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The Bardot Siblings #3
Foolishly Yours
Blurb to come!
325 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 16, 2026
About the author
Rachel Lewis
4 books311 followersRachel Lewis is a fresh voice in contemporary romance. With charmingly flawed characters and laugh-out-loud dialogue, Lewis' writing effortlessly blends witty banter, delightfully indulgent spice, and heartwarming found families that readers will want to call their own.
Beyond her own writing, Rachel champions the book community through Get Lit: Grown-Up Book Fairs. She previously co-hosted the popular "Welcome to the Smut Show" podcast.
Rachel is a mother of two crazy girls, wife of a crazy husband, and crazy for some 90’s country hits. She is a nostalgic TV watcher, lover of fan-fic, and is always willing to try a new color in her hair.
Beyond her own writing, Rachel champions the book community through Get Lit: Grown-Up Book Fairs. She previously co-hosted the popular "Welcome to the Smut Show" podcast.
Rachel is a mother of two crazy girls, wife of a crazy husband, and crazy for some 90’s country hits. She is a nostalgic TV watcher, lover of fan-fic, and is always willing to try a new color in her hair.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 260 reviews
April 23, 2026
જ⁀➴ 2.5 stars
Thank you to The Smuthood and Rachel Lewis for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. Foolishly Yours is out now!
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆🍒 ⋆˚✿🌹⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆🍒 ⋆˚✿🌹⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆🍒 ⋆˚✿🌹⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆🍒 ⋆˚✿🌹⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆🍒 ⋆˚✿🌹⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆🍒
I REALLY wanted to like this more than I did. I was so excited to get this eARC, but once I read it, I felt like it fell so flat on many points. I tried giving the benefit of the doubt at the beginning of the book, but I never fully felt like I was truly sucked into the story, despite the book being a fast read.
Colette Russell is not one for love. After witnessing her parent's divorce growing up, she's been determined to keep her head down and keep to herself. When a career change from engineering to psychology takes her back home to Sassafras, Massachusetts, she's bound to run into the one person she hates: Ben Bardot. Ben, on the other hand, has never actually hated Colette, and when Cole turns thirty and he calls in a bet that they made that decades earlier that they would get married if both of them were single by the time they both turned 30, Cole is determined to say no, under the condition that he doesn't win her over within 5 dates. Will Ben be successful?
I think this review is going to be on the shorter side of what my reviews are normally like, because a lot of my problems with the story stem from Cole. Trust me, I feel really bad saying that, because I believe the author did a good job with providing neurodivergent AND queer/LGBTQ+ rep in the story in Cole's character. She's autistic and queer, and I think the book did a great job at representing what it's like to be neurodivergent and how it's a bit more difficult to navigate the world through a neurodivergent point of view. We get to see a lot of Cole's tendencies and preferences in the story, and most importantly, we get to see Ben be a supportive partner for her along the way and he was able to show her what it's like to love and be loved for who she is, flaws and all.
However, I feel like all I know about Cole is that she's a forensic psychology student, she has a three-legged dog named Ernest, she likes Dateline, she likes Irish coffee-scented candles, and she's autistic and queer. I know that's a lot of stuff, but if you peel back the hobbies and the interests she likes, I felt like she based her entire personality around being autistic and angry all the time at Ben. Additionally, I felt like she did NOTHING for Ben. You know how people say relationships are a two-way street? I felt like her and Ben's was entirely transactional and it was just Ben doing EVERYTHING. Sure, he's kind of a simp for her, for lack of better wording, but he would go out of his way to do various things for her to prove his love for her, and all she'd give him back was occasional sex. I don't know, I feel like Ben deserves more in that aspect.
Going into Ben's character a little bit here, I have pretty mixed feelings about him. For one, I think he's a pretty green flag character, but I also think there's a bit of a yellow caution flag thrown into the mix as well. There were a lot of things in the story I felt he did extremely well, such as Googling things to help him better understand how to care for and be in a relationship with someone with autism and how to navigate that. However, I also feel like he always came on way too strong with Cole and didn't always respect her limits and her wishes to be alone so she can process things. It's funny that I mention this because Ben himself says in the story that he knows that he can come off too strong at times, and I laughed because it means he's self-aware enough to know that about himself, but it's true—I do think that proposing with a ring when they haven't seen each other in over a decade is a bit....too much. (It's literally the cover art in case someone thinks that's a spoiler.)
The entire timeline of their relationship with each other also didn't make a whole ton of sense to me. Like, I get that the entire point is that Ben had to wait to call in his bet until Cole turned thirty and he had 5 dates to prove to her that he's the one for her. However, they were practically hanging out and seeing each other, albeit to blow off sexual steam with each other leading up to the whole "cashing in on the bet" situation, and this ties in with the pacing of the story as well—for whatever reason I thought that the bet and Cole turning 30 would be towards the beginning of the story and we'd spend the rest of the book going on all these dates and the moments in between so we get to see Cole fall for Ben in real time, but I feel like all of that happens way too late in the plot and the moments leading up to all of that end up feeling like filler content.
As for the side characters, I'm sure most of them showed up and have their own stories from the first 2 books in the series since this is an interconnected standalone. I'm sure there's minor spoilers in the book for Ben's siblings and how they're doing so far, but that's something I thought was worth mentioning since I didn't realize this was part of an interconnected standalone series when I requested the book.
Overall, I think this book personal fell flat for me, and it wasn't my cup of tea. I know this book will find its audience and maybe if I read the first two books, I'd be able to appreciate this a little more than now, but I just couldn't get past Cole's coldness and Ben coming off way too strong with Cole.
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆🍒 ⋆˚✿🌹⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆🍒 ⋆˚✿🌹⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆🍒 ⋆˚✿🌹⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆🍒 ⋆˚✿🌹⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆🍒 ⋆˚✿🌹⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆🍒
Thank you to The Smuthood and Rachel Lewis for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. Foolishly Yours is out now!
"I've been at square one with you before, Colette. I'm not itching to go back, but I will. I would do it all over again if I could earn even just one more minute in your presence."
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆🍒 ⋆˚✿🌹⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆🍒 ⋆˚✿🌹⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆🍒 ⋆˚✿🌹⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆🍒 ⋆˚✿🌹⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆🍒 ⋆˚✿🌹⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆🍒
I REALLY wanted to like this more than I did. I was so excited to get this eARC, but once I read it, I felt like it fell so flat on many points. I tried giving the benefit of the doubt at the beginning of the book, but I never fully felt like I was truly sucked into the story, despite the book being a fast read.
Colette Russell is not one for love. After witnessing her parent's divorce growing up, she's been determined to keep her head down and keep to herself. When a career change from engineering to psychology takes her back home to Sassafras, Massachusetts, she's bound to run into the one person she hates: Ben Bardot. Ben, on the other hand, has never actually hated Colette, and when Cole turns thirty and he calls in a bet that they made that decades earlier that they would get married if both of them were single by the time they both turned 30, Cole is determined to say no, under the condition that he doesn't win her over within 5 dates. Will Ben be successful?
I think this review is going to be on the shorter side of what my reviews are normally like, because a lot of my problems with the story stem from Cole. Trust me, I feel really bad saying that, because I believe the author did a good job with providing neurodivergent AND queer/LGBTQ+ rep in the story in Cole's character. She's autistic and queer, and I think the book did a great job at representing what it's like to be neurodivergent and how it's a bit more difficult to navigate the world through a neurodivergent point of view. We get to see a lot of Cole's tendencies and preferences in the story, and most importantly, we get to see Ben be a supportive partner for her along the way and he was able to show her what it's like to love and be loved for who she is, flaws and all.
However, I feel like all I know about Cole is that she's a forensic psychology student, she has a three-legged dog named Ernest, she likes Dateline, she likes Irish coffee-scented candles, and she's autistic and queer. I know that's a lot of stuff, but if you peel back the hobbies and the interests she likes, I felt like she based her entire personality around being autistic and angry all the time at Ben. Additionally, I felt like she did NOTHING for Ben. You know how people say relationships are a two-way street? I felt like her and Ben's was entirely transactional and it was just Ben doing EVERYTHING. Sure, he's kind of a simp for her, for lack of better wording, but he would go out of his way to do various things for her to prove his love for her, and all she'd give him back was occasional sex. I don't know, I feel like Ben deserves more in that aspect.
Going into Ben's character a little bit here, I have pretty mixed feelings about him. For one, I think he's a pretty green flag character, but I also think there's a bit of a yellow caution flag thrown into the mix as well. There were a lot of things in the story I felt he did extremely well, such as Googling things to help him better understand how to care for and be in a relationship with someone with autism and how to navigate that. However, I also feel like he always came on way too strong with Cole and didn't always respect her limits and her wishes to be alone so she can process things. It's funny that I mention this because Ben himself says in the story that he knows that he can come off too strong at times, and I laughed because it means he's self-aware enough to know that about himself, but it's true—I do think that proposing with a ring when they haven't seen each other in over a decade is a bit....too much. (It's literally the cover art in case someone thinks that's a spoiler.)
The entire timeline of their relationship with each other also didn't make a whole ton of sense to me. Like, I get that the entire point is that Ben had to wait to call in his bet until Cole turned thirty and he had 5 dates to prove to her that he's the one for her. However, they were practically hanging out and seeing each other, albeit to blow off sexual steam with each other leading up to the whole "cashing in on the bet" situation, and this ties in with the pacing of the story as well—for whatever reason I thought that the bet and Cole turning 30 would be towards the beginning of the story and we'd spend the rest of the book going on all these dates and the moments in between so we get to see Cole fall for Ben in real time, but I feel like all of that happens way too late in the plot and the moments leading up to all of that end up feeling like filler content.
As for the side characters, I'm sure most of them showed up and have their own stories from the first 2 books in the series since this is an interconnected standalone. I'm sure there's minor spoilers in the book for Ben's siblings and how they're doing so far, but that's something I thought was worth mentioning since I didn't realize this was part of an interconnected standalone series when I requested the book.
Overall, I think this book personal fell flat for me, and it wasn't my cup of tea. I know this book will find its audience and maybe if I read the first two books, I'd be able to appreciate this a little more than now, but I just couldn't get past Cole's coldness and Ben coming off way too strong with Cole.
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆🍒 ⋆˚✿🌹⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆🍒 ⋆˚✿🌹⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆🍒 ⋆˚✿🌹⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆🍒 ⋆˚✿🌹⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆🍒 ⋆˚✿🌹⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆🍒
April 12, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Five stars
This little family is one of my favorites. There is so much character in everyone, whether it’s the parents, the siblings, or their significant others. Every single person feels so real and adds something special to the story.
Ben seriously played the long game with Cole. Waiting twelve years after they graduated high school, all because of a bet that they would get married at thirty if neither of them found someone… yeah, he was down BAD and I am absolutely obsessed with that level of devotion.
I really loved the autism representation with Cole. The way Ben loves her for all of her quirks and is constantly making sure she feels safe and comfortable was everything. It felt thoughtful, tender, and so genuine.
I laughed, I teared up, and I just felt so cozy the entire time. This is one of those books that wraps you up in its world and doesn’t let go. Definitely add this to your TBR and go in ready to be completely enveloped in the story.
Five stars
This little family is one of my favorites. There is so much character in everyone, whether it’s the parents, the siblings, or their significant others. Every single person feels so real and adds something special to the story.
Ben seriously played the long game with Cole. Waiting twelve years after they graduated high school, all because of a bet that they would get married at thirty if neither of them found someone… yeah, he was down BAD and I am absolutely obsessed with that level of devotion.
I really loved the autism representation with Cole. The way Ben loves her for all of her quirks and is constantly making sure she feels safe and comfortable was everything. It felt thoughtful, tender, and so genuine.
I laughed, I teared up, and I just felt so cozy the entire time. This is one of those books that wraps you up in its world and doesn’t let go. Definitely add this to your TBR and go in ready to be completely enveloped in the story.
April 20, 2026
#Review: *Foolishly Yours* - Rachel Lewis - ARC [18+]
5/5✨
3/5🌶️
Colette 'Cole' and Benoit 'Ben' have been in each other's presence for many years, having a love-hate relationship since high school. When they were eighteen, Ben came up with this pact where he and Cole would marry each other if they were still alone when they will turn thirty. Well, let's say that things will be more complicated for them when, after many years apart, they were both back again in the small town of Sassafras and Ben was determined to go ahead with the pact they made. But will Cole be able to accept this or will she still be against the love Ben could offer her?
I somehow fell in love sooo hard with these characters and their fun story. I had a blassst with Cole and Ben, who were constantly at each other's throats, always bickering and fighting about something. Cole bluntness was such an interesting thing for me, because I rarely see someone so straight forward like she was. I loved her strong character and how Ben really knew her so well. That might have been because of his obsession with the red headed girl, but it was something really sweet for me and something which I loved about Ben. His determination was incredible and he truly didn't have the easiest time in making Cole realize the amazing connection they could've had. I looved those parts where they were "fighting" and how jealous Ben was all the time 🤣. I definitely laughed a lot while reading this book!
I had suuuch an amazing time reading this story, being always surprised by something Ben and Cole would come up with. The banter, the chasing, that slow burn, all have created such an incredible whole, being mesmerized by that tense situation you could feel between them and how Cole was determined to fight against it🤭. This is for sure one of my favorite books by Rachel so far!😍
Sooo grateful for being accepted for this e-ARC by The Smuthood and Rachel. Thank youu so, so much for this opportunity! This book was simply AMAZING!!😍
✨Tropes
▫️Rivals To Lovers
▫️Boy Obsessed
▫️He Falls First & Harder
▫️Golden Retriever
▫️Black Cat
▫️Grumpy FMC
▫️Marriage Pact
▫️Opposites Attract
5/5✨
3/5🌶️
Colette 'Cole' and Benoit 'Ben' have been in each other's presence for many years, having a love-hate relationship since high school. When they were eighteen, Ben came up with this pact where he and Cole would marry each other if they were still alone when they will turn thirty. Well, let's say that things will be more complicated for them when, after many years apart, they were both back again in the small town of Sassafras and Ben was determined to go ahead with the pact they made. But will Cole be able to accept this or will she still be against the love Ben could offer her?
I somehow fell in love sooo hard with these characters and their fun story. I had a blassst with Cole and Ben, who were constantly at each other's throats, always bickering and fighting about something. Cole bluntness was such an interesting thing for me, because I rarely see someone so straight forward like she was. I loved her strong character and how Ben really knew her so well. That might have been because of his obsession with the red headed girl, but it was something really sweet for me and something which I loved about Ben. His determination was incredible and he truly didn't have the easiest time in making Cole realize the amazing connection they could've had. I looved those parts where they were "fighting" and how jealous Ben was all the time 🤣. I definitely laughed a lot while reading this book!
I had suuuch an amazing time reading this story, being always surprised by something Ben and Cole would come up with. The banter, the chasing, that slow burn, all have created such an incredible whole, being mesmerized by that tense situation you could feel between them and how Cole was determined to fight against it🤭. This is for sure one of my favorite books by Rachel so far!😍
Sooo grateful for being accepted for this e-ARC by The Smuthood and Rachel. Thank youu so, so much for this opportunity! This book was simply AMAZING!!😍
✨Tropes
▫️Rivals To Lovers
▫️Boy Obsessed
▫️He Falls First & Harder
▫️Golden Retriever
▫️Black Cat
▫️Grumpy FMC
▫️Marriage Pact
▫️Opposites Attract
April 15, 2026
RTC, but I loved this and loved everything about the representation
==============
RTC, but I loved this and loved everything about the representation
---------------
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
📚 Standalone in an interconnected series "The Bardot Siblings"
🗣️ Dual POV
🖤 M/F
Okay yeah… I actually loved this.
What really made this a 5-star read for me was the representation. Colette being autistic and not diagnosed until college felt so real and honestly really well done. It added a layer to her character that made everything hit deeper—especially how she navigates relationships and how she sees herself.
And then there’s Ben(iot)…
This man is down bad. Like… truly.
He was so obsessed with her that it literally sent him into a depression in college, which....if this were real life, would be a little concerning. I’m not even going to pretend otherwise. It definitely toes that line of “this would be creepy if it wasn’t fiction.”
But because it is a book... It works.
What balances it out for me is that his feelings aren’t just intense, they’re intentional. The way he shows up for her, pays attention to what she needs, and makes her feel seen… that’s what shifts it from “okay this is a lot” to “okay wait, I get it.”
Because at the end of the day, Colette just wanted someone who understood her and chose her.
And he really, really did.
Overall....emotional, a little chaotic, slightly unhinged devotion—but it worked for me
This is one of those:
“if you get it, you get it” kind of books—and I definitely got it.
==============
RTC, but I loved this and loved everything about the representation
---------------
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
📚 Standalone in an interconnected series "The Bardot Siblings"
🗣️ Dual POV
🖤 M/F
Okay yeah… I actually loved this.
What really made this a 5-star read for me was the representation. Colette being autistic and not diagnosed until college felt so real and honestly really well done. It added a layer to her character that made everything hit deeper—especially how she navigates relationships and how she sees herself.
And then there’s Ben(iot)…
This man is down bad. Like… truly.
He was so obsessed with her that it literally sent him into a depression in college, which....if this were real life, would be a little concerning. I’m not even going to pretend otherwise. It definitely toes that line of “this would be creepy if it wasn’t fiction.”
But because it is a book... It works.
What balances it out for me is that his feelings aren’t just intense, they’re intentional. The way he shows up for her, pays attention to what she needs, and makes her feel seen… that’s what shifts it from “okay this is a lot” to “okay wait, I get it.”
Because at the end of the day, Colette just wanted someone who understood her and chose her.
And he really, really did.
Overall....emotional, a little chaotic, slightly unhinged devotion—but it worked for me
This is one of those:
“if you get it, you get it” kind of books—and I definitely got it.
April 16, 2026
Ben and Colette were so cute together! Ben is the definition of "it's always been you". So it's no surprise that he is serious about following through on a marriage pact they entered back in high school. Meanwhile, Colette, the cutest grump, does everything in her power to either push Ben away or pretend her feelings don't exist. There's a fine line between love and hate, so it's not long before her walls start crumbling.
The author did a great job at showing you how in love Ben has been for years. There were no flashbacks used to show what occurred between high school and now, but it wasn't necessary. Little details popped up as necessary, all building towards showing the reader why they are a good couple.
Colette has been misunderstood her entire life, and Ben is the first person who lets her be herself, while also accommodating her needs without treating her like a burden. The author's representation of a woman living with autism was realistic, showing both the positives but emotional struggles that can pop up. It was heartwarming when Colette finally believed that Ben truly did love her, and that she could let all those walls down and accept all that he wanted to give her.
Let's not forget the Bardot clan! I love series with big family dynamics, and the Bardots are perfect chaos. I've enjoyed each book in the series, and can't wait for Gabe's story next!
What to Expect: grumpy/sunshine, "it's always been you", marriage pact, BDSM lite, big family dynamics, autism representation (heroine)
The author did a great job at showing you how in love Ben has been for years. There were no flashbacks used to show what occurred between high school and now, but it wasn't necessary. Little details popped up as necessary, all building towards showing the reader why they are a good couple.
Colette has been misunderstood her entire life, and Ben is the first person who lets her be herself, while also accommodating her needs without treating her like a burden. The author's representation of a woman living with autism was realistic, showing both the positives but emotional struggles that can pop up. It was heartwarming when Colette finally believed that Ben truly did love her, and that she could let all those walls down and accept all that he wanted to give her.
Let's not forget the Bardot clan! I love series with big family dynamics, and the Bardots are perfect chaos. I've enjoyed each book in the series, and can't wait for Gabe's story next!
What to Expect: grumpy/sunshine, "it's always been you", marriage pact, BDSM lite, big family dynamics, autism representation (heroine)
April 17, 2026
Thank you so much Rachel Lewis and House of Hearts for the ARC of Foolishly Yours!
This was such an anticipated read for me, I was so excited to get back to Sassafras and it didn’t disappoint
12 Years ago Ben and Colette made a drunken pact that if they both weren’t in relationships at 30 they’d marry one another. And now after 12 years Ben is insistent on keeping to the pact to be able to be with the girl he’s been obsessed with since high school and he will do anything in his power to convince Colette he’s worthy.
I loved both Characters so much, I loved how fiercely independent Cole was and I loved how thoughtful Ben was especially when he was researching how to help a partner with ADHD and the way he just allowed Cole to be her true self without any judgement was the best. I also just loved the way he loved Cole. It was so sweet even if Cole was in denial about it for awhile. He was seriously down bad for her and in my opinion you cannot beat a down bad man.
I really liked the relationship between Cole and Thea as it was so nice to see Cole gain the friendships she deserved. honestly I just love the Bardot family I was so excited to be delving back into their world as all their characters are just so fun to read about and give such a wholesome vibe.
Really Recommend 4.5/5
This was such an anticipated read for me, I was so excited to get back to Sassafras and it didn’t disappoint
12 Years ago Ben and Colette made a drunken pact that if they both weren’t in relationships at 30 they’d marry one another. And now after 12 years Ben is insistent on keeping to the pact to be able to be with the girl he’s been obsessed with since high school and he will do anything in his power to convince Colette he’s worthy.
I loved both Characters so much, I loved how fiercely independent Cole was and I loved how thoughtful Ben was especially when he was researching how to help a partner with ADHD and the way he just allowed Cole to be her true self without any judgement was the best. I also just loved the way he loved Cole. It was so sweet even if Cole was in denial about it for awhile. He was seriously down bad for her and in my opinion you cannot beat a down bad man.
I really liked the relationship between Cole and Thea as it was so nice to see Cole gain the friendships she deserved. honestly I just love the Bardot family I was so excited to be delving back into their world as all their characters are just so fun to read about and give such a wholesome vibe.
Really Recommend 4.5/5
April 15, 2026
Ok. Yes. I loved this book and all of its glory. This was the first book I’ve read by Rachel Lewis and I am such a fangirl now. As someone who has autism, I appreciated how genuine it felt reading Cole go through her journey.
Ben is such an amazing green flag and I loved how absolutely smitten he was. I loved that he gave Cole the room and time to be herself and never once asked her to change. It can be overwhelming when you want to fit the mould that people want you in but he loved her just as she was.
The sense of humor was amazing. I kept cracking up at Cole’s internal dialogue and the shenanigans that ensued throughout the book.
I can also appreciate that while there was a lot of on page spice, there were also closed door/fade to black that let the reader imagine what Cole and Ben did!
This book was a breath of fresh air and now I’m going to go back and read the other books by this author.
I received this book as an ARC to read and leave an honest review. My thoughts and feelings are my own. Thank you to Rachel Lewis & The Smuthood for letting me read this early!
Ben is such an amazing green flag and I loved how absolutely smitten he was. I loved that he gave Cole the room and time to be herself and never once asked her to change. It can be overwhelming when you want to fit the mould that people want you in but he loved her just as she was.
The sense of humor was amazing. I kept cracking up at Cole’s internal dialogue and the shenanigans that ensued throughout the book.
I can also appreciate that while there was a lot of on page spice, there were also closed door/fade to black that let the reader imagine what Cole and Ben did!
This book was a breath of fresh air and now I’m going to go back and read the other books by this author.
I received this book as an ARC to read and leave an honest review. My thoughts and feelings are my own. Thank you to Rachel Lewis & The Smuthood for letting me read this early!
April 27, 2026
OMG!! Foolishly Yours is a hilarious romcom with rivals to lovers and marriage pact. This is Ben and Colette’s story and I love everything about it. Their story is filled with FMC black cat and MMC golden retriever energy that will have you laughing at every chapter. I love how strong and independent Colette is and how she knows what she wants. Ben is a total goof but the confidence and his ability to convince/remind Colette of their high school pact is romantic. I love how they push each others and also how he respects her even though she always thought he hated her. Their story will make you feel all the emotions and make you want to read more. I didn’t want their story to end, but will definitely keep reading more.
I voluntarily leave my honest thoughts about this gifted advance reader copy.
I voluntarily leave my honest thoughts about this gifted advance reader copy.
April 30, 2026
Thanks to Rachel Lewis and House of Hearts for the gifted copy — all opinions are my own:
I was really excited to be selected for this ARC, and overall I enjoyed Foolishly Yours. That said, the ending felt a bit rushed to me.
This was my first Bardot siblings book, and I didn’t realize before signing up that there were previous books in the series. Because of that, there were moments where I felt like I needed to pause and reread to fully understand certain dynamics. Unfortunately, with the ARC deadline, I had to keep pushing through rather than going back.
One aspect I really appreciated was the FMC’s representation. Seeing a character who is both autistic and part of the LGBTQ+ community is not something I come across often, especially in a female lead. While I’m not on the spectrum, I do have OCD, so recognizing some of the overlapping traits and comorbidities was genuinely enlightening.
I’m still a bit on the fence about Ben. I do think his heart is in the right place, but his long-standing fixation on Cole felt a little hard to fully buy into at times. That said, compared to many MMCs who veer into intense, borderline stalker territory, Ben came across more as endearingly pathetic in a way that worked more often than not. Still, it did leave me wondering just how amazing Cole must be for him to have been hung up on her for twelve years.
Overall, this is a strong four-star read for me. I’m definitely planning to go back and read the earlier books in the series so I can better connect with all of the characters.
I was really excited to be selected for this ARC, and overall I enjoyed Foolishly Yours. That said, the ending felt a bit rushed to me.
This was my first Bardot siblings book, and I didn’t realize before signing up that there were previous books in the series. Because of that, there were moments where I felt like I needed to pause and reread to fully understand certain dynamics. Unfortunately, with the ARC deadline, I had to keep pushing through rather than going back.
One aspect I really appreciated was the FMC’s representation. Seeing a character who is both autistic and part of the LGBTQ+ community is not something I come across often, especially in a female lead. While I’m not on the spectrum, I do have OCD, so recognizing some of the overlapping traits and comorbidities was genuinely enlightening.
I’m still a bit on the fence about Ben. I do think his heart is in the right place, but his long-standing fixation on Cole felt a little hard to fully buy into at times. That said, compared to many MMCs who veer into intense, borderline stalker territory, Ben came across more as endearingly pathetic in a way that worked more often than not. Still, it did leave me wondering just how amazing Cole must be for him to have been hung up on her for twelve years.
Overall, this is a strong four-star read for me. I’m definitely planning to go back and read the earlier books in the series so I can better connect with all of the characters.
April 22, 2026
With her 30th birthday coming up and no serious relationships for Colette on the horizon, Benoit Bardot happily reminds Cole of the marriage pact they made when they were 18 years old. Ben has been obsessed with Cole for most of his life and is more than thrilled when Cole reluctantly agrees to go on five dates with him.
Ben and Cole’s story was so fun to read. Benoit Bardot might possibly be my favorite sibling now. He is seriously pathetic for Cole and it’s just so good. This man is obsessed with her hair and is always on his knees for her. 🥵 Ben will go above and beyond for this woman! It’s also so great to see a great representation of a queer and autistic character with Colette.
💜 Rivals to Lovers
💜 Black Cat x Golden Retriever
💜 He Falls First
💜 Marriage Pact
💜 Secret Tattoo
💜 He’s Pathetic (In a Hot Way)
💜 They Don’t Want Kids
💜 Autism Rep
💜 LGBTQIA+ Rep
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I am so obsessed with the Bardot family. I love every single character that Rachel Lewis creates.
Ben and Cole’s story was so fun to read. Benoit Bardot might possibly be my favorite sibling now. He is seriously pathetic for Cole and it’s just so good. This man is obsessed with her hair and is always on his knees for her. 🥵 Ben will go above and beyond for this woman! It’s also so great to see a great representation of a queer and autistic character with Colette.
💜 Rivals to Lovers
💜 Black Cat x Golden Retriever
💜 He Falls First
💜 Marriage Pact
💜 Secret Tattoo
💜 He’s Pathetic (In a Hot Way)
💜 They Don’t Want Kids
💜 Autism Rep
💜 LGBTQIA+ Rep
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I am so obsessed with the Bardot family. I love every single character that Rachel Lewis creates.
April 10, 2026
Arc review
Unfortunately a dnf at 50%
I tried hard to push through and just couldn’t. The story itself dragged and the fmc was insufferable and aggravated me the entire time.
Unfortunately a dnf at 50%
I tried hard to push through and just couldn’t. The story itself dragged and the fmc was insufferable and aggravated me the entire time.
April 13, 2026
ARC Review 🩷
Foolishly Yours – Rachel Lewis
This one surprised me in the best way.
Colette (Cole) and Benoit (who she stubbornly calls Benjamin) have been competing since high school—full-on academic rivals, constant one-upping, the kind of tension that *looks* like hate… but never really is. Beneath it, Cole was just trying to be seen. With parents going through a messy divorce, excelling in school was the only way she got attention.
And then there’s *the pact*.
Drunk beer pong.
“If we’re single at 30, we get married.”
He wins. Of course he does.
Fast forward 12 years.
Cole is back in Sassafras, going back to school for forensic psychology, living a pretty isolated life with her three-legged dog and a steady diet of Dateline. No real close friendships, very routine, very controlled.
And then Ben shows back up.
Except… he never really left her.
This man has been *pining for YEARS*. Countdown-to-her-30th-birthday level of down bad. His family knows. His mom knows. Even his life choices somehow orbit around her.
Meanwhile, Cole is still trying to convince herself he belongs in her “nemesis” box.
Their dynamic? Absolute gold.
He’s soft, obsessed, all in.
She’s detached, blunt, guarded.
But the chemistry??? Immediate. Chaotic. So them.
What I loved most is how layered this story felt. Cole’s autism diagnosis is handled with so much care—her need for control, her difficulty with connection, the way she categorizes people and emotions. And Ben? He doesn’t try to change her. He *learns* her. Actively. Intentionally. He wants to understand how to love her better, not differently.
There are so many small moments that just hit:
* him knowing her favorite drink… somehow
* washing her hair and treating it like something sacred
* the cabin hot tub…
* The bathhouse date
* the way he communicates clearly because he knows she needs that
And then the tension of it all—because Cole *feels* everything shifting but keeps trying to push it down.
The grant situation absolutely wrecked me. His intentions made sense for *him*, but for her? It broke trust. And that conflict felt real and necessary.
They truly are each others missing puzzle piece.
The house scene?
Her choosing him, openly, fully?
Yeah. That was it for me.
And the epilogue??? Found family, Sunday dinners, and a spontaneous wedding with the *cabbages* (I’m obsessed with that nickname). It just wrapped everything up so perfectly.
Ben is *the* blueprint for “obsessed but soft.”
And watching someone love Cole exactly as she is, without trying to reshape her, was everything.
4 ⭐️
**Tropes ✨**
* childhood rivals to lovers
* marriage pact
* golden retriever x black cat
* he fell first (and never stopped)
* small town romance
* forced proximity
* found family
* neurodivergent rep
* obsessed MMC
* slow emotional burn with spice
Thanks to Rachel Lewis and House of Hearts for the gifted copy — all opinions are my own 🩷
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 21, 2026
ARC Review:
This book was such a cute read. I absolutely adored the dynamic of the FMC and the MMC together. When Cole Russel moves back to her hometown to pursue a new degree she is not pleased to discover her high school nemesis has returned as well. Especially because she is nearing the date of the pact she made with him when they were both 18 and she doesn’t know if he remembers. Ben Bardot has been in love with Cole since middle school and now they are both back home and the time to call in the pact is nearing. He just needs to get her to talk to him.
This was such a cute love story. Cole and Ben have such an interesting dynamic that I just adored. Seeing Cole slowly learn to trust Ben and recategorize him in her mind throughout the book was such a treat. And Ben such an amazing character! Learning about him and how much he loves this woman and for how long was just so heartwarming.
On top of the amazing characters Rachel Lewis also wrote pretty amazing autism rep. From sensory overload to autistic shutdown it was written so incredibly well and done so respectfully. I also really appreciated how Ben approached Cole’s autism, with respect and understanding and the willingness to learn.
Overall the was a wonderful read that I think any of you romance readers out there would really enjoy!
This book was such a cute read. I absolutely adored the dynamic of the FMC and the MMC together. When Cole Russel moves back to her hometown to pursue a new degree she is not pleased to discover her high school nemesis has returned as well. Especially because she is nearing the date of the pact she made with him when they were both 18 and she doesn’t know if he remembers. Ben Bardot has been in love with Cole since middle school and now they are both back home and the time to call in the pact is nearing. He just needs to get her to talk to him.
This was such a cute love story. Cole and Ben have such an interesting dynamic that I just adored. Seeing Cole slowly learn to trust Ben and recategorize him in her mind throughout the book was such a treat. And Ben such an amazing character! Learning about him and how much he loves this woman and for how long was just so heartwarming.
On top of the amazing characters Rachel Lewis also wrote pretty amazing autism rep. From sensory overload to autistic shutdown it was written so incredibly well and done so respectfully. I also really appreciated how Ben approached Cole’s autism, with respect and understanding and the willingness to learn.
Overall the was a wonderful read that I think any of you romance readers out there would really enjoy!
April 22, 2026
4.5 ⭐ rounded up!
Foolishly Yours by Rachel Lewis is the perfect book to read if you just want to curl up with your favorite drink and get lost in a book. I absolutely love the way she handles the neurodiversity in this book with such care, attention, and respect.
Colete and Benoit have to be the sweetest couples I've read about. What happens when everything you thought was a completely different version of events for someone else? Cole has had a long standing rivalry with Ben and genuinely despises him and has since middle school. However, she loses a bet with him after highschool graduation and enters into a Marriage Pact with him. If they aren't married by the time she is 30, they will marry each other. 12 years after graduation brings them back to their small town and right back into each other's lives. Ben, hasn't forgotten her or the pact and makes that very apparent to Cole as she tries to avoid him until she realizes avoiding him is impossible and starts seeing Ben in a different light than she remembers. We all know there is a fine line between love and hate but can Ben get her to see that or will his last attempt at getting Cole to love him like he has loved her be in vain?
Thank you so much for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book! This review is my own and given voluntarily.
Foolishly Yours by Rachel Lewis is the perfect book to read if you just want to curl up with your favorite drink and get lost in a book. I absolutely love the way she handles the neurodiversity in this book with such care, attention, and respect.
Colete and Benoit have to be the sweetest couples I've read about. What happens when everything you thought was a completely different version of events for someone else? Cole has had a long standing rivalry with Ben and genuinely despises him and has since middle school. However, she loses a bet with him after highschool graduation and enters into a Marriage Pact with him. If they aren't married by the time she is 30, they will marry each other. 12 years after graduation brings them back to their small town and right back into each other's lives. Ben, hasn't forgotten her or the pact and makes that very apparent to Cole as she tries to avoid him until she realizes avoiding him is impossible and starts seeing Ben in a different light than she remembers. We all know there is a fine line between love and hate but can Ben get her to see that or will his last attempt at getting Cole to love him like he has loved her be in vain?
Thank you so much for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book! This review is my own and given voluntarily.
April 16, 2026
This was such a fun take on rivals-to-lovers with a childhood pact twist. I loved the idea of two former academic enemies reconnecting years later and being forced to confront not only each other, but who they have become.
Ben is intense in a way that borders on ridiculous, but it works because the story leans into it. His obsession with Cole is not just played for laughs. There is genuine care behind it, and watching him try to bridge the gap between who they were and who they are now was one of the highlights.
Cole is stubborn, sharp, and frustrating in a very human way. Her reluctance makes sense, even when you want to shake her a little. The five dates give their relationship structure, and I appreciated how each one chipped away at their assumptions.
The chemistry is strong and the banter delivers, though I did feel like a few moments leaned into familiar romance beats. Still, the emotional core kept me invested.
Overall, this is a solid, character-driven romance with great tension and a satisfying payoff.
Ben is intense in a way that borders on ridiculous, but it works because the story leans into it. His obsession with Cole is not just played for laughs. There is genuine care behind it, and watching him try to bridge the gap between who they were and who they are now was one of the highlights.
Cole is stubborn, sharp, and frustrating in a very human way. Her reluctance makes sense, even when you want to shake her a little. The five dates give their relationship structure, and I appreciated how each one chipped away at their assumptions.
The chemistry is strong and the banter delivers, though I did feel like a few moments leaned into familiar romance beats. Still, the emotional core kept me invested.
Overall, this is a solid, character-driven romance with great tension and a satisfying payoff.
April 29, 2026
This was SUCH a fun and entertaining read! I absolutely loved the banter between the characters. It felt witty and genuinely engaging. One of my favorite things was that their story didn’t just start on page one, there was history there which made it feel deeper and more meaningful!
The autism representation, especially high functioning, was handled thoughtfully and I appreciated how it was woven carefully into the story. Also, I know we say it all the time, but men written by women are top tier and Ben is NO exception. Seriously, are there men like Ben out there? I have friends 😏
I also admired Cole. She knows exactly what she wants and isn’t afraid to ask for it, which was so refreshing to read. Honestly, we ALL need to be more like Cole.
10/10 recommend!
Thank you for House of Hearts and Rachel Lewis for the advance copy of this book. All thoughts are completely my own.
The autism representation, especially high functioning, was handled thoughtfully and I appreciated how it was woven carefully into the story. Also, I know we say it all the time, but men written by women are top tier and Ben is NO exception. Seriously, are there men like Ben out there? I have friends 😏
I also admired Cole. She knows exactly what she wants and isn’t afraid to ask for it, which was so refreshing to read. Honestly, we ALL need to be more like Cole.
10/10 recommend!
Thank you for House of Hearts and Rachel Lewis for the advance copy of this book. All thoughts are completely my own.
April 14, 2026
4.5 🌟 This was exactly what I needed to read. From the dedication to the final chapter, I was completely invested.
I loved the black cat FMC and how the MMC was completely devoted to her it was so satisfying to read. The found family elements on his side were so heartwarming, and I really appreciated how the story handled her struggles with friendship and finding her people.
Ben was such a standout. The way he loves her, supports her, and accepts her exactly as she is made this story feel so special. The small details like remembering her favorite drink and the quiet, caring moments between them really made this book shine.
Overall, this was a cute, emotional, and enjoyable read that I would definitely recommend.
I loved the black cat FMC and how the MMC was completely devoted to her it was so satisfying to read. The found family elements on his side were so heartwarming, and I really appreciated how the story handled her struggles with friendship and finding her people.
Ben was such a standout. The way he loves her, supports her, and accepts her exactly as she is made this story feel so special. The small details like remembering her favorite drink and the quiet, caring moments between them really made this book shine.
Overall, this was a cute, emotional, and enjoyable read that I would definitely recommend.
April 15, 2026
**ARC REVIEW** (big thanks to Rachel, Smuthood and House of Hearts for letting me read Foolishly Yours early) 💜
First off, I have never felt so seen before. I, like Cole have autism and saw myself in her many times over the course of the book.
With that being said, I absolutely loved Ben’s pining for Cole. I loved how he was doing his research on how to help her and be a better partner for her. Relationships (and life in general) can be very overwhelming when you are autistic and finding someone who chooses you and goes out of their way for you is amazing.
Rachel, you had me crying at the end when Cole embraces her found family.
(I also enjoyed how this took place at the same time as Jules & Thea’s book!)
First off, I have never felt so seen before. I, like Cole have autism and saw myself in her many times over the course of the book.
With that being said, I absolutely loved Ben’s pining for Cole. I loved how he was doing his research on how to help her and be a better partner for her. Relationships (and life in general) can be very overwhelming when you are autistic and finding someone who chooses you and goes out of their way for you is amazing.
Rachel, you had me crying at the end when Cole embraces her found family.
(I also enjoyed how this took place at the same time as Jules & Thea’s book!)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 21, 2026
First time reading this author, and this was the perfect book to start with. I really enjoyed Ben and Cole’s story, their rivalry was fun, especially since (spoiler 😅) it was mostly one-sided on Cole’s part.
The whole marriage pact was hilarious because it reminded me of when I made one with my best friend when we were younger 🙆🏻♀️. The difference is, I wasn’t in love with him the way Ben was with Cole and of course, I ended up marrying my lovely husband 🫣💕
Ben had been waiting for Cole, and when he finally got his chance, he didn’t waste it. I really appreciated how he made an effort to learn and be a better partner after she told him she had autism, that kind of support was so meaningful 🥹✨
Cole is such a strong female character, and I loved how she took the lead during the spicy scenes. It’s usually the other way around, so it was refreshing to see her in charge while Ben happily followed like a golden retriever 🤭🔥
Now I definitely need to go back and read the first two books to be fully caught up ✨🫶🏻
The whole marriage pact was hilarious because it reminded me of when I made one with my best friend when we were younger 🙆🏻♀️. The difference is, I wasn’t in love with him the way Ben was with Cole and of course, I ended up marrying my lovely husband 🫣💕
Ben had been waiting for Cole, and when he finally got his chance, he didn’t waste it. I really appreciated how he made an effort to learn and be a better partner after she told him she had autism, that kind of support was so meaningful 🥹✨
Cole is such a strong female character, and I loved how she took the lead during the spicy scenes. It’s usually the other way around, so it was refreshing to see her in charge while Ben happily followed like a golden retriever 🤭🔥
Now I definitely need to go back and read the first two books to be fully caught up ✨🫶🏻
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 2, 2026
I received an ARC for Foolishly Yours book 3 in the Bardot Siblings series.
Im so glad I got the opportunity to read this book.
This is Ben and Coles(Colette) story...
Ben moved back home to open a coffee shop with his brothers.
Cole is finishing up school.
Ben and Cole made a pack to get married at 30 if they were both still single.
Its a few months until Coles 30th birthday and Cole is determined to make Cole his girl. After her birthday he proposes but Cole isn't sure of his intentions. So he offers 5 dates to prove how much her cares and knows her.
I love the together. They are completely opposite but it works for them. And I love how Ben researchers things for her comfort and follows her lead.
I can't wait for Gabes book.
Im so glad I got the opportunity to read this book.
This is Ben and Coles(Colette) story...
Ben moved back home to open a coffee shop with his brothers.
Cole is finishing up school.
Ben and Cole made a pack to get married at 30 if they were both still single.
Its a few months until Coles 30th birthday and Cole is determined to make Cole his girl. After her birthday he proposes but Cole isn't sure of his intentions. So he offers 5 dates to prove how much her cares and knows her.
I love the together. They are completely opposite but it works for them. And I love how Ben researchers things for her comfort and follows her lead.
I can't wait for Gabes book.
May 4, 2026
Thank you so much to Rachel Lewis and House of Hearts for the ARC of Foolishly Yours! I was really looking forward to returning to Sassafras and spending more time with the Bardot world — it always feels like stepping back into a place full of heart.
The premise of this story is such a fun one, and Ben absolutely shines. His devotion, his willingness to learn, and the intentional ways he shows up make him incredibly easy to root for. His research, his patience, and his steady love were some of my favorite parts of the book.
Where I found myself struggling was with Colette’s character. She shares her autism diagnosis early on, and I appreciated seeing that representation on the page. At the same time, I had difficulty connecting with her emotionally. It made me wonder whether that distance was intentional — a reflection of how some autistic individuals experience and express connection — or whether we simply didn’t get enough moments that showed how she showed up for Ben in return. We’re told she cares, but I often wished for more scenes that let us feel her investment, vulnerability, or affection.
Her friendship with Thea was a bright spot, and the broader Bardot family continues to bring that warm, wholesome energy that makes this series so enjoyable.
Overall, a heartfelt return to Sassafras with a standout MMC, even if I hoped for a deeper window into the FMC’s emotional world and the ways she navigates love and connection.
The premise of this story is such a fun one, and Ben absolutely shines. His devotion, his willingness to learn, and the intentional ways he shows up make him incredibly easy to root for. His research, his patience, and his steady love were some of my favorite parts of the book.
Where I found myself struggling was with Colette’s character. She shares her autism diagnosis early on, and I appreciated seeing that representation on the page. At the same time, I had difficulty connecting with her emotionally. It made me wonder whether that distance was intentional — a reflection of how some autistic individuals experience and express connection — or whether we simply didn’t get enough moments that showed how she showed up for Ben in return. We’re told she cares, but I often wished for more scenes that let us feel her investment, vulnerability, or affection.
Her friendship with Thea was a bright spot, and the broader Bardot family continues to bring that warm, wholesome energy that makes this series so enjoyable.
Overall, a heartfelt return to Sassafras with a standout MMC, even if I hoped for a deeper window into the FMC’s emotional world and the ways she navigates love and connection.
April 27, 2026
3 Stars ⭐️ ARC Read
This book was cute but I definitely enjoyed the other books in the series more. I felt that Ben's obsession with Colette came off a little more on the creepy and weird side than it was meant to, especially since for half of the book Colette wanted nothing to do with him and he kept bothering her anyway. I did think it was cool how this book was happening simultaneously with the events in Entirely Yours. I'm still looking forward to reading the future books of this series. 😊
This book was cute but I definitely enjoyed the other books in the series more. I felt that Ben's obsession with Colette came off a little more on the creepy and weird side than it was meant to, especially since for half of the book Colette wanted nothing to do with him and he kept bothering her anyway. I did think it was cool how this book was happening simultaneously with the events in Entirely Yours. I'm still looking forward to reading the future books of this series. 😊
April 16, 2026
It was such a pleasure to be back with the Bardots!
I was intrigued by Ben and Cole's relationship from the little glimpses we had in earlier books and I was so excited to get more of them in this book. Ben has been down bad for Cole since their high school days but unfortunately, Cole hates him...or at least she thinks she does. They were academic rivals who made a marriage pact when they were 18 years old to get married if they are both still single at 30. The two reconnect shortly before Cole's 30th birthday and Ben is not about to let her forget about the pact!
I had so much fun with these two! Their back and forth was entertaining and I loved watching Ben getting under Cole skin every chance he could. My only issue is that the ending felt a bit rushed but I loved the other 80% of the book. I will always enjoy Bardot shenanigans!
Thank you to the author and The Smuthood for an advance copy for review. All opinions are my own.
I was intrigued by Ben and Cole's relationship from the little glimpses we had in earlier books and I was so excited to get more of them in this book. Ben has been down bad for Cole since their high school days but unfortunately, Cole hates him...or at least she thinks she does. They were academic rivals who made a marriage pact when they were 18 years old to get married if they are both still single at 30. The two reconnect shortly before Cole's 30th birthday and Ben is not about to let her forget about the pact!
I had so much fun with these two! Their back and forth was entertaining and I loved watching Ben getting under Cole skin every chance he could. My only issue is that the ending felt a bit rushed but I loved the other 80% of the book. I will always enjoy Bardot shenanigans!
Thank you to the author and The Smuthood for an advance copy for review. All opinions are my own.
May 5, 2026
I loved Ben and Cole!
I am a big fan of pining and specifically yearning, but sometimes a slow burn is just too slow. This has incredible pacing in showing the progression of their relationship from enemies to reluctant friends to finally admitting their feelings to one another.
It has been so incredibly fun returning to the Bardot family and all of their shenanigans. I have loved this series from the start and was excited to see what Ben’s story had in store for us!
There was such tender and care in how Ben treated and loved Cole which was beautiful to read. It was so heartwarming to see her learn to trust in him and see him as more than an antagonist.
The spice was spicing too, though I do feel like the kink part of the book was a little overhyped.
Thank you to House of Hearts Lit for the opportunity to read an ARC of Foolishly Yours! All opinions are my own.
I am a big fan of pining and specifically yearning, but sometimes a slow burn is just too slow. This has incredible pacing in showing the progression of their relationship from enemies to reluctant friends to finally admitting their feelings to one another.
It has been so incredibly fun returning to the Bardot family and all of their shenanigans. I have loved this series from the start and was excited to see what Ben’s story had in store for us!
There was such tender and care in how Ben treated and loved Cole which was beautiful to read. It was so heartwarming to see her learn to trust in him and see him as more than an antagonist.
The spice was spicing too, though I do feel like the kink part of the book was a little overhyped.
Thank you to House of Hearts Lit for the opportunity to read an ARC of Foolishly Yours! All opinions are my own.
April 23, 2026
Slutty little glasses yes yes yes
I felt that I could relate to the FMC and I really enjoyed reading about her overcoming her struggles with her autism and learning how to approach her relationship with Ben.
My only fault is the chapters didn’t feel long enough, it felt like we were just getting into the chapter and then it would skip on a few weeks. It felt a bit detached. I would have liked the chapters to be longer and the story and characters to be more developed.
It probably would have helped a lot if I read the earlier books in the series but I did enjoy this book and thought it was a super cute romance.
I felt that I could relate to the FMC and I really enjoyed reading about her overcoming her struggles with her autism and learning how to approach her relationship with Ben.
My only fault is the chapters didn’t feel long enough, it felt like we were just getting into the chapter and then it would skip on a few weeks. It felt a bit detached. I would have liked the chapters to be longer and the story and characters to be more developed.
It probably would have helped a lot if I read the earlier books in the series but I did enjoy this book and thought it was a super cute romance.
April 15, 2026
4.5
WALK HIM LIKE A DOG COLE
(very grateful to have gotten to ARC read this!!)
WALK HIM LIKE A DOG COLE
(very grateful to have gotten to ARC read this!!)
April 26, 2026
ARC review
Ben has been in love with Cole for 12 years. Cole being the autistic queen she is needs some additional help realizing that Ben is in love with her. Ben has 5 dates to prove to Cole that she loves him too. I adore Ben’s dedication to Cole!
Ben has been in love with Cole for 12 years. Cole being the autistic queen she is needs some additional help realizing that Ben is in love with her. Ben has 5 dates to prove to Cole that she loves him too. I adore Ben’s dedication to Cole!
April 13, 2026
Thanks to the Smuthood and Rachel for an ARC of Foolishly Yours.
If you’re into a man who yearns, this one’s for you.
I loved getting back into the Bardot family world, with Ben’s story this time. I really enjoyed seeing the relationships grow between the main characters along with their family and friends, it’s one of my favorite parts of this series. I aspire to have a fun, close-knit family like the Bardots.
If you’re into a man who yearns, this one’s for you.
I loved getting back into the Bardot family world, with Ben’s story this time. I really enjoyed seeing the relationships grow between the main characters along with their family and friends, it’s one of my favorite parts of this series. I aspire to have a fun, close-knit family like the Bardots.
May 2, 2026
I read this book in one sitting. I love coming back to an interconnected series. I remember reading a specific scene from the previous book and being so intrigued with this couple.
You follow Colette, a student, and Benoit, a new coffee shop owner. They have a long history and a secret deal. Boy oh boy, is Ben persistent. I love him so much. Something I really enjoyed was seeing how honest they were about their life choices. They didn't allow the other to persuade them in any way.
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
You follow Colette, a student, and Benoit, a new coffee shop owner. They have a long history and a secret deal. Boy oh boy, is Ben persistent. I love him so much. Something I really enjoyed was seeing how honest they were about their life choices. They didn't allow the other to persuade them in any way.
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
April 18, 2026
Foolishly Yours by Rachel Lewis brings us back into the Bardot family saga—this time following Benoit Bardot, Jules’s twin. He’s always come across as the carefree, happy-go-lucky one… but of course, there’s more to him than that.
Benoit (or Benjamin, or Ben—depending on who’s talking to him) has been hopelessly in love with his high school rival, Colette Russell, for years. Back then, they were constantly competing—Cole couldn’t stand him, while Ben was perfectly content just getting her attention… even if it was negative. At their graduation party, he made her a bet: if they were both still single at 30, they’d get married. She only agreed after he baited her into a beer pong challenge—and let’s just say her competitive streak got the best of her.
Fast forward 12 years, and Cole is back in Sassafras. After earning her engineering degree, she realizes she’s not actually happy and decides to pivot to psychology. Meanwhile, Benoit catches wind that she’s back, promptly quits his job in Boston, buys a coffee shop with his brothers, and returns home too. Totally normal behavior… right?
Cole is equal parts annoyed and flustered every time she runs into him. Benoit’s larger-than-life, sunshine personality refuses to leave her alone—and yet, the tension between them is impossible to ignore. Things escalate when Cole blurs the lines and starts a physical relationship with him, even as she insists she doesn’t want more.
Then Benoit pulls out the ultimate wildcard—he calls in their old bet. He sabotages her attempts to date anyone else leading up to her birthday… and then shows up at her apartment with a ring and proposes. Cole is (understandably) horrified and says no, but Benoit negotiates: five dates to prove himself.
And honestly? This man delivers. Benoit is the ultimate golden retriever MMC—thoughtful, patient, and completely devoted. If Jules set the bar high, Benoit somehow raises it even higher. He meets Cole exactly where she is, especially after she shares her autism diagnosis. The way he adapts to her needs, communicates with intention, and reassures her that she’s not “too much” but exactly right—it was handled with so much care.
The third-act breakup felt a little like a stretch for me. It makes sense based on Cole’s character and how she processes things, but it didn’t feel like something they couldn’t work through. That said, Rachel Lewis does such a great job building out these characters, their histories, and weaving everything together so seamlessly across the Bardot family.
I absolutely fell for Benoit and loved watching how he showed up for Cole. Another solid read in this series, and I really enjoyed seeing all the familiar characters and storylines woven throughout.
Benoit (or Benjamin, or Ben—depending on who’s talking to him) has been hopelessly in love with his high school rival, Colette Russell, for years. Back then, they were constantly competing—Cole couldn’t stand him, while Ben was perfectly content just getting her attention… even if it was negative. At their graduation party, he made her a bet: if they were both still single at 30, they’d get married. She only agreed after he baited her into a beer pong challenge—and let’s just say her competitive streak got the best of her.
Fast forward 12 years, and Cole is back in Sassafras. After earning her engineering degree, she realizes she’s not actually happy and decides to pivot to psychology. Meanwhile, Benoit catches wind that she’s back, promptly quits his job in Boston, buys a coffee shop with his brothers, and returns home too. Totally normal behavior… right?
Cole is equal parts annoyed and flustered every time she runs into him. Benoit’s larger-than-life, sunshine personality refuses to leave her alone—and yet, the tension between them is impossible to ignore. Things escalate when Cole blurs the lines and starts a physical relationship with him, even as she insists she doesn’t want more.
Then Benoit pulls out the ultimate wildcard—he calls in their old bet. He sabotages her attempts to date anyone else leading up to her birthday… and then shows up at her apartment with a ring and proposes. Cole is (understandably) horrified and says no, but Benoit negotiates: five dates to prove himself.
And honestly? This man delivers. Benoit is the ultimate golden retriever MMC—thoughtful, patient, and completely devoted. If Jules set the bar high, Benoit somehow raises it even higher. He meets Cole exactly where she is, especially after she shares her autism diagnosis. The way he adapts to her needs, communicates with intention, and reassures her that she’s not “too much” but exactly right—it was handled with so much care.
The third-act breakup felt a little like a stretch for me. It makes sense based on Cole’s character and how she processes things, but it didn’t feel like something they couldn’t work through. That said, Rachel Lewis does such a great job building out these characters, their histories, and weaving everything together so seamlessly across the Bardot family.
I absolutely fell for Benoit and loved watching how he showed up for Cole. Another solid read in this series, and I really enjoyed seeing all the familiar characters and storylines woven throughout.
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