends of the Hero.
Dual POV.
One small criticism its dual POV and on a couple of occasions the scene/conversation is repeated just from the other POV with a few added things from that perspective, I found that a tad repetitive but it only happens a couple of times.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 19, 2026
Trigger Warnings:
I started this since people said it gave them The Unwanted Wife feels. And honestly, I don’t agree. The Unwanted Wife is one of my favourite books, but it was cuz of the angst and grovel. While this book did have some of that near the end, it wasn’t similar. The MMC, Julian, was sweet. The FMC, Lucy, had a backbone. Julian had his moments, but he wasn’t as terrible as Sandro. It didn’t feel like Lucy and Julian had chemistry. This book just fell flat for me. I thought that Julian and Lucy were married from the start, but that wasn’t the case. It felt like Lucy got upset about things that Julian was pretty upfront about. Yes, he fucked up sometimes, and it pissed me off. But Lucy would get hurt over other things that didn’t make sense to me. I only agreed with her in some situations. There were a lot of time jumps, so you don’t really see how their relationship progressed; it was more tell than show. There were chapters told from Lucy’s POV, then retold from Julian’s, which I found repetitive. As for the side characters, I noticed this is a new trend among authors. All the side characters will get their stories eventually. So authors mention all the characters and their reactions to situations, but it doesn’t add anything to the story or make them stand out. For example, if Lucy is doing something, you get a bunch of sentences of characters staring at Lucy, putting their hands in their pockets, looking amused, etc. It was so repetitive and annoying. I did like that the characters called Julian out often. But if they do the same shit in their book, their advice here will mean nothing. Julian grovels in the end, and I did like it, but it didn’t stand out to me as much. This wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t amazing.
“What do you think about… contractual marriages?”
Emily bursts out laughing. “Like Bridgerton?”
I wince. “No.”
“Mafia romances?” she tries. “Cold billionaire meets tragic heroine?”
Throughout Lucy’s life, her main focus was to get bills paid and take care of her family. Lucy does not expect to get a lifeline from a random stranger named Julian. When Julian sees Lucy, he can’t get her out of his head and is determined to marry Lucy.
Now for spoilers
Stay safe folks!
I started this since people said it gave them The Unwanted Wife feels. And honestly, I don’t agree. The Unwanted Wife is one of my favourite books, but it was cuz of the angst and grovel. While this book did have some of that near the end, it wasn’t similar. The MMC, Julian, was sweet. The FMC, Lucy, had a backbone. Julian had his moments, but he wasn’t as terrible as Sandro. It didn’t feel like Lucy and Julian had chemistry. This book just fell flat for me. I thought that Julian and Lucy were married from the start, but that wasn’t the case. It felt like Lucy got upset about things that Julian was pretty upfront about. Yes, he fucked up sometimes, and it pissed me off. But Lucy would get hurt over other things that didn’t make sense to me. I only agreed with her in some situations. There were a lot of time jumps, so you don’t really see how their relationship progressed; it was more tell than show. There were chapters told from Lucy’s POV, then retold from Julian’s, which I found repetitive. As for the side characters, I noticed this is a new trend among authors. All the side characters will get their stories eventually. So authors mention all the characters and their reactions to situations, but it doesn’t add anything to the story or make them stand out. For example, if Lucy is doing something, you get a bunch of sentences of characters staring at Lucy, putting their hands in their pockets, looking amused, etc. It was so repetitive and annoying. I did like that the characters called Julian out often. But if they do the same shit in their book, their advice here will mean nothing. Julian grovels in the end, and I did like it, but it didn’t stand out to me as much. This wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t amazing.
“What do you think about… contractual marriages?”
Emily bursts out laughing. “Like Bridgerton?”
I wince. “No.”
“Mafia romances?” she tries. “Cold billionaire meets tragic heroine?”
Throughout Lucy’s life, her main focus was to get bills paid and take care of her family. Lucy does not expect to get a lifeline from a random stranger named Julian. When Julian sees Lucy, he can’t get her out of his head and is determined to marry Lucy.
Now for spoilers
Stay safe folks!
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March 18, 2026Groveling was unsatisfactory, if it happened at all!
Mmc was an @SS and Fmc was a Saint-in-Training🙄 She’s the kind of person who always put others first, does everything for them, and gets lost in her own endless mind‑talks. Even when she’s upset, she won’t say a word, she just walks away silently. The problem? If OM hadn’t witnessed her father‑in‑law’s confrontation like around 80%, even the MMC would’ve been left clueless about why she suddenly disappeared. Basically, her silence turns into a mystery novel no one asked for 😂
Again ... Communication and Commitment Issue is this all about. Not my Cup-of-Tea!
OOPS ...I forgot to mention that she forgave him easily.
Mmc was an @SS and Fmc was a Saint-in-Training🙄 She’s the kind of person who always put others first, does everything for them, and gets lost in her own endless mind‑talks. Even when she’s upset, she won’t say a word, she just walks away silently. The problem? If OM hadn’t witnessed her father‑in‑law’s confrontation like around 80%, even the MMC would’ve been left clueless about why she suddenly disappeared. Basically, her silence turns into a mystery novel no one asked for 😂
Again ... Communication and Commitment Issue is this all about. Not my Cup-of-Tea!
OOPS ...I forgot to mention that she forgave him easily.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 24, 2026
Wonderful story
I loved Lucy. She had such a good heart. I knew he loved her but boy did he hurt her too. His evil Father and Simone the slut were vile people. It was all a bunch of lies and contracts and clauses and I felt her breaking. The ending and the epilogue was beautiful. He was such a good man by then. I think he always was but he was living down to his Fathers expectations. I loved when he destroyed him. Just desserts!
I loved Lucy. She had such a good heart. I knew he loved her but boy did he hurt her too. His evil Father and Simone the slut were vile people. It was all a bunch of lies and contracts and clauses and I felt her breaking. The ending and the epilogue was beautiful. He was such a good man by then. I think he always was but he was living down to his Fathers expectations. I loved when he destroyed him. Just desserts!
no
April 5, 2026Grovel not enough
April 14, 2026
Honestly? I’m really disappointed. Based on the reviews, I was expecting a solid grovel from Julian—but that just didn’t happen. Maybe my standards are high, but this felt like a letdown. The story itself is also strangely frustrating, though I will give it an extra point for attempting to represent lupus (even if the portrayal isn’t entirely accurate).
Julian, at his core, isn’t a bad character. He clearly feels an instant connection with Lucy—if he were more emotionally aware, he’d probably call it love at first sight. But instead, we’re stuck dealing with his emotional immaturity for most of the book, which makes his actions increasingly hard to tolerate.
Lucy, on the other hand, is almost too good. She’s kind, selfless, and dedicated to taking care of her sister and her mother, who has lupus. She’s the kind of person who brings warmth to everyone around her—except, apparently, Julian’s father. And honestly, she deserved so much better than what she got from Julian. Unfortunately, being a good person doesn’t magically fix financial struggles, which is what pushes her into Julian’s orbit.
The premise revolves around a marriage of convenience that Julian frames as a business transaction. Yet, paradoxically, he can’t imagine marrying anyone else but Lucy. What really didn’t make sense to me was how much control his father still has over him. Julian is 35, financially independent, and running his own successful business—so why is he still bending to his father’s demands? Especially when other characters, like Theo, don’t. The whole setup starts to feel forced.
Because of that influence, Julian treats Lucy poorly for a large portion of the story. There are moments where he barely acknowledges her, especially when his father keeps pushing other women at him. Meanwhile, Lucy is left dealing not only with that emotional neglect but also with her mother’s ongoing illness. Julian’s idea of being a husband often boils down to throwing money at problems and showing up occasionally—and even that feels rare.
One of the most frustrating moments is when Lucy confesses her feelings, and Julian responds by withdrawing and avoiding her. It’s incredibly aggravating. By that point, it’s hard not to root for Lucy to walk away—and honestly, I wish she had done it sooner. She’s far more patient than he deserves.
As for the grovel… it’s there, technically. But it’s weak. It mostly comes down to time passing and Julian being physically present, rather than any meaningful effort to make amends. It didn’t feel earned, especially given how poorly he treated her before.
I also think the book could have been significantly shorter. At over 400 pages, it felt like a slog at times—especially when so much of it is spent on Julian’s poor decisions and lack of growth.
Overall, this was a frustrating read. It had potential, and Lucy was a wonderful heroine, but the weak grovel, dragged-out pacing, and Julian’s behavior made it more disappointing than satisfying.
Julian, at his core, isn’t a bad character. He clearly feels an instant connection with Lucy—if he were more emotionally aware, he’d probably call it love at first sight. But instead, we’re stuck dealing with his emotional immaturity for most of the book, which makes his actions increasingly hard to tolerate.
Lucy, on the other hand, is almost too good. She’s kind, selfless, and dedicated to taking care of her sister and her mother, who has lupus. She’s the kind of person who brings warmth to everyone around her—except, apparently, Julian’s father. And honestly, she deserved so much better than what she got from Julian. Unfortunately, being a good person doesn’t magically fix financial struggles, which is what pushes her into Julian’s orbit.
The premise revolves around a marriage of convenience that Julian frames as a business transaction. Yet, paradoxically, he can’t imagine marrying anyone else but Lucy. What really didn’t make sense to me was how much control his father still has over him. Julian is 35, financially independent, and running his own successful business—so why is he still bending to his father’s demands? Especially when other characters, like Theo, don’t. The whole setup starts to feel forced.
Because of that influence, Julian treats Lucy poorly for a large portion of the story. There are moments where he barely acknowledges her, especially when his father keeps pushing other women at him. Meanwhile, Lucy is left dealing not only with that emotional neglect but also with her mother’s ongoing illness. Julian’s idea of being a husband often boils down to throwing money at problems and showing up occasionally—and even that feels rare.
One of the most frustrating moments is when Lucy confesses her feelings, and Julian responds by withdrawing and avoiding her. It’s incredibly aggravating. By that point, it’s hard not to root for Lucy to walk away—and honestly, I wish she had done it sooner. She’s far more patient than he deserves.
As for the grovel… it’s there, technically. But it’s weak. It mostly comes down to time passing and Julian being physically present, rather than any meaningful effort to make amends. It didn’t feel earned, especially given how poorly he treated her before.
I also think the book could have been significantly shorter. At over 400 pages, it felt like a slog at times—especially when so much of it is spent on Julian’s poor decisions and lack of growth.
Overall, this was a frustrating read. It had potential, and Lucy was a wonderful heroine, but the weak grovel, dragged-out pacing, and Julian’s behavior made it more disappointing than satisfying.
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February 28, 2026Gosh I wanted to like this one more….but it was just soo wordy. And many chapters were repeated to show both POVs. Unless it’s some misunderstanding or pivotal to the story it’s not necessary to read the same scene twice. 100 pages could have easily been cut out for repetition alone.
For the length I also think I excepted some things to be cleared up.
Why didn’t Lucy dance anymore? Was this her first dream before switching to event planning?
What’s the deal with Julian’s mother? I couldn’t figure out if his parents are still married.
The writing style reminds me a bit of Rina Amara/GrovelDoll, which I struggle with. So I think it’s more a personal preference more than anything which is why I’m not going to rate it.
For the length I also think I excepted some things to be cleared up.
Why didn’t Lucy dance anymore? Was this her first dream before switching to event planning?
What’s the deal with Julian’s mother? I couldn’t figure out if his parents are still married.
The writing style reminds me a bit of Rina Amara/GrovelDoll, which I struggle with. So I think it’s more a personal preference more than anything which is why I’m not going to rate it.
March 7, 2026
3.75 stars
I loved the story but it was so "wordy" in the beginning it took me a bit to get into it. Once things took off I was invested. Loved the epilogue and really hope Em and...well I just hope Em gets a story
I loved the story but it was so "wordy" in the beginning it took me a bit to get into it. Once things took off I was invested. Loved the epilogue and really hope Em and...well I just hope Em gets a story
March 27, 2026
really good plot
I enjoyed the plot, which is the only reason I stuck with it until the end because the writing style was a little bit exhausting.
A word as a paragraph.
A phrase or a sentence.
Consecutively arranged as separate paragraphs.
Not because it’s the best choice.
Not because it’s the smart choice.
But because it’s the author’s style.
But her style is repetitive.
And things like this? It gets tiring.
Exhausting.
Boring.
If it’s not clear yet, I mimicked the author’s style pf storytelling. This novel of FULL of such style and it became a chore to read. I found myself mentally rewriting scenes to make the narrative flow more smoothly.
Aside from the writing style, I wish there had been closure on who was the insider who helped Julian’s father; that particular plot point was left unresolved, so it felt like that part (and the whole post “wedding” actually) was just rushed. The slow burn was on the delicious side, but after the wedding everything happened so fast that the change in pace felt disconcerting.
In terms of characterization, Julian and Lucy were a good match for each other, and Inlove how everybody but Julian himself clocked his genuine interest in Lucy even at the start. Julian’s and Lucy’s families were all amazing supporting characters, even Graham, the outsider, who was a breath of fresh air as he was a pretty solid guy.
Overall, plotwise this is 4.5, but narration-wise this is a three for me.
I enjoyed the plot, which is the only reason I stuck with it until the end because the writing style was a little bit exhausting.
A word as a paragraph.
A phrase or a sentence.
Consecutively arranged as separate paragraphs.
Not because it’s the best choice.
Not because it’s the smart choice.
But because it’s the author’s style.
But her style is repetitive.
And things like this? It gets tiring.
Exhausting.
Boring.
If it’s not clear yet, I mimicked the author’s style pf storytelling. This novel of FULL of such style and it became a chore to read. I found myself mentally rewriting scenes to make the narrative flow more smoothly.
Aside from the writing style, I wish there had been closure on who was the insider who helped Julian’s father; that particular plot point was left unresolved, so it felt like that part (and the whole post “wedding” actually) was just rushed. The slow burn was on the delicious side, but after the wedding everything happened so fast that the change in pace felt disconcerting.
In terms of characterization, Julian and Lucy were a good match for each other, and Inlove how everybody but Julian himself clocked his genuine interest in Lucy even at the start. Julian’s and Lucy’s families were all amazing supporting characters, even Graham, the outsider, who was a breath of fresh air as he was a pretty solid guy.
Overall, plotwise this is 4.5, but narration-wise this is a three for me.
June 29, 2026
entirely too long.. good premise, a little angst, drawn out way too long. feels written by ai at least ai vibes, the short sentences, stilted dialogue, there is a distinct ai vibe. the plot and premise might be this authors, some of the writing and that might be hers too but there is the definite use of AI and AI type writing, you know, the em dashes, the triplets, the over flowery words that mean nothing, lots of word salad, no emotions. anyways.. like I said story was ok but its partly written by chatgpt, like so much of whats on KU nowadays.
Did Not Finish
May 7, 2026Dnf at 80% with a lot of skimming, unfortunately.
I just found it slow & repetitive. And something about the writing style wasn’t for me. Like every phrase was supposed to be profound.
I just found it slow & repetitive. And something about the writing style wasn’t for me. Like every phrase was supposed to be profound.
March 5, 2026
Awesome book!!!! I absolutely loved it! Natasha Derouchie continues to be a must read author of mine! I just love her books and this book is no different. It was a little bit of a shift from her usual fare, but equally amazing! I love a good contracted marriage story and this may be my favorite that I have read!
I love that Julian was captivated by Lucy from the very first moment he laid eyes on her, while it took her some time to notice him. It was obvious from the beginning that this would be more than a contract marriage to him. He was just afraid to admit it. It was apparent much earlier that he was in love with her, he was just too blind and scared to see it!
I loved Lucy and her strength. She was the glue that keeps her family together. She took everything on herself and took care of everything for everyone else, ignoring her own needs. It broke my heart seeing Julian pull away and how it hurt her. I did not love Julian to start, but I came to! His father was an evil man. I could not stand the way he treated his sons. It hurt to see how he reacted to love and care, because he never had it. I felt bad for his mom who was obviously broken by his dad. You could see the humanity hiding in her. She should have protected her boys from their father, though.
I loved all the Northwell family! I loved the way they accepted and protected Lucy and were trying to get Julian to realize what he was completely messing up and what he could lose. I loved seeing Julian humble himself and enlist their help in earning her back and finally standing up to his dad. I also loved Emily and how she wanted Lucy to find her happiness and her protectiveness as well. It was just a beautiful story and I loved the character growth in Julian and Lucy refusing to give up when it came to her family!
I had a couple misgivings, I won’t lie, when it comes to Lucy’s mother and her autoimmune disorder. A lot of people don’t understand them or that they are incurable. There is only making things better or possible remission, but even with that there are flares. I loved Emily wanting to get into rheumatology. It’s a rough field and most doctors won’t touch autoimmune disorders or treat them. All of my specialists defer to my rheumatologist. Also, the treatments are often very rough on the body and it’s all trial and error. At times I was worried that it might veer into the idea that Lupus could be cured, but luckily Natasha didn’t fall into that trap. I appreciated that.
Excellent book! I love anything Natasha writes, although she knows how to hit me in the feels and I usually need some time to digest. Natasha writes books that make you feel, which is something that takes immense talent. I can’t wait for the rest of the books in this series. I’m super excited for Elliott and Harper’s story next! I absolutely loved this book and I didn’t want it to end! 💜
I love that Julian was captivated by Lucy from the very first moment he laid eyes on her, while it took her some time to notice him. It was obvious from the beginning that this would be more than a contract marriage to him. He was just afraid to admit it. It was apparent much earlier that he was in love with her, he was just too blind and scared to see it!
I loved Lucy and her strength. She was the glue that keeps her family together. She took everything on herself and took care of everything for everyone else, ignoring her own needs. It broke my heart seeing Julian pull away and how it hurt her. I did not love Julian to start, but I came to! His father was an evil man. I could not stand the way he treated his sons. It hurt to see how he reacted to love and care, because he never had it. I felt bad for his mom who was obviously broken by his dad. You could see the humanity hiding in her. She should have protected her boys from their father, though.
I loved all the Northwell family! I loved the way they accepted and protected Lucy and were trying to get Julian to realize what he was completely messing up and what he could lose. I loved seeing Julian humble himself and enlist their help in earning her back and finally standing up to his dad. I also loved Emily and how she wanted Lucy to find her happiness and her protectiveness as well. It was just a beautiful story and I loved the character growth in Julian and Lucy refusing to give up when it came to her family!
I had a couple misgivings, I won’t lie, when it comes to Lucy’s mother and her autoimmune disorder. A lot of people don’t understand them or that they are incurable. There is only making things better or possible remission, but even with that there are flares. I loved Emily wanting to get into rheumatology. It’s a rough field and most doctors won’t touch autoimmune disorders or treat them. All of my specialists defer to my rheumatologist. Also, the treatments are often very rough on the body and it’s all trial and error. At times I was worried that it might veer into the idea that Lupus could be cured, but luckily Natasha didn’t fall into that trap. I appreciated that.
Excellent book! I love anything Natasha writes, although she knows how to hit me in the feels and I usually need some time to digest. Natasha writes books that make you feel, which is something that takes immense talent. I can’t wait for the rest of the books in this series. I’m super excited for Elliott and Harper’s story next! I absolutely loved this book and I didn’t want it to end! 💜
March 6, 2026
4.5⭐️
Oof! Was this an emotionally impactful read. Lucy and Julian could not be more dichotomous in personality or life circumstances; and yet, their broken pieces seem to ease the other. We follow these two as they find a fragile beginning as they bind themselves together for divergent but emergent necessity.
Lucy is the grounding force in this story. She has sacrificed much of her future to support her severely chronically ill mother and younger sister as she tackles med school. She endures at perilous cost to herself. She is drowning with no support, mounting medical costs, and a rapidly declining mother.
Julian has his own agenda but feels an unexplainable pull to this stranger. Little did they know how fully their hearts would find comfort in the other. But Julian has never know the tenderness of vulnerability and fear threatens the beauty of what they were building.
I loved this a lot and very much found visibility in what a toll chronic illness can take on not only the one enduring but those who love them. Natasha is an incredible story teller and I cannot recommend this first book in this new series enough.
Oof! Was this an emotionally impactful read. Lucy and Julian could not be more dichotomous in personality or life circumstances; and yet, their broken pieces seem to ease the other. We follow these two as they find a fragile beginning as they bind themselves together for divergent but emergent necessity.
Lucy is the grounding force in this story. She has sacrificed much of her future to support her severely chronically ill mother and younger sister as she tackles med school. She endures at perilous cost to herself. She is drowning with no support, mounting medical costs, and a rapidly declining mother.
Julian has his own agenda but feels an unexplainable pull to this stranger. Little did they know how fully their hearts would find comfort in the other. But Julian has never know the tenderness of vulnerability and fear threatens the beauty of what they were building.
I loved this a lot and very much found visibility in what a toll chronic illness can take on not only the one enduring but those who love them. Natasha is an incredible story teller and I cannot recommend this first book in this new series enough.
March 3, 2026
What a great start for new series ! First time reading this author.
What I liked :
Writing and flow it story kept your interest
h - such a strong person and loving sister / daughter. My heart went out to get so many times throughout the story
H - emotionally constipated! Yes 👍 but lovable. I know he behaved as he did since it was how he was raised. But his behavior reminded me of someone on the spectrum. Very analytical with everything. Loved his growth in the book
The Hs friends. Might not be all blood but definitely brothers.
The H brother - hilarious!!
H dad - perfect villian.
Not one but two epilogues. Love it.
OM - using that term loosely for his description. Really liked him. Thought I wouldn’t !
Not your typical billionaire arranged marriage. It was focused on families friends issues with emotions etc.
What I liked :
Writing and flow it story kept your interest
h - such a strong person and loving sister / daughter. My heart went out to get so many times throughout the story
H - emotionally constipated! Yes 👍 but lovable. I know he behaved as he did since it was how he was raised. But his behavior reminded me of someone on the spectrum. Very analytical with everything. Loved his growth in the book
The Hs friends. Might not be all blood but definitely brothers.
The H brother - hilarious!!
H dad - perfect villian.
Not one but two epilogues. Love it.
OM - using that term loosely for his description. Really liked him. Thought I wouldn’t !
Not your typical billionaire arranged marriage. It was focused on families friends issues with emotions etc.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 16, 2026
A Great Love Story with a HEA
I just love a great love story and this one did not disappoint. The MMC and FMC are both such likable characters that you really want them to get their HEA and they do. Basically, the MMC sees the FMC across a crowded room and, even though he doesn’t realize it at the time, it’s love at first sight. Yes, he gets the girl, albeit in a shady way. Then, he almost loses the girl because he’s so emotionally stunted. Luckily, he figures things out and becomes the man she needs him to be. If you’re looking for a story that will leave you with a smile on your face, look no further. Natasha Derouchie is an amazing storyteller and always delivers a great read.
I just love a great love story and this one did not disappoint. The MMC and FMC are both such likable characters that you really want them to get their HEA and they do. Basically, the MMC sees the FMC across a crowded room and, even though he doesn’t realize it at the time, it’s love at first sight. Yes, he gets the girl, albeit in a shady way. Then, he almost loses the girl because he’s so emotionally stunted. Luckily, he figures things out and becomes the man she needs him to be. If you’re looking for a story that will leave you with a smile on your face, look no further. Natasha Derouchie is an amazing storyteller and always delivers a great read.
March 9, 2026
Wow
This was such a heart wrenching book. I got how Julian was raised and what he learned as a child, but he could turn cold in a heartbeat. Lucy was so strong taking care of her Mom and sister, the weight she must have felt. The office scene, Lucy didn’t cry but I did. When she closed her eyes, and then Theo asking if she was ok. The whole chapter broke my heart. I loved that she had Graham supporting her and her Mom. I did’nt think Julian was going to be redeemable, but Natasha did it. If so glad his Dad is out of the picture, he needs something worse to happen to him. It was a great book. It kept me entertained, broke my hearts and put it back together again.
This was such a heart wrenching book. I got how Julian was raised and what he learned as a child, but he could turn cold in a heartbeat. Lucy was so strong taking care of her Mom and sister, the weight she must have felt. The office scene, Lucy didn’t cry but I did. When she closed her eyes, and then Theo asking if she was ok. The whole chapter broke my heart. I loved that she had Graham supporting her and her Mom. I did’nt think Julian was going to be redeemable, but Natasha did it. If so glad his Dad is out of the picture, he needs something worse to happen to him. It was a great book. It kept me entertained, broke my hearts and put it back together again.
March 30, 2026
This is the first book I’ve read by this author, and I’ve followed her because I want more of this series. I love that the MMC is damaged and knows it. I love that the FMC knows her worth and doesn’t fight, just expects respect or walks away. I love that she’s not too proud to recognize when she needs help and to accept it. I love all the side characters, who I’m guessing/hoping will be MCs in future books.
I read a review that was unhappy with how much grovel there wasn’t in this book. I think it was perfect, because Julian recognized that actions speak louder than words. Saying you’re sorry again and again means nothing if you don’t back it up with proof.
The characters were well-developed, and while a few things with the dad felt rushed at the end, the overall pace of the story was fast but not rushed. I read it in less than two days.
While there is some repetition, which may annoy some readers, I liked seeing the same scene from each POV. I also like that the author didn’t end a chapter on a suspenseful note and then switch characters. To me that feels like an author is afraid that a reader will lose interest and forces them to go forward.
I’m happy I found this book, and I look forward to future books in this series.
I read a review that was unhappy with how much grovel there wasn’t in this book. I think it was perfect, because Julian recognized that actions speak louder than words. Saying you’re sorry again and again means nothing if you don’t back it up with proof.
The characters were well-developed, and while a few things with the dad felt rushed at the end, the overall pace of the story was fast but not rushed. I read it in less than two days.
While there is some repetition, which may annoy some readers, I liked seeing the same scene from each POV. I also like that the author didn’t end a chapter on a suspenseful note and then switch characters. To me that feels like an author is afraid that a reader will lose interest and forces them to go forward.
I’m happy I found this book, and I look forward to future books in this series.
March 2, 2026
Awesome
This story was wonderful. Julian and Lucy are fantastic characters. I loved the angst and grovel that ensued. This author continues to draw me into these worlds and blows me away. Wonderful story teller.
This story was wonderful. Julian and Lucy are fantastic characters. I loved the angst and grovel that ensued. This author continues to draw me into these worlds and blows me away. Wonderful story teller.
no-grovel
October 17, 2026I'm tired of these mmcs with the emotional intelligence of a rat.
he's 35 ffs, this is embarrassing.
don't get me started on the 30 year old idiot fmc.
he's 35 ffs, this is embarrassing.
don't get me started on the 30 year old idiot fmc.
February 26, 2026
A decent book, but not enough grovel for me
When the grovel doesn't even start until 85% through the book, I know it's not going to be enough for me. The book was well-written and I wanted to like it, but the main character was weak when it came down to it. One well-worded apology and she forgave him. Forget the fact that he made her suffer in silence for MONTHS. A single apology and a couple weeks of tiptoeing around her were apparently good for her.
When the grovel doesn't even start until 85% through the book, I know it's not going to be enough for me. The book was well-written and I wanted to like it, but the main character was weak when it came down to it. One well-worded apology and she forgave him. Forget the fact that he made her suffer in silence for MONTHS. A single apology and a couple weeks of tiptoeing around her were apparently good for her.
May 8, 2026
contract marriage
Julian needs a wife and his father has options. Lucy needs financial help to support her sister and mother. They marry to take care of it all but Julian doesn’t know how to handle love. Both parties have hard lessons ahead, but the characters grow so much and drive the story.
Julian needs a wife and his father has options. Lucy needs financial help to support her sister and mother. They marry to take care of it all but Julian doesn’t know how to handle love. Both parties have hard lessons ahead, but the characters grow so much and drive the story.
May 23, 2026
💍 Billionaire Emotional Support Group (But Make It Legally Binding) 💍
3.75 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Okay, so this book was basically:
“What if two emotionally damaged people with abandonment issues entered into a legally binding billionaire marriage contract instead of going to therapy?”
And honestly? I had a pretty good time. 😂
So we’ve got Julian North, his brother Theo, and their friends Rowan, Caleb, and Elliot. They all met at boarding school and basically formed their own little billionaire found-family because none of them were raised with healthy love or affection. These men were emotionally neglected, raised by nannies, cold parents, and giant empty mansions full of emotional repression. You know… classic billionaire romance trauma. 💀
None of them know how relationships work.
Especially Julian.
This man does not date. He does not process emotions. He barely processes facial expressions. He walks around acting like if he accidentally experiences a feeling, he might immediately perish.
Meanwhile Lucy is out here raising her younger sister Emily, trying to care for their mother who has lupus, working nonstop, drowning in medical bills, and basically holding her entire family together through sheer force of will. 🥺
Their father abandoned them years ago, so Lucy has spent her whole life being the responsible one. Paying bills. Sacrificing things she wanted. Keeping everyone afloat.
So naturally this emotionally constipated billionaire sees her and decides:
> “Yes. That one. I shall acquire her legally.”
And honestly? The way these two meet actually worked for me.
Lucy is an event planner hired to organize Northwell’s big holiday event, and Julian becomes immediately obsessed with her competence because apparently nothing turns billionaire men on faster than a woman with spreadsheets and organizational skills. 📋✨
So he asks her out!
Just kidding. 😂
He has Rowan run a background check on her — which is already insane behavior — and once he realizes she’s financially struggling because of her mom’s medical care and Emily’s schooling, he decides the obvious solution is:
Contract marriage.
Not dating.
Not flirting.
Not asking her out like a normal person.
No.
✨ A CONTRACT ✨
And when I say contract, I mean this man had TERMS. Clauses. Conditions. Shared-bedroom requirements. Public appearance obligations. Incentives for childbirth. Sir was drafting a merger agreement, not a romance. 💀
And somehow it still worked for me???
Probably because Lucy did not immediately melt over it. She was actually offended at first because he basically approached her like:
> “Hello struggling woman. Would you like financial stability in exchange for becoming my wifey?”
Which sounds horrifying when you say it out loud. 😭
(And yes, she immediately nixed the bonus-for-babies section because she actually has functioning brain cells.)
But then Julian starts doing little things for her. Sending groceries tailored to her mother’s lupus diet. Quietly making her life easier. Paying attention to things she needs without making a performance out of it.
This man’s love language is apparently:
Silent resource distribution.
Then comes the gala.
OH. MY. GOD.
🎻✨ THE GALA ✨🎻
Julian pulls the most emotionally confusing Cinderella stunt imaginable in this book.
One minute Lucy is struggling to keep her family afloat, and the next? Gorgeous designer dresses are just magically appearing at her door like some billionaire fairy godmother situation. Emily is absolutely LOSING HER MIND over it because obviously she is — her sister is suddenly getting swept into this glamorous rich-people world — while Lucy is standing there feeling equal parts suspicious, overwhelmed, and unfortunately… a little fluttery about it. 🥹
Then Julian brings her to this massive fancy gala, gets her all dressed up, introduces her to his billionaire found-family circle, looks at her like she personally invented oxygen for approximately seven minutes…
…and then immediately emotionally abandons her the second his father starts parading a lineup of “acceptable” rich society women in front of him like he’s shopping for a replacement wife at a luxury dealership.
SIR.
You cannot create a whole *Princess Diaries* moment just to leave your maybe-contract-wife sitting alone at a table while you waltz around the ballroom with fifteen identical heiresses.
Lucy handled that situation with WAY more dignity than I would have because I personally would’ve stolen one of the dessert centerpieces on my way out. 🎂🚔
But Lucy just sits there watching him publicly fail her in real time.
✨ Flutters? Gone. ✨
I was FURIOUS.
BUT.
This is also where we meet Graham.
Now listen…
I liked Graham. 👀
Graham was handsome, emotionally available, respectful, helpful, smart, and actually paid attention to Lucy when she was clearly uncomfortable. He dances with her. Talks to her. Helps her leave when her mother has an emergency.
Basically Graham behaved like a human being, which unfortunately made him look exceptional compared to Julian at the time. 😂
And the thing that really made me mad was that Julian clearly already cared about Lucy. He was jealous of Graham. Protective of her. Watching her constantly.
But instead of simply dancing with his OWN DATE and standing up to his father, he folded like a lawn chair under parental pressure.
Theo and the others being angry at him afterward was one of my favorite parts because:
YES.
YELL AT HIM.
HE DESERVES IT. 👏
And honestly that continued throughout the whole book.
One thing I REALLY appreciated was that Julian’s friends and brother consistently held him accountable. Theo especially stayed dragging him every chance he got. Nobody was sitting there telling Lucy:
> “Oh but he loves youuuuu 🥺”
No.
Everybody agreed he was being an idiot.
Which made the angst work so much better.
Eventually he convinces Lucy to marry him by helping get her mother into a treatment program, and after the wedding — which was painfully clinical — the relationship slowly starts softening.
Domestic life kicks in.
Lucy softens him a little.
Julian becomes weirdly affectionate in tiny ways.
They learn each other.
They do the sexy times… a LOT. 😂
And then…
🇫🇷 PARIS HAPPENS 🇫🇷
PARIS WAS DANGEROUS.
Because suddenly these two actually feel married. They’re soft with each other. Happy. Romantic. They’re laughing, talking, traveling, falling in love.
And then Lucy tells him she loves him.
And this man absolutely blue screens emotionally. 🤖💥
Turns out nobody has ever said “I love you” to Julian before, and instead of handling that revelation like an adult, he responds by emotionally abandoning his wife for an entire week.
A WEEK.
No communication. Barely coming home. Having Claire relay messages for him like he’s filing taxes instead of talking to his wife.
This man had the emotional resilience of wet cardboard.
And then Lucy shows up at his office with his favorite foods because she is RIGHTFULLY freaked out and wants to see him…
…and one of the women from the gala walks out of his office looking like she just left bottle service at a nightclub.
And when Claire says:
> “Your wife is here.”
This man doesn’t even LOOK UP before saying:
> “Tell her I’m in a meeting.”
I ALMOST THREW MY PHONE. 📱💀
Lucy just silently drops the food on his desk and walks out and honestly?
Good for her.
Then Julian leaves on an overseas business trip for THREE WEEKS and somehow manages to make everything even worse because now his disgusting father Richard swoops in to emotionally destroy Lucy.
Richard was VILE.
This man literally brings Lucy the original binder full of “acceptable wives” Julian was supposed to choose from and makes it look like Lucy was basically selected from a billionaire breeding catalog.
And THEN he shows her photos of Julian overseas with Simone that look extremely intimate.
At that point Lucy is DONE.
(Me too, chica.)
And honestly?
That’s when I loved her most.
Because instead of begging Julian for reassurance, she shifts her focus back to her mother. Back to Emily. Back to finding treatment options. She leaves with Graham to search for a specialist doctor abroad because she’s tired of centering a man who disappears every time emotions happen.
Meanwhile Julian finally realizes he has catastrophically ruined his own life.
And surprisingly?
The grovel worked for me.
Mostly because once he realized the damage he caused, he actually changed his behavior instead of just throwing money at the problem.
He gave her space.
Helped quietly.
Handled practical things.
Stopped trying to control her.
Admitted he handled everything horribly.
And eventually we find out he never cheated with Simone at all. He was genuinely just emotionally malfunctioning while juggling business acquisitions and letting his father manipulate everything around him.
Still stupid.
But not a cheater.
The contract-burning scene was honestly cathartic. 🔥
Because he finally tells Lucy:
> “I don’t want you legally trapped with me anymore. I want you to stay because you choose me.”
THAT was the moment the romance finally clicked emotionally for me.
Not the money.
Not the dresses.
Not Paris.
That.
Because for the first time, Julian stopped trying to secure love through control.
And the ending got me. 🥹
Lucy forgives him slowly.
Her mom starts improving.
Theo keeps flirting with Emily.
The friend group stays protective and chaotic.
And of course there’s a baby epilogue because romance novels legally cannot end without at least one infant materializing somewhere. 😂👶
Baby Charlotte arrives.
All the billionaire men become emotionally attached immediately.
Everyone survives.
Overall?
I was REALLY frustrated with Julian for a large chunk of this book because he kept making the dumbest possible emotional decisions at every opportunity.
But the ending absolutely sucked me back in.
The angst hit.
The grovel worked.
Lucy stayed strong.
And the found-family dynamic carried a lot of the emotional weight for me.
Also: ✨ Graham-hive rise. ✨
That man deserved better than being emotionally stable inside a romance novel full of billionaire disaster men.
AND WHEN DO WE GET THE THEO & EMILY BOOK?!?
3.75 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Okay, so this book was basically:
“What if two emotionally damaged people with abandonment issues entered into a legally binding billionaire marriage contract instead of going to therapy?”
And honestly? I had a pretty good time. 😂
So we’ve got Julian North, his brother Theo, and their friends Rowan, Caleb, and Elliot. They all met at boarding school and basically formed their own little billionaire found-family because none of them were raised with healthy love or affection. These men were emotionally neglected, raised by nannies, cold parents, and giant empty mansions full of emotional repression. You know… classic billionaire romance trauma. 💀
None of them know how relationships work.
Especially Julian.
This man does not date. He does not process emotions. He barely processes facial expressions. He walks around acting like if he accidentally experiences a feeling, he might immediately perish.
Meanwhile Lucy is out here raising her younger sister Emily, trying to care for their mother who has lupus, working nonstop, drowning in medical bills, and basically holding her entire family together through sheer force of will. 🥺
Their father abandoned them years ago, so Lucy has spent her whole life being the responsible one. Paying bills. Sacrificing things she wanted. Keeping everyone afloat.
So naturally this emotionally constipated billionaire sees her and decides:
> “Yes. That one. I shall acquire her legally.”
And honestly? The way these two meet actually worked for me.
Lucy is an event planner hired to organize Northwell’s big holiday event, and Julian becomes immediately obsessed with her competence because apparently nothing turns billionaire men on faster than a woman with spreadsheets and organizational skills. 📋✨
So he asks her out!
Just kidding. 😂
He has Rowan run a background check on her — which is already insane behavior — and once he realizes she’s financially struggling because of her mom’s medical care and Emily’s schooling, he decides the obvious solution is:
Contract marriage.
Not dating.
Not flirting.
Not asking her out like a normal person.
No.
✨ A CONTRACT ✨
And when I say contract, I mean this man had TERMS. Clauses. Conditions. Shared-bedroom requirements. Public appearance obligations. Incentives for childbirth. Sir was drafting a merger agreement, not a romance. 💀
And somehow it still worked for me???
Probably because Lucy did not immediately melt over it. She was actually offended at first because he basically approached her like:
> “Hello struggling woman. Would you like financial stability in exchange for becoming my wifey?”
Which sounds horrifying when you say it out loud. 😭
(And yes, she immediately nixed the bonus-for-babies section because she actually has functioning brain cells.)
But then Julian starts doing little things for her. Sending groceries tailored to her mother’s lupus diet. Quietly making her life easier. Paying attention to things she needs without making a performance out of it.
This man’s love language is apparently:
Silent resource distribution.
Then comes the gala.
OH. MY. GOD.
🎻✨ THE GALA ✨🎻
Julian pulls the most emotionally confusing Cinderella stunt imaginable in this book.
One minute Lucy is struggling to keep her family afloat, and the next? Gorgeous designer dresses are just magically appearing at her door like some billionaire fairy godmother situation. Emily is absolutely LOSING HER MIND over it because obviously she is — her sister is suddenly getting swept into this glamorous rich-people world — while Lucy is standing there feeling equal parts suspicious, overwhelmed, and unfortunately… a little fluttery about it. 🥹
Then Julian brings her to this massive fancy gala, gets her all dressed up, introduces her to his billionaire found-family circle, looks at her like she personally invented oxygen for approximately seven minutes…
…and then immediately emotionally abandons her the second his father starts parading a lineup of “acceptable” rich society women in front of him like he’s shopping for a replacement wife at a luxury dealership.
SIR.
You cannot create a whole *Princess Diaries* moment just to leave your maybe-contract-wife sitting alone at a table while you waltz around the ballroom with fifteen identical heiresses.
Lucy handled that situation with WAY more dignity than I would have because I personally would’ve stolen one of the dessert centerpieces on my way out. 🎂🚔
But Lucy just sits there watching him publicly fail her in real time.
✨ Flutters? Gone. ✨
I was FURIOUS.
BUT.
This is also where we meet Graham.
Now listen…
I liked Graham. 👀
Graham was handsome, emotionally available, respectful, helpful, smart, and actually paid attention to Lucy when she was clearly uncomfortable. He dances with her. Talks to her. Helps her leave when her mother has an emergency.
Basically Graham behaved like a human being, which unfortunately made him look exceptional compared to Julian at the time. 😂
And the thing that really made me mad was that Julian clearly already cared about Lucy. He was jealous of Graham. Protective of her. Watching her constantly.
But instead of simply dancing with his OWN DATE and standing up to his father, he folded like a lawn chair under parental pressure.
Theo and the others being angry at him afterward was one of my favorite parts because:
YES.
YELL AT HIM.
HE DESERVES IT. 👏
And honestly that continued throughout the whole book.
One thing I REALLY appreciated was that Julian’s friends and brother consistently held him accountable. Theo especially stayed dragging him every chance he got. Nobody was sitting there telling Lucy:
> “Oh but he loves youuuuu 🥺”
No.
Everybody agreed he was being an idiot.
Which made the angst work so much better.
Eventually he convinces Lucy to marry him by helping get her mother into a treatment program, and after the wedding — which was painfully clinical — the relationship slowly starts softening.
Domestic life kicks in.
Lucy softens him a little.
Julian becomes weirdly affectionate in tiny ways.
They learn each other.
They do the sexy times… a LOT. 😂
And then…
🇫🇷 PARIS HAPPENS 🇫🇷
PARIS WAS DANGEROUS.
Because suddenly these two actually feel married. They’re soft with each other. Happy. Romantic. They’re laughing, talking, traveling, falling in love.
And then Lucy tells him she loves him.
And this man absolutely blue screens emotionally. 🤖💥
Turns out nobody has ever said “I love you” to Julian before, and instead of handling that revelation like an adult, he responds by emotionally abandoning his wife for an entire week.
A WEEK.
No communication. Barely coming home. Having Claire relay messages for him like he’s filing taxes instead of talking to his wife.
This man had the emotional resilience of wet cardboard.
And then Lucy shows up at his office with his favorite foods because she is RIGHTFULLY freaked out and wants to see him…
…and one of the women from the gala walks out of his office looking like she just left bottle service at a nightclub.
And when Claire says:
> “Your wife is here.”
This man doesn’t even LOOK UP before saying:
> “Tell her I’m in a meeting.”
I ALMOST THREW MY PHONE. 📱💀
Lucy just silently drops the food on his desk and walks out and honestly?
Good for her.
Then Julian leaves on an overseas business trip for THREE WEEKS and somehow manages to make everything even worse because now his disgusting father Richard swoops in to emotionally destroy Lucy.
Richard was VILE.
This man literally brings Lucy the original binder full of “acceptable wives” Julian was supposed to choose from and makes it look like Lucy was basically selected from a billionaire breeding catalog.
And THEN he shows her photos of Julian overseas with Simone that look extremely intimate.
At that point Lucy is DONE.
(Me too, chica.)
And honestly?
That’s when I loved her most.
Because instead of begging Julian for reassurance, she shifts her focus back to her mother. Back to Emily. Back to finding treatment options. She leaves with Graham to search for a specialist doctor abroad because she’s tired of centering a man who disappears every time emotions happen.
Meanwhile Julian finally realizes he has catastrophically ruined his own life.
And surprisingly?
The grovel worked for me.
Mostly because once he realized the damage he caused, he actually changed his behavior instead of just throwing money at the problem.
He gave her space.
Helped quietly.
Handled practical things.
Stopped trying to control her.
Admitted he handled everything horribly.
And eventually we find out he never cheated with Simone at all. He was genuinely just emotionally malfunctioning while juggling business acquisitions and letting his father manipulate everything around him.
Still stupid.
But not a cheater.
The contract-burning scene was honestly cathartic. 🔥
Because he finally tells Lucy:
> “I don’t want you legally trapped with me anymore. I want you to stay because you choose me.”
THAT was the moment the romance finally clicked emotionally for me.
Not the money.
Not the dresses.
Not Paris.
That.
Because for the first time, Julian stopped trying to secure love through control.
And the ending got me. 🥹
Lucy forgives him slowly.
Her mom starts improving.
Theo keeps flirting with Emily.
The friend group stays protective and chaotic.
And of course there’s a baby epilogue because romance novels legally cannot end without at least one infant materializing somewhere. 😂👶
Baby Charlotte arrives.
All the billionaire men become emotionally attached immediately.
Everyone survives.
Overall?
I was REALLY frustrated with Julian for a large chunk of this book because he kept making the dumbest possible emotional decisions at every opportunity.
But the ending absolutely sucked me back in.
The angst hit.
The grovel worked.
Lucy stayed strong.
And the found-family dynamic carried a lot of the emotional weight for me.
Also: ✨ Graham-hive rise. ✨
That man deserved better than being emotionally stable inside a romance novel full of billionaire disaster men.
AND WHEN DO WE GET THE THEO & EMILY BOOK?!?
May 8, 2026
Excellent.
I laughed and cried. What a wonderful heartwarming book. It gives me hope. I really enjoyed reading this story. The ups and downs were thrilling.
I laughed and cried. What a wonderful heartwarming book. It gives me hope. I really enjoyed reading this story. The ups and downs were thrilling.
March 6, 2026
Great book!
It pulled all the emotions out of me. Julian was an arrogant a*hole who frustrated me to no end and Lucy just handled them all with strength and grace. I can't wait to see what comes next!
No cliffhanger
No cheating
Ends with an HEA
It pulled all the emotions out of me. Julian was an arrogant a*hole who frustrated me to no end and Lucy just handled them all with strength and grace. I can't wait to see what comes next!
No cliffhanger
No cheating
Ends with an HEA
April 1, 2026
Notes for me
Julian - comes from old money. His father only cares about his company and status.
Lucy - public help work. Her mother is sick and she supports the family.
Julian is having dinner with his father and brother. Father gives him a file of potential wives. He’s not interested.
He sees Lucy at the restaurant and is just mesmerized by her. He can’t figure out why but she just captures him.
He finds out about her mom and approaches her with a deal. Marry him and he will provide care. No emotion just business.
They are actually happy together. Until she tells him she loves him. He leaves on a two week long trip that extends more and more with no contact.
His father shows her pictures of him with one specific girl who was in the folder and he danced. She tries to take him lunch and she walks out of his office dressed like a skank. The pictures are her with Julian looking intimate all during this time he’s been gone.
She’s done and leaves.
Safety
At the beginning he’s trying to figure out what his pull is to her. He thinks about how women only filled roles in his life, companions, expectations, and obligations. They never disrupted his life.
He asks her to a gala. His father provokes him into dancing with the women from the “folder”. He creates a situation where Julian can’t back out. Theo had asked her to dance because he said Julian never dances. Lucy seeing him dance with other women really hurts her and upsets Theo. He says instead of choosing her he chose the game.
Julian - comes from old money. His father only cares about his company and status.
Lucy - public help work. Her mother is sick and she supports the family.
Julian is having dinner with his father and brother. Father gives him a file of potential wives. He’s not interested.
He sees Lucy at the restaurant and is just mesmerized by her. He can’t figure out why but she just captures him.
He finds out about her mom and approaches her with a deal. Marry him and he will provide care. No emotion just business.
They are actually happy together. Until she tells him she loves him. He leaves on a two week long trip that extends more and more with no contact.
His father shows her pictures of him with one specific girl who was in the folder and he danced. She tries to take him lunch and she walks out of his office dressed like a skank. The pictures are her with Julian looking intimate all during this time he’s been gone.
She’s done and leaves.
Safety
At the beginning he’s trying to figure out what his pull is to her. He thinks about how women only filled roles in his life, companions, expectations, and obligations. They never disrupted his life.
He asks her to a gala. His father provokes him into dancing with the women from the “folder”. He creates a situation where Julian can’t back out. Theo had asked her to dance because he said Julian never dances. Lucy seeing him dance with other women really hurts her and upsets Theo. He says instead of choosing her he chose the game.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 13, 2026
Meh
It’s ok. It’s predictable in a bad way but not necessarily a bad story. The romance isn’t well flushed out. It’s just assumed. The MMC is a man of little action and even less words but he seems to steal the FMCs heart. I guess as a reader you just have to assume stuff happened that made their attraction plausible. The group of friends are weird. They are always around and never really doing or saying anything of substance except Theo I guess. Rowan is watching, Caleb is stoic, Theo is comedic and they are all just always hanging around.
The villainous father is vey obvious. I knew what part he was going to play, how he was going to play it and how it was going to work out almost immediately. What didn’t make sense to me was his point. He almost hand picked The FMC just to turn on her once she is selected and sabotages the relationship for a business deal to make his son look weak? That didn’t make sense but I did see it coming.
Overall not bad just meh.
It’s ok. It’s predictable in a bad way but not necessarily a bad story. The romance isn’t well flushed out. It’s just assumed. The MMC is a man of little action and even less words but he seems to steal the FMCs heart. I guess as a reader you just have to assume stuff happened that made their attraction plausible. The group of friends are weird. They are always around and never really doing or saying anything of substance except Theo I guess. Rowan is watching, Caleb is stoic, Theo is comedic and they are all just always hanging around.
The villainous father is vey obvious. I knew what part he was going to play, how he was going to play it and how it was going to work out almost immediately. What didn’t make sense to me was his point. He almost hand picked The FMC just to turn on her once she is selected and sabotages the relationship for a business deal to make his son look weak? That didn’t make sense but I did see it coming.
Overall not bad just meh.
May 23, 2026
This was my first book by this author and I'm intrigued about this series.
Lucy and Julian. She's struggling to make ends meet as an event planner, supporting her very sick mom and sister through medical school. It's pretty Herculean. Enter Julian, billionaire cuthroat businessman who suddenly decides that she's the one who is going to be his pretend wife & womb for hire. He swoops in to help when her mother's situation becomes dire and in the process, they get close and tumble down the love slope. Except Julian is emotionally constipated and that causes all kinds of situations for Lucy (mostly uncomfortable ones).
I liked it but I wanted more. It's not particularly dramatic or emotional but the writing is very stoic, which I found myself really liking. I would've liked more tension, burn and spice between the MCs - but there's some grovel to make up for it. Overall, worth a shot.
Lucy and Julian. She's struggling to make ends meet as an event planner, supporting her very sick mom and sister through medical school. It's pretty Herculean. Enter Julian, billionaire cuthroat businessman who suddenly decides that she's the one who is going to be his pretend wife & womb for hire. He swoops in to help when her mother's situation becomes dire and in the process, they get close and tumble down the love slope. Except Julian is emotionally constipated and that causes all kinds of situations for Lucy (mostly uncomfortable ones).
I liked it but I wanted more. It's not particularly dramatic or emotional but the writing is very stoic, which I found myself really liking. I would've liked more tension, burn and spice between the MCs - but there's some grovel to make up for it. Overall, worth a shot.
June 7, 2026
Really good read
This was a great book. I have been making my way through relationships in trouble or betrayal in marriages and it's very hard to find ones that aren't cheating so I was delighted that this one was not that. I really loved this fmc she was a strong and sweet person willing to do whatever she had to for her family. The mmc took a bit to like because he came across so arrogant and cold but he does come around even if it's not fully until towards the last bit. The side characters are really well written especially his friends and brother and I hope we get their stories cause they all seem very different personalities which should make it way more interesting. I thought the pacing was good a little slow getting there but not too bad and the writing was a five star to me. I definitely recommend this one :)
This was a great book. I have been making my way through relationships in trouble or betrayal in marriages and it's very hard to find ones that aren't cheating so I was delighted that this one was not that. I really loved this fmc she was a strong and sweet person willing to do whatever she had to for her family. The mmc took a bit to like because he came across so arrogant and cold but he does come around even if it's not fully until towards the last bit. The side characters are really well written especially his friends and brother and I hope we get their stories cause they all seem very different personalities which should make it way more interesting. I thought the pacing was good a little slow getting there but not too bad and the writing was a five star to me. I definitely recommend this one :)
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