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Playing Pretend: A Small Town Romantic Comedy
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 11, 2026
If you’ve ever wanted the ground to swallow you after a public heartbreak, Playing Pretend by Shayla Sullivan will feel painfully relatable—in the best way. This fourth installment in the Cupid’s Corner series delivers a swoony, emotionally layered romance that proves sometimes the love you didn’t plan is the one that fits perfectly.
Neve Gallagher never imagined she’d return to her hometown as the woman who was left at the altar. Cupid’s Corner in February? Brutal. Valentine’s season is already overflowing with roses and romance—add small-town gossip and sympathetic looks, and it’s enough to make anyone want to hide. But when her grandmother needs help at the flower shop, Neve shows up. What she doesn’t expect is to agree to a fake-dating arrangement with the one man who’s always been right there: her brother’s best friend, Rafferty Marchetti.
Raff has been quietly, steadfastly in love with Neve for years. And watching him finally step into the light is everything. The pining hero energy? Off the charts. He isn’t flashy or over-the-top—he’s patient, protective, and completely gone for her. Every look, every small touch, every moment of forced proximity carries emotional weight because he’s been waiting for this chance.
What makes this story shine is the slow unraveling. The fake dating starts as a shield—something to protect Neve from pity and questions. But as they lean into the act, it becomes harder to tell where pretending ends and real feelings begin. The chemistry between Neve and Raff is palpable on every page. It’s in the banter. The shared history. The way he sees her not as “Poor Neve, the Almost-Bride,” but as the woman he’s always admired.
Neve’s emotional journey feels honest and grounded. She’s not just recovering from a broken engagement—she’s rebuilding her confidence, rediscovering her worth, and learning to trust love again. Raff doesn’t fix her. He stands beside her. And that difference makes their romance feel mature and deeply satisfying.
This is friends-to-lovers done right. The author takes her time building the relationship, letting the tension simmer and the emotions breathe. The result? A love story that feels earned rather than rushed.
If you love:
Fake dating that turns deliciously real
Brother’s best friend romance
A secret crush finally revealed
Small-town charm with Valentine’s vibes
A pining hero who falls first and never wavers
then Playing Pretend is absolutely worth adding to your TBR.
Tender, angsty, and full of heart, this book reminds us that sometimes the best relationships aren’t the ones we carefully plan—they’re the ones that quietly grow while we’re pretending not to notice.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Neve Gallagher never imagined she’d return to her hometown as the woman who was left at the altar. Cupid’s Corner in February? Brutal. Valentine’s season is already overflowing with roses and romance—add small-town gossip and sympathetic looks, and it’s enough to make anyone want to hide. But when her grandmother needs help at the flower shop, Neve shows up. What she doesn’t expect is to agree to a fake-dating arrangement with the one man who’s always been right there: her brother’s best friend, Rafferty Marchetti.
Raff has been quietly, steadfastly in love with Neve for years. And watching him finally step into the light is everything. The pining hero energy? Off the charts. He isn’t flashy or over-the-top—he’s patient, protective, and completely gone for her. Every look, every small touch, every moment of forced proximity carries emotional weight because he’s been waiting for this chance.
What makes this story shine is the slow unraveling. The fake dating starts as a shield—something to protect Neve from pity and questions. But as they lean into the act, it becomes harder to tell where pretending ends and real feelings begin. The chemistry between Neve and Raff is palpable on every page. It’s in the banter. The shared history. The way he sees her not as “Poor Neve, the Almost-Bride,” but as the woman he’s always admired.
Neve’s emotional journey feels honest and grounded. She’s not just recovering from a broken engagement—she’s rebuilding her confidence, rediscovering her worth, and learning to trust love again. Raff doesn’t fix her. He stands beside her. And that difference makes their romance feel mature and deeply satisfying.
This is friends-to-lovers done right. The author takes her time building the relationship, letting the tension simmer and the emotions breathe. The result? A love story that feels earned rather than rushed.
If you love:
Fake dating that turns deliciously real
Brother’s best friend romance
A secret crush finally revealed
Small-town charm with Valentine’s vibes
A pining hero who falls first and never wavers
then Playing Pretend is absolutely worth adding to your TBR.
Tender, angsty, and full of heart, this book reminds us that sometimes the best relationships aren’t the ones we carefully plan—they’re the ones that quietly grow while we’re pretending not to notice.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 4, 2026
This charming novella is set in a small town with a population of only 2800 people so most town residents know one another.
Neve left town after a bad breakup with her ex fiancé approximately a year ago. She is back in town to help out her gran in her florist shop during the Valentine's Day festivities but to save face, she makes an arrangement with Raff, her brother's best friend.
Raff, who has always been in love with her agrees to fake date her. But there is an expiration date for this fake relationship and he hopes to convince her that he is the real deal.
This is a heartwarming read and Raff is an endearing character. Neve had a lot of hang ups which she projected unintentionally onto Raff.
This sweet, clean read was an enjoyable short story.
Neve left town after a bad breakup with her ex fiancé approximately a year ago. She is back in town to help out her gran in her florist shop during the Valentine's Day festivities but to save face, she makes an arrangement with Raff, her brother's best friend.
Raff, who has always been in love with her agrees to fake date her. But there is an expiration date for this fake relationship and he hopes to convince her that he is the real deal.
This is a heartwarming read and Raff is an endearing character. Neve had a lot of hang ups which she projected unintentionally onto Raff.
This sweet, clean read was an enjoyable short story.
February 26, 2026
This was a cute read and great palate cleanser! Neve had her heart broken and returning to where it all happened was weighing on her mind. Until she decides having a fake boyfriend for the 2 weeks she's home! Raff is Neve's brother's best friend and he agrees to be that fake boyfriend for her because he has been secretly in love with her for years. But does faking it make them or break them? Grab your own copy to find out!!
February 18, 2026
This story was awwwwww for me. Raff is the best! Poor Neve, talk about the humiliation. But she was meant for better things and a better guy. And he came in the form of Raff. These two were so sweet. They made me swoon. I truly enjoyed reading this. It’s a cozy read for a quiet day.
April 30, 2026
Brother’s best friend, failed wedding and fake dating. Honestly it was a cute quick rom com about a girl and guy fake dating. Even though, the guy had been in love with her for 15 years. It was worth a quick cheesy read.
May 9, 2026
Neve left town after a bad breakup with here ex fiance a year ago. She comes back to help her gran with her flower shop. To save face, she makes a deal with her brother's best friend, Raff to fake date while she is in town. Raff is happy to help, especially because he has been secretly in love her for years and hopes to get her to see him differently. Sweet, clean and heartwarming story with great characters.
May 12, 2026
This was such a cute love story! I love how in this story it was the female character that realized she loved the male character after a while! It just goes show that the wait can sometimes
Be worth it in the end.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Be worth it in the end.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 18, 2026
It was so cute and cheesy and just reminded me why i love love so much
June 4, 2026
There were so many inconsistencies in this book. It’s only 100 pages so I finished it, but I enjoyed laughing at the issues more than the actual book.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews