NOT a Valentine Story: a closed-door grumpy/sunshine romcom

by Camilla Evergreen

I am not dating my billionaire boss, no matter what the media says.

For the record, I am also not fake dating him.

Despite what the pictures circling online make our relationship look like, he is my big, grumpy, tattooed employer, and I am his perfectly-innocent-of-all-scandal, sunshine housekeeper. I cook. I clean. I try to set him up on play dates with my friends so that he’ll leave me alone. I shop.

That’s it.

That’s the plain and simple truth.

And if you don’t believe me, I bet you also think this book is a Valentine story.

Well, here’s some real news for appearances aren’t always reliable…and sometimes that means the grumpy boss is sweeter than he seems.

~

This is a he falls first, boss/employee, grumpy/sunshine romcom with plenty of sizzle, yet none of the spice. This is a kisses only, closed-door story, which genuinely has NOTHING to do with Valentine’s Day.

Genres: Romance

219 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication February 3, 2026

About the author

Camilla Evergreen is an alias of USA Today bestselling author Anne Stryker. Originally intended as a dumping ground for all things lacking fantasy, Camilla/Anne came to the shocking discovery that writing sarcastic, chaotic romcoms full of quippy heroines and adoring heroes has a kick to it.

Camilla/Anne’s neurodivergent tendencies leave her hyperfocused on writing sweet and sassy romances from dawn till dusk and lending whatever her current creative obsessions are to her characters. From arranged marriages to falling for the boss, there’s lots of love to go around.

Follow me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/authorannemilla

Reviews

[Laura❄️📚 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing this book for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this book, it was very sweet as it read like a Hallmark movie. I loved how protective and caring Damion was towards Mirabelle, he might have been tall, covered in tattoos with huge muscles but inside he was a like a golden retriever. While it’s never explicitly stated on the page I suspected Mirabelle was neurodivergent, which explained a lot of her characteristics and the way she reacted towards Damion. I loved that about this book, as well as having Bipolar disorder, I also have ADHD so I enjoy reading about characters who also feel like a square peg trying to fit into a round hole. The only thing about this book that didn’t work for me as a reader was the way swearing was dealt with, I felt this stopped the reading experience from being completely smooth. I felt it might have been better to use alternative words or to leave this out but aside from that I really loved this book. I really felt for Damion as he spent 4 years pining for Mirabelle and loving her from a distance, Mirabelle just wanted to be loved but after so many years of making herself smaller/more socially acceptable she struggled to see that he might really care for her. I was really hoping that she would come to see him just as he saw her. I loved her best friend Fawn, I’m really hoping that she and Forrest get there own book as I would definitely read it.

[ᴄᴀᴛ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4☆ | Oh my god this book was adorable. I literally started and finished it in 2 days.
I originally saw it on Facebook as an ad..the author wanting arc readers, so I signed up and a little over a week later I got the email and the arc was attached.
Despite the title and how it's set in the later months of the year and not February, it literally has nothing to do with Valentine's day, but it can definitely be read and/or considered as a Valentine's book I think.

𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔:
I love a nice, clean, sweet romance book, and this definitely was. Though there were quite some things that bugged me or that I found odd.

▪ I'd say one thing is that we're constantly reminded that Mirabelle is so like innocent and inexperienced with love. She also didn't want Damion (or anyone really) to kiss her until marriage. Like I get wanting to save yourself for marriage and everything, but I just found the thought of not even a single kiss on the lips until the wedding day to be a bit odd, and maybe even a 𝘣𝘪𝘵 unbelievable? Though if someone is so set on not kissing until their wedding day they could probably stick to that

There was also a point where Damion kissed a spot on his hand after Mirabelle had touched it, which I suppose is normal enough, but when after he did that (and she had walked away) he said "Goodnight, my love." Which is fine, normal even, but personally it was a bit weird to me. And I get it, he's down BAD for her, loves her completely, so I understand, but still. That part stuck with me and I'm not sure why.

I also think it was weird how Mirabelle was pretty much 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 wearing an apron. Like I get it, she likes them, but all the time?

I think my main problem/ick was when he kissed, and even 𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥 her foot. Like...no thank you. I'm sorry but absolutely not.
And then the next day she blushed thinking about what he did to her "sweet little bare feet" last night.
This is the second book I've read this year where the mmc has kissed the fmc's feet. Which sure, isn't a ton. But that's two more books than last year, where no one kissed 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴 feet.
"𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗲 𝗳𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗸𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗶𝗿, 𝗵𝘆𝗽𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱.
𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘆𝗲𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝘁, 𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗳-𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗺𝘆 𝗴𝗮𝘇𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗴𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘂𝗽 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗹𝗲, 𝗽𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗵, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗶𝘀𝘀." eww


▪ Onto what I loved though, I really loved how clearly you could tell Damion loves Mirabelle. Like it was so obvious how much this man loved her. He was protective, caring and truly respected her and her wishes (even if I found them to be a bit absurd). Damion spent 4 years loving Mirabelle from a distance and the yearning was THERE, and I thought it was done so well, though at some points it seems like he liked her a bit 𝘵𝘰𝘰 much.


𝑶𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍:
This book did have it's issues & flaws, as well as some questions I'd like answered, but overall I found it to be incredibly entertaining and sweet. And though it isn't at all a Valentine's story, it's a nice one to read around Valentine's day.
My sister and I both applied for the arc the same day ( and both got it ! ).. she's started it today, so we'll see what she thinks of it
Thank you to the author for allowing me to have an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Ebook - 0🌶 - 4☆

────────────

“𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗠𝗶𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲. 𝗔 𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺. 𝗜’𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗼𝗻 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗼 𝗽𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹.”

[bookgirlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks Camilla for the ARC. Absolute perfection. 10 stars. Gimme more.

—-

Update: a proper review this time.

So this was actually not a valentine story…who would’ve thought?????????????

There was no part of this book that wasn’t absolute perfection (I expected nothing less from Camilla & her magic writing).

The romance. THE YEARNING. The banter…yum yum yum.


So read it.

[Julie Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't put it down! I started it this morning and was completely absorbed in it. Next thing I knew, I had devoured the book!

I loved how Mirabelle was very adamant that she was a honest person and in keeping honesty a very important aspect of her life and relationships. No fake dating for her!

Damion surprises her at every turn. I loved that he genuinely loved her but didn't want to scare her away. But he wanted to show her that he truly cared for her and wanted to build a life with her. It took some time and patience, and showing Mirabelle that he could be honest and that she could trust him.

I really enjoy how this author writes about characters being real and being happy in their circumstances and happy to love those around them for who they are!

And just to be clear...this is NOT a valentine story. There's no Valentine's Day in it! Hahaha! The author explains that title and why in the beginning of the book, before the story starts. It made me giggle!

Content: Clean. The characters kiss a few times but not until the end of the book. She goes to his room and falls asleep in his bed. He covers her up in blankets and is just there. Possible neurodivergent character.

I received a copy from Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

[Sabrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and ARC provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op for providing me with an ARC of ‘NOT a Valentine Story’ by Camilla Evergreen in exchange for an honest review. 💕

NOT a Valentine Story is a cozy, closed-door romcom that follows our FMC, Mirabelle, who tries to navigate her job while her billionaire boss is secretly in love with her.

The cover and the description of the book immediately intrigued me, and overall, the storyline was cute and a light-hearted read. This boss/maid and grumpy/sunshine romance, is one that can be compelling, and I think this book will appeal to readers who enjoy lighter, trope-driven love stories.

That said, I did find it difficult to fully connect with the characters. We’re often told that the FMC is “perfect,” but we don’t get enough depth as to why she is viewed that way, mainly because we just don’t know the character that well. While it makes sense that the MMC, as her boss, would notice and admire her work ethic, I would have liked more insight into her personality, inner world, and what makes her special. Similarly, learning more about the MMC, his background and why he tends to be grumpy would have helped ground the romance.

One detail that stood out was the FMC consistently wearing an apron, even when she was outside of her work environment. While she is a housemaid, I found this choice became distracting over time. Additionally, the handling of swearing in the dialogue without actually writing the swear word the character was saying, felt a bit clunky and didn’t allow for sentences to flow as nicely.

I appreciate the opportunity to read and review this book early. I’m interested to see how the author continues to grow and develop her storytelling in future works.

[Kimi · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Disclosure: I received a free review copy of this book from the author. My thoughts and opinions are my own.)

So sweet, so cute. Camilla’s writing is comfort and safety, funny and chaotic, somehow all at once. Mirabelle is looking for love, but so used to rejection that she doesn’t trust love when it’s offered. Damion is …well, a billionaire. One might argue that the wealth sets out to make acceptable what would otherwise be pretty darn obsessive and stalker-y behavior. I am, however, a Mature Adult capable of setting aside the realistic and enjoying the story for what it is — boy meets girl, falls in love, rearranges his entire life to woo her.

I have only read a handful of Camilla books, but from that small sampling I can confidently say she has a FIRM handle on the “financial security” trope. What relationship wouldn’t be made better by starting off with a contract, a sign-on bonus, a 401k, and platinum healthcare? ;) The way her male characters perceive, listen to and treat her heroines only seals the deal. Excellent cozy romance comfort read.

Content: no swears (placeholders instead), no on-page spice (plenty of steamy yearning, I wouldn’t call it kiddie-friendly), happily ever after.

[Abbie Bluer · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐½

First of all, I just need to say I’m officially obsessed with how Camilla Evergreen writes. Her style feels so real, effortless, and genuine- it pulls you in immediately and makes everything feel alive on the page.

This book was such an adorable, fun, can’t put it down kind of read. I flew through it and enjoyed every second. Mirabelle is such a lovable character-I genuinely just wanted to be her friend and hang out in her world.

And lastly… the Stardew Valley references absolutely stole my heart. I appreciated them so much. This book genuinely made me want to start a brand-new farm, name my little farmer Mirabelle, and follow her story all the way to a happily ever after- because this one truly delivered.

Overall, Not a Valentine’s Story was charming, cozy, and full of heart. A perfect feel good read that I’d happily recommend.

[AndieRae · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, I can’t stop staring at the cover! It is beautiful! Everything about this book is my favorite. Age gap, wall pinning, he falls first (desperately) the character cameos, the ESSAY. Seriously, this book is going to be reread by myself until the end of time. Damion & Mirabelle are the absolute sweetest. Mirabelle works for a maid service, and Damion has billions. What happens when sunshine meets a supposed grump? Read only if you want a sugary sweet romcom with absolutely no spice, and an escape from the drudgery if reality. 🩷

[Alice · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book. I thought the premise was really good and the description really made me want to read it. And I tried, and I think I got, I was fifty percent in and I just couldn't do it anymore, I had to quit, it was a DNF or me. I i just couldn't gel with Mirabelle thinking, her annoying roommate ( although I don't know which one was more annoying honestly) The weird boss I just, I needed more of a background, I needed more of why they were the way they were.I just couldn't get it

Thank you, net galley, for the arc in exchange for an honest review

[Catarina Águas · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review

This book was so cute, all of these author books are (at least the ones I've read). The yearning she describes these men have for their women is just perfection.
Mirabelle was so adorable, how could you not fall in love with her? I loved how she spoke her mind and was herself around him, she didn't hide.
Damion was a man in love and that showed in everything he did and said. I just love when men are so obsessed in love with their partner, it was so beautiful to see

[Sophie Toovey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I came away from Not a Valentine Story with very mixed feelings.

As with other Camilla Evergreen books I’ve read, the romance carries a slightly dark edge. The female main character, Mirabelle, reads as neurodivergent-coded, while the male lead, Damien has been in love with her from a distance for four years. When he finally decides to act on those feelings, his plan involves employing her as his housekeeper and slowly manoeuvring her into marriage.

At times, this dynamic felt unsettling. Damions obsession is underlined by his habit of journalling every small detail he notices about Mirabelle — things she says, moments he observes — and by repeated descriptions of his imposing physical presence. He’s portrayed as a potent, alpha-type figure, which might feel more at home in a steamy or dark romance than in a clean one. Mirabelle, meanwhile, is naïve and often unsure of herself, and I couldn’t help but feel sorry for her as she seemed to be steamrollered by a powerful man who very much knew what he wanted.

That said, there are moments where the story shifts the balance. Damien consistently respects Mirabelle’s physical boundaries and does not take advantage of her, which genuinely mattered to me. By the end, the relationship lands in a much more wholesome place than where it begins.

I did enjoy the book in several ways. Mirabelle’s POV has an easy, quirky humour that made her chapters engaging, and there’s a steady sense of suspense around how — or if — the relationship will resolve itself. Still, there was more growling, possessiveness, and pent-up desire than I’m usually comfortable with in a clean romance.

My biggest struggle was that for much of the first half of the book, Mirabelle seems quite clear that she doesn’t like Damion. Later, it’s reframed as fear rather than dislike — but that explanation left me uneasy. “She’ll come around in the end” is a line too often used to excuse unhealthy dynamics, and that shadow lingered for me even once the story clarified its intent.

Overall, this is a book I found readable and at times enjoyable, but also challenging. Readers who like clean romance with darker undertones and intense, obsessive devotion may appreciate it more than I did. If you’re sensitive to power imbalances or blurred consent dynamics, it’s worth approaching with caution.

[Sarah Catron · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️ The author is correct, this is NOT a Valentines story. What it is, is a sweet binge-able boss/employee grumpy/sunshine romance. Before I dive deeper into my opinions on the book I will say although it missed the mark for me, I do think there is an audience that will really enjoy the book.

Things I liked about the book:
1. I will absolutely give this author another try because I did like the writing style as a whole. It’s quirky fun and makes a quick read.

2. The relationship between our FMC, Mirabelle, and her best friend, Fawn. Their friendship was the grounding mark for me. I loved how they loved each other for who they are and didn’t try to change each other or give them a hard time for their faults. Also their dialogue was hilarious and at times reminded me of Gilmore Girls-esque banter.

Now for my main issues:
1. The love story between Mirabelle and Damion felt very surface level. We don’t really get to know either of them on a very deep level and so I was left not really knowing WHY they loved each other and so some of the bigger declarations of love towards the end felt…hollow.

2. Mirabelle continually says how she doesn’t like Damion throughout the entire book. And I mean that literally. By the end of the book (besides the epilogue) she has still not says she loves him. She just admits at the end that she LIKES him and could be starting to fall for him. And then, bam, the epilogue hits we get a time jump and they’re married. So it just felt like weird pacing.

3. This is definitely a personal opinion, but I found Mirabelle kinda off putting. She often has a very holier-than-thou attitude. And plays in to a very infantilized idea of herself which came off as more annoying than endearing to me. For example at one point she’s turned on by Damion and has the thought that she’s “too young” to be having these feelings. She’s in her early 20’s. She felt a little too trad-wife, conservative, judgmental for me.

Tropes:
💕Grumpy/Sunshine
💕Boss/Employee
💕Billionaire
💕Small Town
💕He Falls First & Harder
💕Never Been Kissed
💕Closed-Door
💕Clean (no cursing or violence)

*Thank you Netgalley and Victory Editing for the ARC copy. All opinions are my honest thoughts

[HeidiG725 · Rating 4 out of 5]

*ARC REVIEW*

Rating: 4:5 stars
Clean contemporary romance

“I, personally, believe that loving you should be a standard for all people. It’s merely stating a fact. I love you, as I should. Commend my stating of the obvious.”

So… this might be my favorite Camilla Evergreen book so far 😍

Mirabelle is a housekeeper that has been cleaning the vacation home of billionaire Damion Anderson for the past four years. She enjoys the job, so long as she can avoid the man himself. Damion, on the other hand, fell in love with Mirabelle at first sight.

So what’s a man to do but buy the house, move his entire life, and hire her as his maid in order to woo her?

All Mirabelle wants in life is to have a happy, stable home and to be a loved housewife and mother, and she has shaped her entire being to fit into this role, changing herself to become more appealing to others.

Damion sees past the perfect facade she’s built for herself, and does everything in his power to break through it… including making an honesty pact with her.

Things I LOVED:
- Mirabelle is adorable and sooo innocent. Love that for her.
- Damion is OBSESSED, and we love a man who fights for what he wants
- I’m going to need a book about Fawn and Forrest, please. They are both psychotic.
- There’s just something about the way Camilla writes that is so authentic, and I adore it.

Things that may turn you off:
- The main characters aren’t normal. Really, none of Camilla’s main characters can be considered “normal”, so be warned, but that’s why I love them. What’s the point of reading fiction if certain admirable characteristics can’t be hyperbolized a little bit?
- The bedroom scene ended up being very sweet (iykyk), but the initial foray into his space with the intention of… seduction? It seemed very out of character for her.

If you are thinking of reading this and enjoy obsessed MMCs, sweet/naive FMCs, a nice little boss x employee romance, and lots of honest manipulation, you will love this book ❤️

[The Closed Door Book Nook · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a Valentines Story follows the story of Mirabelle, a young housekeeper, and Damion, a billionaire who has secretly fallen in love with Mirabelle since she started cleaning his house almost 5 years ago.

I tried so, so hard to keep an open mind throughout this book. I’ll start with the one pro I had, but overall this book was very hard for me to not DNF.

Pro:
-I will definitely try a Camilla Evergreen book again because overall I do think she did a great job with writing. She has very witty dialogue and she is able to make the conversations between the dual POVs very realistic.

Con
-DAMION. I just did not like him AT ALL. There were parts of the book that I felt he was creepy, overly obsessed with Mirabelle, and gave me an ick like he should have been the lead in a 50 Shades of Gray film. GrumpyxSunshine/Fake Dating/Slow Burn—literally all of my favorite tropes but I couldn’t get over how completely weird I found Damion’s character to be throughout the entire book. I also hated how he always referred to her as “precious” or “my love”, and the fact that he was so adamant that she would become his wife and the way he kissed her the first time literally just creeped me out and made him seem like a weird, obsessive guy. There was just nothing about him that I cared for.

I had high hopes for this book, but ultimately, it fell very flat for me and I would not recommend. I will be open to trying other books by the author, but this was just not it for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC copy of this book. All thoughts are my own and not influenced my NetGalley or the author

[Eloïse van Deutekom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! I wasn't sure at the beginning of reading it if it would really be my thing, but I was invested!! This book is a closed door romance, but they don't kiss untill their wedding day. So if spicy books aren't your thing, read this one. I'm really honored that i got to read this book as an ARC.

Mirabelle, the FMC, cleans for Damion, the MMC. She cleans houses and he wants to employ her, so that she just cleans his. What Mirabelle doesn't know, is that Damion is in love with her and will do everything to make her love him.

Honestly, the moment he wanted to employ her I was scared that there would be a very weird and toxic power dynamic. But luckily that didn't happen. My man even helped her in the kitchen and stuff. I honestly think that he only employed her so she would be closer to him.

I thought that Mirabelle was really funny and honestly the only sane person in the whole situation. A Billionaire employs her to clean his house and make food for him. Not that much later my dude confesses that he likes her. She did not like that at all. She actually told him that she found him repulsive. I love this queen. She had Damion stressing.

I was so obsessed with Damion whilst reading this book!! He was yearning like his life depended on it, which is hot AF. This man had a whole notebook for four years, where he wrote down every single thought he had about Mirabelle. He actually fell in love with her at first sight.


My favorite quote:
"You put the books i read to shame, Damion. You've redefined yearning for me. You've redifined effort. You've redefined love"

Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️,5 stars

[SJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in a vacation small town in Georgia, Mirabelle has been housekeeping for Damion's summer house for four years. When he announces he has bought the house and will be living there full time, he asks her to be his live in housekeeper. He has always been this large, imposing man, so she hesitates before accepting. Damion has been quietly in love with Mirabelle all these years. He is hoping working and living closely will allow them to be together. When the tabloids start publishing photos that capture his yearning eyes, things start to change...

This was a super quick and fun read! I loved how she stands up for herself, knowing she doesn't fit the mold society wants. His notebooks documenting their interactions were adorable.

I've read several by this author and really enjoy how different her stories are. Plus they are closed door with no cussing on page. I noticed some references to other couples in this one, which was fun to see! Don't miss the author's note to get confirmation that this is NOT a Valentine story, lol.

This romance features:
💕 Billionaire MMC
💕 Boss / employee
💕 Small town (love the book club ladies!)
💕 Grumpy / Sunshine
💕 Communication
💕 He falls first
💕 9 year age gap (25 FMC x 34 MMC)
💕 Not on Valentine's Day (occurs in the fall, including Halloween and Thanksgiving)

Closed door / kissing only (no spice)

4.5 / 5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this eARC!

[Amanda McGee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Media outlets said that Mirabelle Peters is dating her billionaire boss. That’s false. She’s not even fake-dating him. She’s the sunny, hardworking, cute housekeeper of the tall, tattooed grumpy billionaire. She makes him food, cleans his house, and even does her best to set up playdates for him so he won’t bother her. It’s the truth. Some might even consider this book a Valentine story, but it’s not. Too bad that appearances don’t always coincide with reality, and that her boss is sweeter than she initially thought..

This book is amazing. You have Mirabelle Peters, a sweet, genuine, dedicated, and beautiful young woman that cleans people’s houses for a living and enjoys spending time with her roommate Fawn and going to the local bookclub. You have Damion Anders, a reserved, thoughtful, clever, and handsome young man that is smitten with his housekeeper and enjoys spending time with his loved ones. The interactions between the main characters were funny, sweet, and honest. I loved Fawn, Forrest, and the ladies at the bookclub. Mirabelle’s struggles to find people who like her for herself instead of masking made me feel so seen, and I appreciated how much Damion, Fawn, and the bookclub ladies encouraged her to be herself. This book is NOT a Valentine story, but it does have romance, found family, and the feeling of coming home. I now want tiny wings, aprons with huge pockets, and essays if romantic love ever knocks on my door (the author keeps raising my standards, I swear). I highly recommend this book.

[Anna Christodoulou-Vega · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review: Not a Valentine Love Story by Camila Evergreen 💘😌

Let me be clear—this is not a Valentine’s Day romance… and that’s exactly why it works so well. 😏✨ Camila Evergreen delivers a charming, cozy romcom that plays with appearances, expectations, and all the delicious tension that comes from a grumpy billionaire boss and his pure-sunshine housekeeper.

The setup is hilarious right from the start: the media is convinced they’re dating (or fake dating), while our FMC insists she’s just cleaning, cooking, shopping, and absolutely not falling for her big, tattooed, grumpy employer. 🧹🛍️🙃 The banter is light, the misunderstandings are fun, and the “he falls first” energy is chef’s kiss.

What really shines is the emotional sweetness. Beneath the boss’s gruff exterior is someone unexpectedly tender, thoughtful, and quietly swoony. 💕 The grumpy/sunshine dynamic is done beautifully, proving that sometimes the softest love stories don’t need drama or spice to be satisfying.

And yes—this is a kisses-only, closed-door romance, but don’t let that fool you. There’s plenty of sizzle in the looks, the gestures, and the slow-building connection. 🔥👀 It’s cozy, comforting, and perfect if you’re craving romance without explicit scenes.

True to its name, Not a Valentine Love Story isn’t about the holiday—it’s about how love often shows up when you least expect it. Sweet, funny, and feel-good from start to finish. 💖📖✨

Perfect for readers who love grumpy billionaires, sunshine heroines, and heartwarming romcom vibes with zero spice and maximum charm. 😊

[Alexia · Rating 3 out of 5]

"NOT a Valentine Story" by Camilla Evergreen is a clean body of work that focuses on the innocence and the buildup of a new relationship. The lack of smut makes this story stand out more and feels fresh. I connected with the FMC Mirabelle on quite a few areas; I will say she was on the extreme side of things though. It was still fun reading how her brain worked. Damion proved to be an interesting character as well. Despite having such a hard exterior, he was soft and vulnerable.

A disconnect I had with this story is that when Damion would use curse words the author would write it like, "he cussed" or "cussing, he", instead of just using the actual word he used. I think it is okay to not use such language, but it doesn't flow well with it written like this, also it was repetitive. In my opinion, it would be better if Evergreen just left "cussing" out of the book in general and just have Damion speak normally. I don't think it would change the character that much if at all.

On another note, I was not fully convinced of the romance. More so, I wasn't convinced of Damion's origin story of him falling in love with Mirabelle. It felt very tell not show. I appreciated the introspection of the characters the most. Romance was still cute but didn't give me any fluttery or long lasting feelings. All in all, "NOT a Valentine Story" is a decent book. I plan on checking out the author's other work.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc!

[Kris · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5)

I received this book for an open and honest review. Thank you for the chance to review this book.

Not a Valentine’s Story by Camilla Evergreen was a cute, lighthearted romance, but ultimately it just wasn’t quite for me.

I enjoy a good clean romance, and I appreciated the sweet tone and low-drama vibe of this story. The slow physical progression actually worked well in theory—there’s no real on-page kissing, which allowed the emotional buildup to take center stage. However, the romance leaned very heavily into insta-love, especially from the MMC’s first chapter, and that intensity so early on made it harder for me to fully buy into the relationship.

My biggest struggle, though, was how the “clean” aspect was handled. Instead of simply avoiding swearing, the MMC frequently used phrases like “oh swear word” or “God swear word,” and it completely pulled me out of the story every time. Clean romance can absolutely exist without swearing or constantly alluding to it, and this choice felt more distracting than charming.

Overall, it was a sweet and well-meaning romance with some cute moments, but between the intense insta-love and the overemphasis on being “clean,” it didn’t fully land for me. I think it could be a good fit for readers who love very wholesome, closed-door romances—but for me, it was just okay.

[Abby Wall · Rating 5 out of 5]

NOt a Valentine Story

Want a story that has absolutely nothing to do with Valentine’s Day, but is still super sweet and swoony and fun? Look no further. You’ve found the book for you. Expect an obsessive, bossy MMC, Damion, and a chaotic, cute FMC, Mirabelle. Also plenty of sassy banter, minor freakouts, obscene amounts of honesty, quirky side characters, surprisingly stable (but not often on page) parental figures, and an emotional-support stuffed pig.

The writing style was so fun and engaging. I laughed aloud through most of the book and was constantly stopping to highlight things. The characters felt both terribly relatable and wildly unique, and there is such a great juxtaposition of sweet adoration and unhinged obsession.

While definitely closed-door, and honestly quite chaste in many respects, there were a few descriptions and moments that were above my personal comfort level. Pay close attention to the author notes at the beginning of the book to discern if this is the book for you. There is no actual swearing, although there are several references to swearing.

So to sum up, if you’re looking for a Valentine’s Day story, then this isn’t for you, but if you like romance, laughing, pining off the charts, and sweet spunky heroines, then full speed ahead!

I was privileged to read an early copy of this novel.

[Jiya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book.

This book was indeed "Not a Valentine Story", a fact I was skeptical to at first. The novel follows Mirabelle as she navigates a job with her billionaire boss who is in love with her. This was a cute fun book, and the tropes and romance were all a delight to read. My one critique is that the main characters lacked depth and relatability. Mirabelle's only goal in life is to be a wife, and the rest of her personality is centered around being an adorable, loving person. She feels flawless and so sweet that she's fake. Likewise, Damion's personality is centered around being cold and rich. He mentions his billionaire status multiple times in a cringy way, and he even refers to everyone around him as dismissible because he is either richer and more powerful than them, or his equals understand him. His love for Mirabelle also felt extremely unrealistic and obsessive. I have no issues with love at first sight when done well, but this just felt unconvincing to me as a reader. However, the book was still very enjoyable and i would recommend to anyone who wants a lighthearted, fluffy rom-com.

[Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy from the author, thanks Camilla!
There are no mentions of Valentine's Day past the title and explanation by the author. Low spice, no written swear words, but are alluded to. I overall enjoyed the book. He was sweet and thoughtful, she was able to grow into the relationship. I, of course, want the next story for Fawn. I always want more background of why people do the things they do in any story, and I would have liked more of that in this book.
I go into a Camilla Evergreen book with a few assumptions: there will be neurodivergence that will not be named as such, and the person or persons demonstrating this will be treated as through it is reasonable to expect respect and love from most of the other main characters and thus the reader. Her stories are not 100% realistic, which I enjoy. I am not reading fiction because I want more realism, and I appreciate knowing I'm going to get a well-written, quirky, certainly bantery, romance where people are kind to each other and are not TSTL.
For long time Camilla fans, there are some easter eggs of previous characters, always a bonus!

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a Valentine Story, what a lovely little tale about Mirabelle who just wants to get married and have a nice little family. Why is that so hard? She works for a cleaning company in a tourist town until one of her clients, Damion, asks to employ her as his housekeeper.

Mirabelle is honest, but she's learned what not to say out loud, and her inner dialog is hilarious. She's hardworking and thorough in what she takes on. Oh, and she does not like Damion one bit because he's a grump.

Damion isn't really a grump. More like a stone wall. He's just never figured out how or wanted to show people behind the wall. And behind the wall? There's a whole lot of kind hearted, just wants to take care of his wifey yearning.

Up until they both become fully honest about how they feel about each other, respectively, the book is enjoyable, but once that's happened? It just gets so much better.

I would be remiss not to mention Mirabelle's bbf Fawn. She was herself through and through, and I loved it. Also, some little "holes" were explained later, so that always makes me happy.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. So blessed to have gotten it straight from the author ^^

[Ashley Adamian · Rating 3 out of 5]

"NOT a Valentine story: a closed-door grumpy sunshine romcom" delivers on all it promises. The story features the main lead, Mirabelle, who works as a cleaner and Damion, the billionare who soon employs her. Their relationship develops as they continue to get to know each other. The premise and tropes are cute. I found the characters interesting and their relationship to be cute. The story is a light read. Personally, I am not the biggest fan of the writing style, but I was somewhat curious if the writing style or narration was a purposeful choice to suit the quirkiness of the characters. I would've also liked to see more of the central conflict. Even though the influence of the media was present, it felt like it should've been pushed more. Additionally, I felt like it would've been nice to see more of the content that the media was pushing. Photos were described, but being able to read the headlines would've been great too. Overall, the story was a nice, casual read. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mirabelle has one ambition, to fall in love, get married and become a housewife. Her job as a maid is just filler while she finds the perfect man. Damion hires her to become his full time housekeeper. She takes the job, but in general she is not a fan. He has been in love with her since he first saw her. This book is a lovely example of how you can get everything you want if you just honestly try.
My heart breaks for how cruel Mirabelle is to Damion in the beginning. Some of the things she says are just brutal. Since I have a bit of foot in mouth disease, as does Mirabelle, I can relate to her desire to censor herself around most people so as to not ruin all chances of ever having friends.
Over the course of the book the emphasis on honesty provides character growth on both sides, with beautiful heartfelt gestures and poignant declarations of feeling. The laughs are also present throughout, encouraged by the meddling best friends and the hilarious book club girlies.
I laughed, I swooned, I shed a tear. All in all, I loved it. As I should.

[Kiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

NOT a Valentine Story by Camilla Evergreen is a not a valentine story but it still hits the feels.

I love Camilla Evergreen. This book was another look into something beautiful and made me look into myself and realize I have a hole in my heart. Camilla's male leads are ones I absolutely love, because they are COMMITTED. Boy oh boy, was this one committed. Camilla writes what it would feel like to be venerated by your significant other, her books are honestly pure poetry. A love note to love itself.

🧽Boss/Employee
🧽Grumpy vs. Sunshine
🧽Billionaire
🧽He's gone for her
🧽Tattoos
🧽Only one bed

This book seriously has nothing to do with Valentine's. Just pure pining throughout every month of the year but February. The ML is magically written, inner thoughts of Damion were the best. The FL is seriously the cutest, her "traditional" dreams were beautiful and sadly not a norm in this world at the moment. But I felt her dreams on another personal level.

I recommend this book to anyone who wants a cozy and comfy romcom!

Thanks to Camilla Evergreen for the free book.

[Callie Mo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this book so much more than I did! The premise is adorable, the cover is BEAUTIFUL, and I really did like the characters! I think what threw me off about this read the most was the writing style - I felt like the first 50% was good, and then the writing style almost shifted.

I also felt like after not even liking Damion for so long, Mira's *very sudden* change of heart was too abrupt, I felt like I had whiplash a bit! And then the absolute rush from them getting together to getting married was way too fast for me - I wish the story about their relationship developing was a bit longer, I wanted to see them date and I wanted to see Mira fall for Damion beyond what felt like a week of being together.

That being said, the story was adorable and I loved Fawn as a character so much, I'd love to read a story about her someday!

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Cait M · Rating 4 out of 5]

What the hell did I just read?!? And why did I l kind of love it? 🤣This book was like a train wreck you can’t look away from. I read it in one sitting and I’m still sitting here in shock at the chaos this book was/is. I can’t tell if this is the best book ever for a 19 year old Mormon girl with no filtered thoughts whatsoever, or if it was written by one.

All of that being said, I haven’t read a closed door romance since Twilight dropped in 2005 but the yearning from the MMC was heart meltingly beautiful, he truly saw the FMC for who she really was (annoying as she was….)

Overall, this book was highly entertaining and (un)intentionally? Funny. I see there was a lot of negative reviews about this book so far, but if closed door, no swearing, lots of internal rambling, high yearning is your jam… you will love and laugh your butt off through this book!

Thank you to Victory Editing through NetGalley for an ARC of this book!

[PollyAnna Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every time I read a book by Camilla Evergreen, I wonder why I bother reading any books by any other author. I love the humor in her books, but even more than that, I love way she writes humor into her stories, her characters. And don't get me started on the adorable eccentricities of her massively awesome characters. Crying over an essay?! Even as an English Instructor, an essay has never moved me to tears. It's so beautiful and romantic and wonderful and awesome and likable that Damion sees Mirabelle and loves her exactly as she is. In fact, the more he gets to know the Real Mirabelle, the more he loves her. I don't know with certainty that my own husband of 30+ years could say the same. I wish Damion, Mirabelle, Fawn, Forrest, et. al. were real, living people so I could meet them and become a member of their "found" family. Who cares about Valentine's Day?! Damion and Mirabelle don't need a so-called special day for romance... or love. 💕💞💓💗💖💝🤎💜💚💛🧡🤍🩶🩷💙🩵🖤❤️