Design and Desire

2026-favorites arc-and-alc contemporary

I ate this book up! I loved the story of Tessa and Giovanni. Not only was there so much tension you could cut through it throughout the book, but how their relationship grew overtime was amazing. I don’t typically like a fake dating where they go home and meet the parents because it can come off awkward but this book was perfection!

Minty Margins

65 reviews2 followers

May 16, 2026

Thank you so much to Farrah Colson and NaughtNookPR for the eARC of Design & Desire!!! I enjoyed the heck out of this book! It’s my first time reading Farrah’s work too. I am absolutely a fan and will be continuing to hype up her books. Design & Desire was such a refreshing read— I absolutely adored our MCs and other characters. This book was so funny yet also made space for more serious conversations about self-worth and addressing miscommunication. I LOVE banter and balance!

Tessa our FMC is SO talented but she’s really been surrounded by a lot of mediocre people who have exhausted her spark & passion. I loved how we see her journey for regaining that as well as the way Farrah had it all play out. It’s not just with Gio’s help she regains her passion. She makes choices for her own growth and I loved that for her. Also— food allergy representation!! I think it’s so important to show how, unfortunately, easy it is for something dangerous to end up in food/drink.

Giovanni, our MMC, is a walking green flag!!!! He adores Tessa SO much and as a reader I love to see a man down bad. He’s witty, literally one of the most caring people ever, incredibly talented, and loves beautifully. He’s protective of Tessa and does whatever he can to bring out that spark & passion others have tried to snuff out.

The chemistry between Tessa & Gio starts out as a slow burn and it’s mainly due to a misunderstanding. However, they have such AMAZING chemistry and it gets STEAMY real fast. The sewing lesson with the hand necklace scene??? Full brain reboot, HOT AF. The descriptions of intimacy between them were EXQUISITE.

Design & Desire releases on June 1st and is a fantastic way to kick off your summer reading!

kileigh

279 reviews53 followers

Review of advance copy received from Author

May 15, 2026

Raise your hand if you've ever been personally victimized by Farrah Colson...

Just kidding! (Kind of). This book is phenomenal. Yet again, Farrah Colson delivers on all aspects of the word.

"The line between love and hate is as fine as silk. Both are passionate emotions, and passion is the closest emotion to love."

Design and Desire was everything I wanted it to be, and more, for a rom-traum summer romance! Hilarious, lighthearted banter, delicious slow burn romance, and a hot Italian man who has no shame in pining! There's something about two people with underlying attraction, who act like they can't stand one another... The tension alone is sharp enough to cut glass! Throw in forced proximity, and a fake dating scenario (IN ITALY), it was hard to put down! When I wasn't reading, I was thinking about when my next opportunity was to pick it up again!

I love when I'm able to connect with the MMC in a book, because I often just connect with the FMC. Giovanni's struggle with grief is something that I deeply related to, and it had me tearing up at some moments. I love a man that's not afraid of getting emotional. Giovanni is everything you want in a man. Dare I say, he's perfect. The way he's so protective over Tessa and her feelings made my heart burst! The most emotionally attentive man that I've ever read. Sure he's dramatic at times, and forgets the correct version of an idiom when he's trying to make a point, but he's perfect, damn it!

"This is the nicest hotel I've ever been in. It's beautiful."
"I agree," I say, not taking my eyes off of her."

Tessa, girl, I see right through you and your humor! I think Tessa is one of my favorite FMCs (sorry Gracie, I still love you.) She's funny and sarcastic, but very guarded. Chapter after chapter you start to see her layers peel back. She deserves nothing but the best!

"Sei tutto per me," he replies, his voice gruff with emotion.
"... everything?" I question, not getting all of the words.
"Yes." A tear falls from his eye. "You are everything to me."

Tessa and Gio together is everything!! He's so careful with her feelings and protective of her in general. He showed her what it was like to be loved the right way. Tessa was able to bring Gio out of himself a bit, and full lean into being who he always was on the inside. Their romance was sweet, and the perfect slow burn filled with so much tension. What I appreciated most was that there was no overly dramatic scenes between them. Their disagreements, or the miscommunications that they had, felt very natural. (No third act breakup, Praise Be!)

Every detail in this story was phenomenal. The fashion industry background was VERY detailed and well researched. I have absolutely no background or knowledge of fashion, but Milan and Fashion Week, even Tessa and Gio just being at work felt immersive and consistent!
The same goes for Italy. I wish I could say that I've experienced being there, but I haven't, yet it felt like I was there when reading this book. The hills, the terracotta color of the roof of the house, the garden, the gelato... The aesthetic of this whole book is SO well done!

I can't end this review without speaking about Danny and Gracie. MY BABIES! I loved seeing them pop up in a few scenes! I've loved Danny since book one, but seeing him in this new light with his sister, and how protective he is over her... PLEASE! I was sobbing!

Overall, Farrah Colson is so good at creating complex characters that have so much depth and emotion, which makes it easy to fall in love and connect with them. There's not one character in this book that you don't instantly fall in love with. (Except for Luca. Someone teach that man how to hold a wine glass!)
I don't know how to describe Farrah Colson's writing style other than rom-traum. She writes with so much personality, which translates into raw, emotional storylines that are a deep punch in the gut. I was invested in Tessa and Gio's individual storylines, just as much as their relationship with each other.
Her writing is also SO funny! Even with how emotional this book made me, I was still giggling and kicking my feet at the banter between Tessa and Gio, and even the side characters! If you've ever talked to Farrah, you know that she's naturally hilarious, and it shows in her writing. It's fresh, adds layers to the characters, and makes the story feel authentic. Her writing will hook you from start to finish!

Tropes are
Fake Dating
Plus Size MMC
Rom-Traum
Hilarious Banter
Partially set in Italy
Fashion Industry
Forced Proximity
5 Years of Pining
No Third Act Breakup

Enjoy these gifs.

Tessa everytime Gio says an idiom wrong

Giovanni getting ready to rage bait Tessa

Farrah, thank you again for a copy of Design and Desire! And thank you to Naughty Nook for the eArc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

Angelica

48 reviews

Thank you Farrah Colson for this e-arc. All opinions are my own.

What a lovely summer romance novel! This was such a fun read.

Readers will fall in love with the main characters, Tessa and Giovanni, but Giuseppe will steal your heart 🤭
The author takes you on a journey to Brescia, Italy, filled with tension in-between scoops of gelato.

The unspoken thoughts and feelings had me hooked from beginning to end. They started as a mysterious something before the book takes place, (Tessa had me yelling “what did he do?? for most of the book), then we dive into them being unfriendly coworkers forced to work together on a big project, to being in a fake relationship in Italy. It was messy in the best way. By the end of the story they …well, you’ll have to read it for yourself and find out 🤐☺️

The two biggest issues I had (that probably wouldn’t bother anyone else, I’m just critical):
- Gio’s consistent incorrect use of American idioms/ phrases got old fast. It didn’t feel authentic. Why would he try to assimilate to American culture that hard? He’s in New York, one of the most diverse places and shouldn’t feel the need to do so.
- I am thoroughly against AI and to be clear I am not accusing the author of using AI to write this book. I think there needs to be a discussion about authors mentioning their characters using AI, talking about it, etc. In this book specifically, a character makes a comment questioning a picture of being AI. It’s very minor and brief but it had an impact on me. Unless I’m reading a sci-fi book or something where AI would have an actual impact in the story (like Terminator) then I don’t need to read any mention of AI. I don’t need to be reminded of its horrible existence in my books. It’s one of the main reasons why I prefer fantasy over modern fiction and I’m noticing comments/ uses of AI in storylines as if it’s no big deal when authors can just as easily rewrite the scenario sans any mention of AI. It’s one of my reading icks and I will continue to complain about it. Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk.

To end on a lighter note, please enjoy some of my favorite quotes 😊

“Scusa, did the middle of my sentence interrupt the beginning of yours?” I stand up, and she tilts her chin to meet my gaze. Her dark brown eyes pull me in, and I shake my head to avoid hypnotization.

I turn away from him, reaching for the handle again, but this time, he reaches across me and gently grabs my wrist. I sigh. “What now, Giovanni?” “Try to open your own door again, Tèssa, and see what happens,” he murmurs.

I want him to make long-term promises. I want him to stick around so badly. Keep me. Like me, I chant in my head, hoping he’ll somehow hear. Why is it so hard to be honest? Why can’t I just open my mouth and tell him how I feel? I know we have feelings for each other. But the sliver of doubt I’ve stitched into the deepest crevasse of my brain, the one that whispers it’s just pretend, prevents me from revealing too much.

Tessa inches closer to me, drawing me in. And suddenly, I don’t care that we’re in public. The world has narrowed to only the woman in front of me. I gaze at her for a moment in this light, soaking in the view. The blue of her dress against the deep tan of her skin. The moonbeams kissing her hair. The feel of her hand in mine. Taking a mental picture, I hope that years from now I’ll still see it.

alice ✧.*

28 reviews11 followers

Review of advance copy received from Author

made-me-cry reviewed-arcs

Design and Desire by Farrah Colson is, without exaggeration, my favourite summer romance of all time.

Honestly, I don’t even know where to begin with this book because it feels impossible to explain just how much it made me feel. I laughed, cried, kicked my feet, squealed into my pillow, stared at the ceiling dramatically, and then immediately wanted to reread it the second I finished. Reading this book felt like being wrapped in sunlight. It felt comforting and warm and magical in a way that’s incredibly rare to find, especially in romance.

I think the first thing that needs to be discussed is Farrah Colson’s humour, because genuinely, somebody needs to study her brain for science. The amount of times I laughed out loud while reading this book was honestly ridiculous. Not the occasional smile or silent exhale-through-the-nose kind of funny either—I mean actual laughter. The dialogue felt effortless, witty, and so deeply natural that I constantly forgot I was reading fiction. Every interaction had so much personality. The humour never felt forced or overly scripted; it simply existed as part of who these characters were.

But as incredible as the comedy is, my favourite thing about Farrah’s books will always be the prose.
I’m already a massive fan of Facts and Feelings, and somehow this book managed to meet — and maybe even surpass — my expectations when it comes to the writing itself. And for me, that matters deeply. A story can have the most compelling plot imaginable, but if the writing doesn’t support it — if the words themselves don’t carry emotion or beauty or weight — then I struggle to fully connect with it. Some people call that picky, but I just genuinely love language. I love when writing feels intentional. I love when sentences themselves make you feel something.

Farrah’s writing is exactly that.

Otherworldly. Romantic. Ethereal. Tender. I've used these exact words before for my Facts and Feelings review, but they're really the only words that even begin to describe it, and this isn’t even fantasy. Somehow she writes contemporary romance with the emotional atmosphere of a dream (not my weird dreams, though, that's a different topic). Her prose feels soft and intimate without ever becoming overwrought. Every sentence feels alive.

I genuinely felt like I was being hugged through my Kindle screen, ridiculous as that sounds. (No, I am not touch starved, please and thank yew)

The emotional immersion in this book was almost absurd. I felt everything the characters felt with such intensity that it became impossible not to get swept up in their story. I laughed until my stomach hurt. I smiled so hard my face ached. I cried over scenes that would sound simple if you described them out loud, but that carried so much emotional sincerity on the page that they completely wrecked me anyway.

And what made the experience even more special was that I constantly found myself torn between wanting to devour the book as quickly as possible and wanting to slow down so I could savour every single sentence. I wanted to read it curled up somewhere cozy, fully focused, giving it my complete attention, because this masterpiece deserved that level of care.

You know that feeling when a book is so layered and beautifully written that every reread reveals something new? Somehow, this book gave me that feeling before I had even reread it once. I already know it’s the kind of story that will become richer every single time I return to it.

The character voices also deserve praise because they felt unbelievably authentic. I didn’t feel like I was reading about these people — I felt like I lived alongside them for a few hundred pages. Their emotions, insecurities, humour, and relationships all felt so genuine that by the end of the book I was absurdly attached to them.

And speaking of characters: can we PLEASE appreciate the fact that this author actually writes unique love interests?

The male main character is a fiber artist who specialises in embroidery, which already makes him stand out from the endless parade of billionaire CEOs and emotionally unavailable “morally grey” men dominating romance lately. And thank God for that. He’s funny, talented, caring, close to his family, and refreshingly non-toxic. His love language is acts of service. His dad adopted a pigeon and now refers to the bird as his brother. He's Italian and has an accent and he's thicc. Like… that’s it. That’s the blueprint. That’s all I need.

He felt like a real person instead of a trope stitched together from TikTok buzzwords.

And the FMC? FINALLY. Tall FMC representation with abandonment issues. Finally someone understands me. Don't get the wrong idea, I'm not nearly as cool as Tessa, but I aspire to be her. She’s confident and insecure at the same time in the most believable way possible. She wears high heels, lives in a tiny shoebox apartment, radiates lip gloss diva energy constantly, and somehow feels both larger than life and painfully real. I loved her immediately. By the end of the book, I felt so emotionally attached to these characters that letting them go genuinely hurt.

The plot itself was also such a pleasant surprise because it never once felt repetitive or predictable. The pacing kept me completely engaged the entire time, and I honestly think this book could pull anybody out of a reading slump. There was always something emotionally or romantically compelling happening, but it never relied on unnecessary drama or exhaustion to keep the reader invested. It was simply charming, heartfelt, and incredibly well-executed.

What impressed me most is that this book worked even for someone like me, who usually gravitates toward deeply sad, devastating, emotionally heavy stories (like the first book in this series). I tend to get bored sometimes with lighter romances if they don’t have enough emotional depth, but this balanced everything perfectly. It was sweet without being shallow. Emotional without becoming melodramatic. Funny without undercutting sincere moments. And yes — despite being such a joyful read overall — it still made me tear up multiple times.

That balance is incredibly difficult to achieve, and Farrah Colson made it feel effortless.
At this point, I genuinely don’t know who I’ll become once I run out of Farrah Colson books to read. She has officially become one of my favourite authors of all time, and I sincerely hope she keeps writing forever because the way she crafts stories feels genuinely special. I am sewn to her.

kate (austenattachment)

314 reviews3 followers

Review of advance copy received from Author

May 16, 2026

4.5⭐ thank you to farrah colson and naughty nook pr for the opportunity to receive an advance reader copy and to share my honest thoughts 🤍

this was such a delight. honestly, that should be added to the title (design and desire and delight) because that is the predominant emotion i felt throughout the entirety of this book. it had everything that i look for in my romcoms: a slight miscommunication that has completely altered the course of the couples' relationship, flirting and banter disguised (or misunderstood) as dislike, having to pretend to be together for one reason or another, deals to secure what the both of them really want masquerading as deals for something else, a fantastic cast of side characters who are hilarious and lovely in all their own ways, a forced proximity trip to italy, and a pigeon named giuseppe.

(i'm serious, that last one might be a requirement for all my books going forward)

but in all seriousness, i had the best time with this book. i loved reading about all the ways giovanni cared about tessa, and all the ways that tessa learned to care about and understand gio, and how they both just continuously stumbled along the path of trying to show and explain that to one another. i was giggling and kicking my little feetsies the entire time i read. and i had just as much fun during the spicy scenes, just with a tad more sweating, cause gio can talk a girl through it 🥵
i ADORED the italy setting and getting to have family members of each main character be such a huge part of the story, through both impact and hilarity. and as much as this book made me snort, it also loved to hit you in the chest with incredibly poignant lines about love and grief and growth. it was the perfect balance of heavier topics with giggles and chaos, complete with a down bad man who wants his woman exactly how she is and it was *chef's kiss*

already planning to go back and read the first one in this series and have just as wonderful a time

in kate's keys,
— FAKE DATING AT HIS FAMILY'S HOUSE IN ITALY WHAT ELSE DO YOU NEED
— aforementioned pigeon named giuseppe. i love him
— she's a fashion designer, he's a tailor
— we love a thicc man like gio, and you'll love him too 🙂‍↕️

Anh Duong

96 reviews4 followers

Review of advance copy received from Author

May 12, 2026

There’s something inherently romantic about two people falling in love while surrounded by beautiful clothes and professional stress. Fashion really is just emotional damage with better tailoring.

Design and Desire ended up being exactly the kind of rom-com I tend to fall for: sharp banter, simmering tension, fake dating, and two people spending an impressive amount of time pretending they’re merely inconvenienced by their attraction to each other.

Tessa and Giovanni’s dynamic worked especially well for me because it never tipped too far into exaggerated enemies-to-lovers territory. Their relationship feels more layered than outright hostility — there’s irritation, attraction, competitiveness, and a very obvious inability to stay emotionally uninvolved despite their best efforts. Which, naturally, makes everything more entertaining.

Giovanni in particular has the kind of romance-hero energy that should honestly come with a warning label: emotionally attentive, slightly exasperating, inexplicably charming. The sort of man who probably looks devastating holding a coffee while quietly ruining your emotional stability.

I also loved how immersive the fashion backdrop felt. The Milan setting, the tailoring details, the pressure surrounding the showcase — it all added texture to the romance instead of simply functioning as aesthetic wallpaper. The story feels polished in the same way luxury branding does: glamorous enough to be escapist, but grounded enough that the emotional beats still land.

And the humor deserves credit too. The book has a playful self-awareness that keeps the romance feeling light even when the emotional tension starts building underneath everything. Plus, any story involving fake dating in Italy is already operating at an unfair advantage.

Overall, Design and Desire feels stylish, witty, and deeply committed to the fantasy of falling in love while dressed significantly better than most of us ever will be. A very charming blend of slow-burn chemistry, romantic tension, and people making objectively questionable emotional decisions in couture.

Spencer

4 reviews

Review of advance copy received from Author

If I had to describe this book in one word, it would be SWOON! Everything about the romance and setting is so dreamy. It’s the perfect summer romance.

Tessa is witty and sarcastic and sharp. You can’t help but cheer for her. She’s a fighter and scrapper and a hard-worker and all of these things make it all the more heartbreaking as you start to peel back her layers and see the more vulnerable sides of her. Farrah Colson does a really excellent job of creating fully-realized, layered, dynamic characters, and Tessa is no exception.

Neither is Gio. Y’all, the way I yearn for this man. He is my favorite book boyfriend. The care and attention he pays to the things that matter: his craft, his family, his TAYSAH — it’s exquisite. Everything about him feels so real and authentic.

I fear I may be forming a parasocial relationship with these characters.

Also, I can’t leave a review without talking about Giuseppe — and Gio’s family. They were warm and lovely, and Giuseppe is a scene-stealer. It’s a testament to how Colson weaves together fun and light-hearted elements, but manages to give them depth and impact. How I found myself caring about a pigeon, I may never know, but here we are. And I really wouldn’t want to go back.

The Italian setting felt authentic and intentional, making for a fun, escapist summer read. It’s witty and funny while still being emotionally layered with gut-punching depth, which I’m coming to associate as Colson’s signature style. As much as I loved her debut, I may love this book even more.

Other delicious elements: body diversity rep (thiccccc MMC — YES PLEASE), mental health rep, non-toxic masculinity rep. We get a few cameos from Facts and Feelings, which was so fun, but not overdone. This story really lets Tessa and Gio have the spotlight.

Truly exceptional, and a book I will read again and again.

I was an early reader on this book, etc etc. Thankful for the chance to read and provide my honest review.

Michelle

607 reviews20 followers

Review of advance copy received from Author

May 24, 2026

Being an ARC reader for Farrah Colson's upcoming book, Design & Desire, was an absolute joy! I devoured this book! Tessa, Daniel's sister from the first book, is an aspiring designer who works for House of Lamont. She is looking for her big break when Lamont chooses her dress for Milan's Fashion Week. But the downside is, is that she will have to work with her once friend, now nemesis, Giovanni, as Lamont would like some embroidery to make it more suitable. Giovanni has been sewing since he was very young and has a true gift. Tessa's visits are his favorite even though he may not understand her hatred for him. To soothe any ruffled feathers, they come to an agreement. He will help in this design and her forthcoming clothing line, if she will pretend to be his girlfriend while they visit his family after the show. With all the time in the shop and in close quarters not mention the romance of Italy, the line between pretend and real becomes blurred. I need to get this off my chest... FARRAH is a genius!! Very thankful to have found her books and to be an ARC reader. This book was so good! I loved Gio and Tessa immediately. The dynamic was hilarious and witty. Gio is such a softie and Tessa is so relatable with her drive. They fit so well together. Their time in Italy was my favourite between Maria, Roberto, and Giuseppe. I will need to visit the countryside!!! The romance was fantastic. I swooned over the little things they did for each other. And the spice! Wow! 👌🫦🥵. I also appreciated the emotional vulnerability that was shared in this book. I cried a few times. Thank you Farrah! Can't wait for Book 3!!

Jennifer

590 reviews29 followers

Review of advance copy received from Publisher

Thank you to Farrah Colson and her team for this ARC in exchange for an honest review

Yeah, so I have a new city to add to my bucket list/wanderlust list. Florence and Venice were already on the list, but now I gotta add Brescia because it sounded gorgeous in this book and the pictures on Google are equally so.

I enjoyed this book immensely. I did find myself distracted by outside things quite often, so I had to force myself to lock in every time I picked up the book, but I'm glad I did. I loved Tessa and Giovanni's banter; I will always choose friends-to-lovers and enemies-to-lovers over every other tropes in the game. Even though they had a falling out (though I don't love the use of miscommunication being the reason for said falling out), that chemistry is still there and it is palpable chemistry. The tension between them - oh my god!

And don't even get me started on the fashion of it all. I may not be a girlie who prefers comfort over style, but I do love fashion as an art form, so I was absolutely chomping at the bit with all the details given to Tessa and Giovanni's day to day life as a designer and tailor respectively.

Honestly, my only real qualm with this book is that Giovanni came off as too possessive and too protective a few times. The way he thunders into any room or any situation on the slimmest of chances that something happened to Tessa got to be a bit much for me. I love me a protective man, but Gio, baby, tone it down, just a notch.

2026 arc

Nicole Marie

226 reviews3 followers

Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers

May 11, 2026

Farrah Colson truly outdid herself with Design and Desire. This book had everything I love in a romance: fake dating, forced proximity, incredible banter, emotional depth, and a love story that completely sneaks up on you in the best way.
Giovanni and Tessa were absolutely unforgettable. Giovanni especially stole my entire heart. The way he loves so quietly, patiently, and wholeheartedly had me emotional the entire time. He is the kind of romantic lead that lingers in your mind long after the book ends. And Tessa felt so real and relatable as she navigated her career, insecurities, and growing feelings for him.
The Italy setting, the fashion world backdrop, the humor, the tension, the tenderness… every piece of this story felt intentional and beautifully woven together. Farrah has such a special way of writing romances that feel warm, heartfelt, and deeply comforting while still making you laugh and kick your feet the entire time.
I already adored Facts and Feelings, but Design and Desire somehow made me fall even more in love with Farrah’s writing. This series feels so full of heart, and I already know this book is going to become a favorite for so many readers.
If you love fake dating, pining, witty banter, soft romance, and devotion-filled heroes, you absolutely need this book.

Tammy Zadai

109 reviews

Review of advance copy received from Author

Let me start off this review with a warning: Do Not Read While Drinking - you will spew whatever you are drinking all over yourself and your Kindle due to laughter!! While the first book in this series by Farrah Colson (Facts and Feelings) was full of emotional moments and angst with a little humor peppered in, this book is full of laugh out loud moments. Between the delicious banter between Tessa and Gio, Tessa’ brother Danny (from Facts and Feelings), Gio’s knack for getting American idioms just a tad bit wrong, and Gio’s outspoken mom, there are so many funny things happening in this book. There is a little angst but not very much and it fits perfectly in the book. Tessa is a junior fashion designer who has to work with embroidery specialists and Italian transplant Giovanni. Due to a misunderstanding years ago, Tessa thinks he hates her and her design ideas. He thinks she is beautiful and talented and doesn’t understand why she hates him. Throw in a little fake dating and a little (ok a lot) of forced proximity and we have ourselves a love story! I would give this book more than 5 stars if allowed. I didn’t think this book could outdo the first book in the series but it went beyond my expectations. It was such a fun and easy read. I hope to enjoy Farrah’s writing for many years to come!

megan ◡̈

970 reviews653 followers

Review of advance copy received from Author

president of the i love giovanni cattaneo fan club (sorry tessa) 🐧

it has been about 24 hours now since i finished this book and i still cannot stop thinking about gio and tessa!! one of the constant highlight replays in my head currently is the “you penguined me?!” LOLLL i love these idiots so much it’s not even funny.

this book had me in a chokehold from start to finish, i was immediately taken aback by the god awful ways of tessa’s boss and then intrigued by mister tall dark and handsome that she couldnt seem to stand but needed!!

everything about gio and tessa were intoxicating, i easily could have read 300 more pages about them and i was so sad to say goodbye to them upon finishing 😭

farrah was a new to me author and forever has an auto read/buyer out of me because i am just obsessed with her writing and how much fun i had while reading, her love for her characters and their story showed and i will be making time to go back to danny and gracie as soon as humanly possible.

if you LOVE yearning, down bad, dirty talking, romantic italian men with a really cute and funny family then you absolutely need this on your tbr.

turnthedamnpage

119 reviews28 followers

Review of advance copy received from Author

“Did the middle of my sentence interrupt the beginning of yours?” Clever. I like that. 🙃

>>>Damnit, I have to share my new book boyfriend with *waves hands* all of you. 🫠 My book boyfriends are making me feel like I’m living in a “why choose” novel at this point.

I’m a fashion girlie, a pink obsessed adult, and a lover of thick fellas — this book had me just from character art and the cover alone. Reading it was another whole fall-in-love moment for me.

The tension between Tessa & Giovanni was so tight I wondered if they’d fall in love before it snapped. There’s something so special about watching these two fall in love (or realize that maybe they’ve been in love) while dealing with work/life stress and beautiful clothes.

This book was so enjoyable. You’ve got the necessary tension, work drama, a slow burn romance, wit, humor — the list goes on.

This is going to make for an incredible summer read. (I’m jealous of those who do get to read it for the first time this summer.)

Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC. 💕

Felecia Rodney

409 reviews5 followers

Review of advance copy

May 20, 2026

ARC Review:

“Finer than the finest gown, and stronger than the strongest seam. She wraps in beauty all that she touches. I am sewn to her.”

Tropes:
(One sided) Dislike to Lovers
Fake dating
Only one bed
Hilarious banter
Slow burn
He falls first

If you are looking for a romance that is equal parts hilarious, sweet, and deeply romantic, look no further than Design and Desire. The book brings together Tessa, an ambitious junior designer fighting for her big break at Milan Fashion Week, and Giovanni, the brilliant tailor she loves to hate.

When they strike a deal to fake a date for a week in beautiful Italy so Tessa can secure his help on her dress, their micro-war turns into something much more complicated.

I loved every second of this book. It was so incredibly sweet, and I was giggling at Tess and Giovanni's banter as they navigated a chaotic week filled with gelato, an adopted pigeon, and forced proximity.

A huge thank you to Luna Literary and the author for this ARC!

arc-2026

Emily Barnard

11 reviews

Review of advance copy received from Author

May 20, 2026

Huge thank you to Farrah Colson and @naughtynookpr for sending me an advanced reader copy of Design and Desire. One of my best friends is a fashion designer so when I saw the description of this novel of a junior fashion designer and a grumpy Italian tailor working together on a design in exchange for a fake dating situation I knew this was going to be right up my alley.

The way Farrah sets up the animosty between Tessa and Giovanni in the beginning of the book is next level, you really begin to feel the way it appears they actively dislike each other before the collaboration and fake dating scheme comes to life. I absolutely adore the relationships that Tessa and Giovanni have with his parents Maria and Roberto who are responsible for some of my favourite banter in this book, especially with the adopted family pidgeon Giuseppe which had me laughing my ass off.

If you adore reading about the Italian country side and a fake dating scheme where he falls first and falls hard you will love this book!

It comes out on Amazon on 1 June 2026. Highly recommend this book!

Everett King

3 reviews1 follower

Review of advance copy received from Author

I am obsessed.

I loved Facts and Feelings, but Design and Desire is why I like reading romance. It's lighter and faster than FF, so if you loved Colson's first book, but it made you cry and you don't want to cry poolside this summer, you'll probably have a lot of fun with Design & Desire.

Sweet, funny, and sexy, Tessa and Gio are hilarious and perfectly matched. She's a frustrated designer and he's a talented artisan. The fashion industry background was either lived or REALLY well-researched because it felt super natural and consistent.

I appreciated that Tessa and Gio had very normal hangups or hurt feelings with very limited drama. They felt like real people to me, no overhyped drama. And I'm a slut for absurdity, so Guiseppe was my favorite character.

Also, my daughter has a nut allergy and I LOVED how Gio took it in stride and watched out for his girl!

Banter is top-notch, per usual.

hilarious

Katie

14 reviews2 followers

Review of advance copy received from Author

May 11, 2026

I had high hopes for my advance copy of this book after loving the first in the series so freaking much, and I'm happy to say I wasn't disappointed in the least! This book had everything I loved in Colson's debut--sparkling banter, fully fleshed-out characters, a true emotional journey--and made it all feel right at home in a lighter, less angsty (thank GOD, because I barely lived through Danny and Gracie's angst) summer romance.

Speaking of Danny and Gracie, my babies are in several scenes in this book, and yes, it's delightful. There's also a pigeon, a set of Italian parents, and a snarky fashion designer, all of whom captured my heart. Tessa and Gio are amazing leads, and watching them fall for each other (or perhaps watching them realize they've already fallen for each other?) felt so natural. Farrah Colson is an auto-buy author for me at this point, and I hope she keeps them coming!

Jordan Coley

141 reviews8 followers

arcs curvy-plus-fat-loves

This book is the standalone “sequel” to Farrah Colson’s first novel Facts and Feelings. We are following DT’s little sister Tessa and her tailor co-worker Giovanni.

When I tell you “give me a proper slow burn’ this is what I mean. This book had the anticipating bubbling throughout about 85% of the book before anything substantial actually happened, and then when it did, OH MY GOD it was HOT! It was never a will they won’t they, but a WHEN are they going to? The heat and the chemistry and the sizzle and the sparks are everything I wanted.

It wasn’t all about the heat though. Tessa and Gio also laid the foundation of a solid relationship between them, and that’s why I enjoy true slow burns. It isn’t the insta lust and HEA, it actually creates something real. Farrah Colson does an amazing job of creating conflict in such a way that is believable for a new couple, but also not the annoying miscommunication and third act breakup tropes.

I highly recommend everyone go read this!

Catie Duckworth

205 reviews

Review of advance copy received from Author

May 23, 2026

Scrumptious, Delicious, Delectable.

Three words I'd use to describe this book.

I have not kicked, screamed, and giggled so much reading a romance in a long time. I felt giddy from beginning to end. I’m so, so in love with Gio, my thicc Italian lover boy. I'm a little upset that he's not real, but such is the life of a romance reader.

This book is hilarious. It’s quirky but with no shortage of swoon-worthy moments. It's my kind of unhinged (see pet pigeon, taking food too seriously). The food references spoke right to my soul. The banter is divine. I love a book with animosity that is laced with thick sexual tension, and Farrah Colson does it like the best of them.

I received an advanced digital copy of this book from the author through Naughty Nook PR in exchange for my honest review.

Jaydee

74 reviews1 follower

Review of advance copy received from Author

May 24, 2026

ARC Review 🪡💕🧵
𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒓𝒏 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒇𝒍𝒆𝒙 𝒕𝒐 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒔𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇 –𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇–𝒂𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆. 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉. 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏.

Such a cute book and it was also pretty funny as well (especially Giuseppe lol)! Loved Tessa and Gio and the banter! It was really funny and definitely hooked me from the start. Also really enjoyed the chapters in Italy with Gio's parents 😭 they were so sweet and the entire trip was really fun to read about! ☀️

𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑰 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 "𝒈𝒊𝒓𝒍 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈" 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒚 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒂𝒔𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆, 𝒔𝒐 𝑰 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒇𝒇 𝒎𝒚 𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒍 𝒒𝒖𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒂 𝒘𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏.
𝑺𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒕.
𝑩𝒆𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒇𝒖𝒍.
𝑻𝒂𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅.
𝑰 𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒏'𝒕 𝒔𝒆𝒕 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒃𝒆 𝑻𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒂 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒊𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒆.

This is definitely the perfect rom-com/ summer in Italy read!!

Thank you Naughty Nook PR and Farrah Colson for the ARC!

Read their story June 1st!!

Finished May 23rd

Lisa Ann D.

406 reviews9 followers

Review of advance copy received from Author

May 17, 2026

eARC
Sadly this did not work for me.
——
Tropes:

MAN OBSESSED
ONE SIDED DISLIKE
FAKE DATING
BANTER
PLUS SIZE MMC
ITALY SETTING
ONLY ONE BED
FORCED PROXIMITY
—-
The jokes did not work- especially every time there were punchlines at the expense of Giovanni mixing up words & phrases. That’s been done to death- and rarely ever funny. It felt weak and juvenile at best.

The opening scene with the Project Runway/Devil Wears Prada mash was awkward at best and seemed again- juvenile. The tone was simply off.

There are more examples- but what would be the point.

There are good things in here, but the vibe is off in general.

Gio was very promising as a MMC. And had some good moments.

Brittany Reads

69 reviews1 follower

Review of advance copy received from Author

May 20, 2026

I loved this book so much, easy 5 stars and my first ARC read which made it even more special. This book was such a delight from start to finish. It had everything I look for in a romcom: fake dating in Italy, forced proximity, that perfect love hate tension, and hilarious banter that kept me hooked. I was genuinely giggling and kicking my feet the whole time, completely invested in Tessa and Giovanni and all the messy, sweet ways they tried to understand each other.

The Italy setting, the chaotic and lovable side characters, found family, and even a pigeon named Giuseppe made this story unforgettable.

Luana DaRosa

Author 80 books5 followers

Review of advance copy received from Author

May 7, 2026

I had the pleasure of getting to read about Gio and Tessa earlier in the year. As you may or may not know (you definitely don't know lol) I'm a FIEND for fake dating and will devour any book that comes my way. Especially if the MMC is secretly obsessed with the FMC for far too long and it's clear to literally everyone except the FMC.

Well, this book had me well fed when it comes to this favourite fake dating microtrope of mine. If you love obsessed men and their clueless women of their desires, this one is for you!

Sophie

19 reviews1 follower

Review of advance copy

Oh my god this book! I was cackling on the first page, and basically didn't stop all book (except for the really emotional scenes). I even felt like a terrible person for laughing in some scenes that managed to mix the deeply serious with the downright hilarious (if you've read you might know the scene I mean.....).
But all jokes aside I really fell in love with Tessa as a character. So many of us have the tendencies she does, shrinking herself, trying to fit in, and I loved seeing her grow. These two are definitely two of my faves! (also loved the Danny moments!!!)

Elle T

11 reviews

Review of advance copy

May 16, 2026

Hilarious banter? A thick MMC whose body is celebrated throughout the book (she’s so into him from the beginning)? I loved it all. I haven’t read a book with better banter recently, and I just adore the representation with Gio being plus sized. I love the way Tessa described his body. The books Italy setting also had me feeling like I was there. I have an Italian family and some of the wrong idioms that Gio uses are so funny because it’s true. Overall, Tessa and Gio feel real, not tropey or fake or forced. Highly recommend.

Erin Leigh

10 reviews

Review of advance copy

May 18, 2026

I’m only a little embarrassed to say that this is my first book by Farrah Colson. I haven’t read it Daniel and Grace‘s story yet but it’s on my list and and I’m excited for book 3 as well.

I absolutely love the humor and banter between Gio and Tessa and absolutely adored the romantic and steamy scenes. Sometime while reading steamy scenes. I find them very cringe or not rooted in the romance enough.

However, it is the perfect touch of whimsical and cheesy and a fun summer read. Thank you so much to Farrah and Naughty Nook PR for the eARC copy!

This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.

Nicole Visser

82 reviews1 follower

Review of advance copy received from Author

May 18, 2026

Did I used to think a man who could sew was attractive? Nope can't say I have 🤷🏼‍♀️
ONLY Farrah Colson can write a man who sews and make me think, yep, I want that🥵

The banter on this book is five ⭐'s just in itself
Then you add in the sexual tension, the slowwwww buuuurn, and the pigeon who STOLE.THE.FRICKIN.SHOW👏🏼

The family dynamics in this book were so sweet and emotional, getting to visit Danny and Gracie again had me in all my feels🥺
Gio's Mama is a QUEEN👑

Seriously I could go on forever.
READ THIS BOOK💋

Lyn Brownlie

833 reviews19 followers

Review of advance copy