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Booked Boyfriends, Bad Decisions
Some girls collect book boyfriends; others collect bad decisions.
Harlowe Daye is a popular romance book content creator who has been invited on the biggest brand trip of her career. The problem? It’s a couples' retreat, and she doesn’t have a boyfriend to bring. After a string of failed attempts to find a plus one before she loses the opportunity of a lifetime, she turns to the one man who has always been ten toes down for her ex’s brother. He also happens to be her best friend.
Hasheem Hart is always the one pulling people out of fires. When folks need him, he shows up, but when it’s Harlowe, he shows up without a question. He knows agreeing to play her fake boyfriend on a Valentine’s Day couples’ trip is a bad idea, but he says yes anyway.
When pretending to be a couple gets a little too messy, Harlowe is left wondering if booking her best friend as her booked boyfriend is the worst bad decision she’s ever made.
Harlowe Daye is a popular romance book content creator who has been invited on the biggest brand trip of her career. The problem? It’s a couples' retreat, and she doesn’t have a boyfriend to bring. After a string of failed attempts to find a plus one before she loses the opportunity of a lifetime, she turns to the one man who has always been ten toes down for her ex’s brother. He also happens to be her best friend.
Hasheem Hart is always the one pulling people out of fires. When folks need him, he shows up, but when it’s Harlowe, he shows up without a question. He knows agreeing to play her fake boyfriend on a Valentine’s Day couples’ trip is a bad idea, but he says yes anyway.
When pretending to be a couple gets a little too messy, Harlowe is left wondering if booking her best friend as her booked boyfriend is the worst bad decision she’s ever made.
183 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 18, 2026
About the author
A. Blossom
21 books574 followersAuthor Blossom is an upcoming best selling author born and raised in Saint Louis, Mo. It was there that she developed a love for reading and writing early on. A. Blossom knew she had a passion for writing after she wrote her first story for the girls in her eight-grade class. A. Blossom wants to pen love stories that show black women and men of all skin tones, shapes, and sizes.
When she isn’t writing, Blossom spends her free time with her husband and her two small children. A. Blossom is excited to embark on this journey and invites readers to let love grow. Blossom can be reached on these platforms:
Email: authorablossom@gmail.com
Instagram: author_blossom
Facebook: Author A Blossom
Twitter: @AuthorBlossom
When she isn’t writing, Blossom spends her free time with her husband and her two small children. A. Blossom is excited to embark on this journey and invites readers to let love grow. Blossom can be reached on these platforms:
Email: authorablossom@gmail.com
Instagram: author_blossom
Facebook: Author A Blossom
Twitter: @AuthorBlossom
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 195 reviews
February 20, 2026
Cute But …
Let me get this straight, you out here living in a whole book fantasy on a paid vacation then go home and throw the book out!! Girl bye.
This was cute until it wasn’t. It’s one thing to get in your feelings about some comments made because you dated your man’s brother BUT when your man is your best friend and you go to him for everything usually; how you going to punk out and just avoid him completely! So for the actions of this whole emotionally immature woman I could only be disappointed.
Let me get this straight, you out here living in a whole book fantasy on a paid vacation then go home and throw the book out!! Girl bye.
This was cute until it wasn’t. It’s one thing to get in your feelings about some comments made because you dated your man’s brother BUT when your man is your best friend and you go to him for everything usually; how you going to punk out and just avoid him completely! So for the actions of this whole emotionally immature woman I could only be disappointed.
March 19, 2026
More than friends
This was a cute friends to lovers story. This is a story made just for us romance book girlies! Harlowe is a book influencer and gives romance book recommendations on social media. She is freaking out because she is about to lose the opportunity of a lifetime that will help expand her platform, but in the nth hour her best friend Hasheem swoops in to the save the day. Hasheem is a firefighter, yes you know he fine af. He was also so attentive, caring, and protective. What starts out as just fulfilling an obligation, becomes WAY more than either of them expected. You already know best friends over a decade have crazy chemistry.
I'm making this sound so sweet, but it was messy af. The messiness of the exes, the lies, the fear, and the hater. Chile...
Harlowe was trying to pmo, but she got herself together. Sometimes we have to go through the mess to receive our blessings.
This was a cute friends to lovers story. This is a story made just for us romance book girlies! Harlowe is a book influencer and gives romance book recommendations on social media. She is freaking out because she is about to lose the opportunity of a lifetime that will help expand her platform, but in the nth hour her best friend Hasheem swoops in to the save the day. Hasheem is a firefighter, yes you know he fine af. He was also so attentive, caring, and protective. What starts out as just fulfilling an obligation, becomes WAY more than either of them expected. You already know best friends over a decade have crazy chemistry.
I'm making this sound so sweet, but it was messy af. The messiness of the exes, the lies, the fear, and the hater. Chile...
Harlowe was trying to pmo, but she got herself together. Sometimes we have to go through the mess to receive our blessings.
February 20, 2026
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ lol
Thank you to A.Blossom for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book was MESSY in the best way and I ate up every single second of it. If you love fake dating and best friends to lovers, this one is going to have you locked in from page one because she really had me at hello.
We start off chaotic and honestly… the mess never fully lets up. Just when you think things are settling, another layer unfolds, and I loved that emotional tension throughout the story. But underneath all the drama was a love story that felt so real, so intentional, and so worth the ride.
Let’s talk about Hasheem for a second because that man STANDS ten toes down on what he wants. The way he was so intentional about Harlowe…Yeah… I melted. The intimacy was top tier, not just the spice (which was SPICING, okay 👀), but the emotional closeness, the care, the attention. He wasn’t just showing desire, he was showing devotion.
And Harlowe and Hasheem pushing past their fears and finally trusting their love had me seated for EVERY minute of it. Their growth, their vulnerability, and the way their friendship evolved into something deeper was chef’s kiss.
This book gave:
✨ Fake dating tension
✨ Best friends to lovers excellence
✨ Messy emotions + beautiful payoff
✨ Spice with PURPOSE
Thank you to A.Blossom for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book was MESSY in the best way and I ate up every single second of it. If you love fake dating and best friends to lovers, this one is going to have you locked in from page one because she really had me at hello.
We start off chaotic and honestly… the mess never fully lets up. Just when you think things are settling, another layer unfolds, and I loved that emotional tension throughout the story. But underneath all the drama was a love story that felt so real, so intentional, and so worth the ride.
Let’s talk about Hasheem for a second because that man STANDS ten toes down on what he wants. The way he was so intentional about Harlowe…Yeah… I melted. The intimacy was top tier, not just the spice (which was SPICING, okay 👀), but the emotional closeness, the care, the attention. He wasn’t just showing desire, he was showing devotion.
And Harlowe and Hasheem pushing past their fears and finally trusting their love had me seated for EVERY minute of it. Their growth, their vulnerability, and the way their friendship evolved into something deeper was chef’s kiss.
This book gave:
✨ Fake dating tension
✨ Best friends to lovers excellence
✨ Messy emotions + beautiful payoff
✨ Spice with PURPOSE
March 5, 2026
Good…but
Harlowe’s overthinking messed up the whole flow of the book. The book was well written and I definitely love Hasheem. However, Harlowe was beyond irritating. Hasheem had to really love her to put up with all of that craziness. There was nothing endearing about her.
Harlowe’s overthinking messed up the whole flow of the book. The book was well written and I definitely love Hasheem. However, Harlowe was beyond irritating. Hasheem had to really love her to put up with all of that craziness. There was nothing endearing about her.
February 20, 2026
(3.5⭐️) This was a cute Valentine’s read. I loved their banter & their friendship, they had a nice easy going chemistry. But poor Harlowe REALLY needed a Xanax. She was wound so tight the whole book😩. Hasheem was applying all the pressure behind her despite her objections and outside forces that tried to attack their relationship. Him being a for real book boyfriend inside of a book felt like being trapped in the matrix though🤣But I adored how he paid attention to her & was able to calm her when she crashed out (which was often). He was so mature in his communication as well.
I will say though I kept rolling my eyes when she kept saying “I can’t date my ex’s brother”. Girl that was in high school🙄If it didn’t lead to marriage and/or a baby the statute of limitations is over.🤣I also didn’t like how she acted post trip, it was kind of immature.
So yeah a cute story. Got some good spice, some giggles, and a nice dose of drama.
I will say though I kept rolling my eyes when she kept saying “I can’t date my ex’s brother”. Girl that was in high school🙄If it didn’t lead to marriage and/or a baby the statute of limitations is over.🤣I also didn’t like how she acted post trip, it was kind of immature.
So yeah a cute story. Got some good spice, some giggles, and a nice dose of drama.
February 21, 2026
Harlowe irritated me this whole book lol. Cute and short read though
March 22, 2026
Too Many Things
Harlowe was one of my least favorite FMC's that I have read about this year. All of her back and forth emotions and overthinking was exhausting and her worry about what other people thought - to the point where she constantly tried to run was borderline immature. I was ready to DNF during almost all of her chapters then Hasheem would come and save the day and I would keep reading. I really liked Hasheem's character a lot- and in all honesty I wish that he had found someone else. Also, the premise of this book of her being with her ex's brother was more than messy, because they had been together for 4 years! That was just too many things. Last, while a lot of back and forth happened, the book still felt kinda underdeveloped. Overall, there were some funny and cute moments, but this was not one of my favorites from this author.
Harlowe was one of my least favorite FMC's that I have read about this year. All of her back and forth emotions and overthinking was exhausting and her worry about what other people thought - to the point where she constantly tried to run was borderline immature. I was ready to DNF during almost all of her chapters then Hasheem would come and save the day and I would keep reading. I really liked Hasheem's character a lot- and in all honesty I wish that he had found someone else. Also, the premise of this book of her being with her ex's brother was more than messy, because they had been together for 4 years! That was just too many things. Last, while a lot of back and forth happened, the book still felt kinda underdeveloped. Overall, there were some funny and cute moments, but this was not one of my favorites from this author.
July 12, 2026
Forbidden romance with bookish vibes? Absolutely 💃🏽💃🏽
February 26, 2026
It was cute!
This was a cute quick read. It did make dating a content creator seem awful though. Lol They made it work.
This was a cute quick read. It did make dating a content creator seem awful though. Lol They made it work.
February 27, 2026
Surprised 3.5 Stars.
I was truly surprised that I liked this story. I was not expecting this turn of events. Dating brothers at different times, and falling in love with the next brother was different. Shrug.
I was truly surprised that I liked this story. I was not expecting this turn of events. Dating brothers at different times, and falling in love with the next brother was different. Shrug.
March 15, 2026
A firefighter huh
Harlow man was right under her nose whole time!!
This was so good and Hasheem aka Hashsy is definitely “forever mine” material. Never gave only bestie lol.. they were playing theirselves with that. Especially finding out their history.. chileee please . lol
Harlow man was right under her nose whole time!!
This was so good and Hasheem aka Hashsy is definitely “forever mine” material. Never gave only bestie lol.. they were playing theirselves with that. Especially finding out their history.. chileee please . lol
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 9, 2026
10/10, would recommend.
Thank you Libro.FM for the ALC 💜
Thank you Libro.FM for the ALC 💜
July 31, 2026
This book was cute but I do find the FMC to be annoying. I like the messy plot and the brother not caring about them getting together.
February 22, 2026
I love a good friend to lovers read, so I knew I was in for a treat. Miss Harlowe was just a whirlwind of energy with her life and content creation. Excited about this brand retreat is all she can think about, except there's one issue. It is a couple's retreat, around Valentine's Day! 👀 Sis can't even pay anyone to be her plus one, so she recruits her bestie to be her fake man for the trip. What's the worst that could happen? 🤯
Hasheem will do anything for Harlowe, and she knows that. However, he knows that going on this trip with her is a bad idea. It could change everything between them, then what? But he does what he always does and bails her out. Here we come Zanzibar!
Upon arrival there is an accidental kiss between the two that changes the game! They both immediately begin to think what if. Can this work between us? Should we do it? This is so damn messy!! Harlowe is on the fence, however, Hasheem is all in. He has loved her from the beginning, but now his true feelings have come to the forefront. Then here comes the drama... A person close to the couple works for the company and is not happy about their coupling, making things even messier. Truths are spilled angering Hasheem and making Harlowe run for the hills. 🤬 I loved the intention and persistence Hasheem showed when Harlowe allowed her fears to rule her good sense. He never wavered on his stance and stood ten toes down for what he felt for her. Enjoyable read. 👍🏿
Hasheem will do anything for Harlowe, and she knows that. However, he knows that going on this trip with her is a bad idea. It could change everything between them, then what? But he does what he always does and bails her out. Here we come Zanzibar!
Upon arrival there is an accidental kiss between the two that changes the game! They both immediately begin to think what if. Can this work between us? Should we do it? This is so damn messy!! Harlowe is on the fence, however, Hasheem is all in. He has loved her from the beginning, but now his true feelings have come to the forefront. Then here comes the drama... A person close to the couple works for the company and is not happy about their coupling, making things even messier. Truths are spilled angering Hasheem and making Harlowe run for the hills. 🤬 I loved the intention and persistence Hasheem showed when Harlowe allowed her fears to rule her good sense. He never wavered on his stance and stood ten toes down for what he felt for her. Enjoyable read. 👍🏿
July 5, 2026
Loved this book down honey!!!
I love love loveee a good friends to lovers!! But throw in fake dating, a lil ex drama, and a vacation in Africa?? I'm hooked!!!
A. Blossom never fails and clearly she didn't with this one either!! I had a good lil time with this audiobook!
I really could've finished in like 4 hours but, hubby and son wanted family time or whatever so it took me more time than it should've 😂😂
Anywhooo, I loved the story between these two!! They fit together so well and I loved seeing them blossom from friends to lovers! I loved that Harlow was a bookish content creator (because hello!! Relatable af!!) even tho hubby isn't a firefighter 😂😂
I loved Harlowe and I was so glad when she finally stuck up for herself cause I was like phewww baby!!! But I absolutely loved how Hasheem was always ten toes down for whatever she was doing! Everyone truly needs a best friend/boyfriend like him!
I love love loveee a good friends to lovers!! But throw in fake dating, a lil ex drama, and a vacation in Africa?? I'm hooked!!!
A. Blossom never fails and clearly she didn't with this one either!! I had a good lil time with this audiobook!
I really could've finished in like 4 hours but, hubby and son wanted family time or whatever so it took me more time than it should've 😂😂
Anywhooo, I loved the story between these two!! They fit together so well and I loved seeing them blossom from friends to lovers! I loved that Harlow was a bookish content creator (because hello!! Relatable af!!) even tho hubby isn't a firefighter 😂😂
I loved Harlowe and I was so glad when she finally stuck up for herself cause I was like phewww baby!!! But I absolutely loved how Hasheem was always ten toes down for whatever she was doing! Everyone truly needs a best friend/boyfriend like him!
April 28, 2026
I had been dying to get this book since i saw it in a rec video a while back & im starting to think i like friends to lovers more than second chance lol
Harlowe & Hasheem had to take the time to realize how they really felt over the years of them knowing eachother beyond all the doubts and fears and drama. Harlowe was not so easy to win over bc of her own personal hang-ups & fears but this made her so relatable.
Hasheem wasn’t with too much drama including where his past meets his present in this story and i love it. He handled everything accordingly when in reality he had every right to go above & beyond with how he felt. He protected harlowe despite everything & personally if i could give this more stars i really would
Harlowe & Hasheem had to take the time to realize how they really felt over the years of them knowing eachother beyond all the doubts and fears and drama. Harlowe was not so easy to win over bc of her own personal hang-ups & fears but this made her so relatable.
Hasheem wasn’t with too much drama including where his past meets his present in this story and i love it. He handled everything accordingly when in reality he had every right to go above & beyond with how he felt. He protected harlowe despite everything & personally if i could give this more stars i really would
February 23, 2026
Book boyfriends 😍
This was some good mess, but it was also a sweet story about friends taking that next inevitable step into loverhood. Hasheem was definitely a book boyfriend. He showed up for Harlowe every time, always trying to show her the potential of what they could be. Super cute!
This was some good mess, but it was also a sweet story about friends taking that next inevitable step into loverhood. Hasheem was definitely a book boyfriend. He showed up for Harlowe every time, always trying to show her the potential of what they could be. Super cute!
March 7, 2026
friends to lovers but a bit messy
Hasheem and Lowe…. They were just so cute together especially when they got out their heads. Simone was so delusional that I felt for her in a sad way. lol glad everything worked out though and they got their HEA
Hasheem and Lowe…. They were just so cute together especially when they got out their heads. Simone was so delusional that I felt for her in a sad way. lol glad everything worked out though and they got their HEA
March 12, 2026
A Quickie! I loveeeed it
I wish it were a tad bit longer, but it was a great quick read! I had so many “smh” moments because I just knewwww they shouldn’t have been crossing that boundary.
I wish it were a tad bit longer, but it was a great quick read! I had so many “smh” moments because I just knewwww they shouldn’t have been crossing that boundary.
April 22, 2026
Listen, I love this book. It's usually hit or miss with Friends to Lovers but this one right here! Chef's Kiss! Harlowe did get on my dang nerves when it came to how she was treating Hasheem. I felt like she caused a lot of her own stress. Hasheem is now on one of my book boyfriends list.
February 20, 2026
Cute and short holiday read. Friends to lovers with fake dating. Fast paced with a lil drama. I enjoyed reading.
February 23, 2026
Messsss
This was quality mess. And Hashy put it downnnnnn. I’m glad Lowe got out of her head. But whew Simone needed hands put on her. She tried it.
This was quality mess. And Hashy put it downnnnnn. I’m glad Lowe got out of her head. But whew Simone needed hands put on her. She tried it.
March 11, 2026
This is friend to lovers done right. Hasheem applied the perfect amount of pressure and I ate that up!
March 20, 2026
😍😍😍
This was sooo messy but sooo sexy and cute. This man knew what he wanted and Im here fa it! 📚🚒 Great read!
This was sooo messy but sooo sexy and cute. This man knew what he wanted and Im here fa it! 📚🚒 Great read!
June 8, 2026
Stories like this are why I’m delusional. Lord when is it my turn??
July 2, 2026
Very very cute! But that 3rd act miscommunication trope grinds my gears everytime
July 26, 2026
I randomly read this one because someone on threads said it healed them. I needed a easy, cleanser read and decided to go for it.
It was ok but only because Hasheem is amazing. Harlowe is so irritating. I hate when I dislike a FMC so much but she was so indecisive!
I also struggled with hooking up with your ex's brother + BFF ex....like ew. That's just too many strikes to even go down the road.
It was ok but only because Hasheem is amazing. Harlowe is so irritating. I hate when I dislike a FMC so much but she was so indecisive!
I also struggled with hooking up with your ex's brother + BFF ex....like ew. That's just too many strikes to even go down the road.
March 18, 2026
Booked Boyfriends, Bad Decisions by A. Blossom was reallyyyy a good story. Like seriously, this book was crazy as hell but in the best way possible. From the beginning I was locked in, flipping through the pages trying to see what in the world was about to happen next. Every time I thought I had it figured out, something else popped off.
The drama, the secrets, the messy decisions… whew. It had me sitting there like “ain’t no way…” more than once. That’s the kind of story that keeps you up reading because you need to know what happens next.
And I’m not even gonna lie… this book had me side eyeing some of these other content creators that be posting their husbands and boyfriends like they the ultimate book baes. After reading this? I’m like hmmmmm… y’all sure about that? 🤣
Jokes aside, this was a wild, entertaining read that definitely kept my attention from start to finish. If you like messy, dramatic stories that keep the pages turning, this one is worth picking up. I was thoroughly entertained the whole time. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The drama, the secrets, the messy decisions… whew. It had me sitting there like “ain’t no way…” more than once. That’s the kind of story that keeps you up reading because you need to know what happens next.
And I’m not even gonna lie… this book had me side eyeing some of these other content creators that be posting their husbands and boyfriends like they the ultimate book baes. After reading this? I’m like hmmmmm… y’all sure about that? 🤣
Jokes aside, this was a wild, entertaining read that definitely kept my attention from start to finish. If you like messy, dramatic stories that keep the pages turning, this one is worth picking up. I was thoroughly entertained the whole time. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
May 16, 2026
3 ⭐️ Cute! This was every hopeless romantic book girly’s dream. Although I found myself saying “HARLOWE, PLEASE BE FOR REAL” a few times 🙄 baecation me please.
🌶️ Spicy but not too much
🤫 Fake Dating
😘 Friends to Lovers
🏖️ Vacation Romance
🌶️ Spicy but not too much
🤫 Fake Dating
😘 Friends to Lovers
🏖️ Vacation Romance
Displaying 1 - 30 of 195 reviews