Love You Later

Harvest Hollow Love Stories #3

by Julie Christianson

Falling in love was not in their wedding vows…

Loren Cane is in a downward spiral. Since her fiancé left her, she’s been juggling multiple jobs, mounting bills, and a father who’s slipping away. The only thing she has left is the found family that anchors her.

Namely, Bridger Adams.

Bridger has been hiding his secret wealth, his powerful influence, and the brutal condition attached to both: Walk down the aisle with a woman chosen for him, or sacrifice control of the trust fund that could save everything he cares about.

Especially Loren Cane.

Loren knows she can’t afford to lose Bridger. But as his deadline looms, her situation turns critical, and she proposes something outrageous:

Marry me instead.

On the surface, her solution is practical and mutually beneficial. Their wedding vows conveniently protect what matters most.

But as the boundaries of their friendship blur into something dangerously real, a new demand threatens to tear them apart.

Now, Loren and Bridger face an impossible choice:

Stay married and fight for love…

Or walk away with the money and lose each other.

Genres: Romance, Marriage Of Convenience, Contemporary, Friends To Lovers, Rom Com, Closed Door Romance, Fiction

350 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 23, 2026

About the author

Julie Christianson writes sweet romantic comedies—but only when she’s not reading them. Born and raised in the suburbs of Los Angeles, she loves her hilarious family, her three crazy rescue dogs, and laughing at her own jokes.

Julie dreamed of being an author the first time she held a crayon, and after the library where she worked closed in 2020, she decided to try her hand at penning her own small-town romcoms.

She’s a former high school English teacher and lapsed marathon runner, the mother of two great kids, and the wife of one very funny man. Her goal is to write books that make you laugh out loud, fall in love, and live happily ever after.

To connect with Julie, follow her on instagram (@juliechristiansonauthor), Facebook (@juliechristiansonauthor) or visit her website, juliechristianson.com.!

Reviews

[Katie (hiding in the pages) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Whoa. Irises. Competence. Butt. Eggs. Beware of mud, kitten.”

I am absolutely swooning over the moon over this one! This series is one of my most adored and I was frantic to get my hands on Love You Later. Friends to lovers can be a tricky trope and this one is done absolutely perfectly. Bridger and Loren are the best of friends and in various ways, they each find themselves needing the other for something more…something potentially dangerous: a marriage of convenience. I was completely infatuated over all the chemistry and swoon that this decision led to, including the most amazing forced proximity ever, which also involved one bed. 😉

Family can be complicated at times and the found family created between this couple and Dex and Sayla from Hate You Maybe won my heart over in every way possible. Plus, Loren’s dad is a total sweetheart, health conditions and all. While there are a lot of uncertainties regarding this choice, the decision to marry now and love later is idyllic.

“I don’t want certainty…I just want you.”

A story with all the steps out of order, but that still makes complete sense, is exactly what I needed right now. Beautifully written and utterly sweet, this one is a 5 star.

Content: mild romance

*I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*

[Morgan Giesbrecht · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am undone. 😭🥰🤭😏🫠 Perished by cuteness, I tell you. 😂

This is my favourite Christiansen novel to date. Friends to lovers meets marriage of convenience? Sign up me!!

Bridger and Loren were just so precious! UGH, I CANT EVEN!! Total green flags. Mature communication. Heartfelt moments. Plenty of giggles.

I NEED to get a copy for my shelves because I want to reread it already!

Content: make outs, infrequent mild language (occasional h*ll or d*mm)

[Reagan Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay y’all this book was SO GOOD 😍 I was laughing so hard so many times, while also feeling all the feels 🥹

Loren. Loren is a fighter. The way that she fights for her dad was so amazing 🥹 and I loved how although she is stubborn, she understood she needed help 💕 I loved how much she valued Bridger ❤️

Bridger. I was so beyond excited for his book and he is YEARNING guys 😭 I loved how respectful he was to Loren and her decisions, even when every fiber of him ached for her 😭

These two were so stinking cute 🥰 I loved the communication and the growth 🌷They both had lots of risks involved, but the support they offered each other made it all worthwhile 💗

⚠️ CW: loss of parent, FTD, messy parental relationships (including abandonment) minor infrequent swears ⚠️

[Madison Allshouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

“It’s about the moment Bridget Adams saw how hard things are for me. And he didn’t look away.”
🫠

WELL FOLKS? I loved this book. I was giggling, blushing, teary-eyed…what more could you ask for?!

This book is just another example of why marriage of convenience will always be one of my favorite tropes🙂‍↕️👏🏻🫶🏻 adding their already established deep friendship into it? IM A GONER, YALL🥲💕 Bridger is a certified YEARNER and I love him sm. Loren is so wholesome and just so lovable…how can you not root for their love?!😭🤧

🩵 marriage of convenience
🤍 friends-to-lovers
🩵 “it was always you”
🤍 he falls first
🩵 acts of service MMC
🤍 “my wife”🫠
🩵 forced proximity

[Kim Golding · Rating 5 out of 5]

“A loveless marriage couldn’t be any harder than sitting across from a woman who will never know my true feelings about her.”

Okay, okay…..is there a cuter MMC than Bridger Adams? Love You Later is a super cute marriage of convenience, small town, secret billionaire, friends to more romcom that I’m absolutely smitten with!!

When best friends Bridger and Loren both find themselves in a predicament, they soon discover that they can help each other out by getting married! Too bad they are both secretly harboring feelings for each other and living together will only amplify those feelings!!

Ahhh!! These two are absolutely adorable! I loved how protective Bridger was—he had a heart of absolute gold when it came to Loren and her dad! Loren was so sweet and down to earth and I loved how she cared for her dad and how she loved Bridger. This story was a marriage of convenience done right!

Favorite quotes:

“…after Foster dumped me, Bridger became my rock. He’s been a constant source of stability and support since then. He wipes my tears. He moves my mattresses. Metaphorically and literally. Above all else, I trust the man. So, no matter how great his irises are, I can’t let our plan muddy up the waters of our friendship. Losing him is another thing I can’t afford.

“You’re already in love with your coworker. Just like I am.”

“I need to stop staring at my future husband’s butt. Immediately.”

[Laura Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhh! I have been waiting for this one from Julie Christianson for months! Reading it was everything I was hoping for and more.

Bridger and Loren are the best of friends. At least that is what Loren thinks, but Bridger has been pining away for her ever since he first met her. When they both find themselves in a predicament they realize getting married would benefit and help them both out.

I loved how this one opened with a fun reference from the Friends TV show and the legendary Pivot scene. That immediately put a big smile on my face that stayed with me through this story. Bridger and Loren were just the cutest couple ever! It would be really hard not to fall for Bridger. He is sweet and cares for Loren so much. He took yearning to a new level and I loved every minute of it! There were times at the beginning that my heart was breaking for him because he had such strong feelings for Loren that he could not share. I had a feeling they would get returned sooner or later. :) There were so many cute moments in this one. I love how Bridger endearingly called Loren, Kitten. I love how they quickly fell into such a peaceful routine when they started living together after the wedding. I loved how Loren heard Bridger singing songs from their wedding in the shower. Talk about a tender MMC; I am pretty sure Bridger is at the top of that list!

This story was witty and fun! It made me swoon and had a twist to the story that kept me hooked to the very end. There was also some drama involved but just enough to make things interesting without taking away from the sweetness of the story. Love you Later is a truly amazing marriage of convenience, friends to more story that I couldn’t get enough of.

Tropes:
Secretly Wealthy
Marriage of Convenience
Friends to More
Teachers/Co-workers
Forced Proximity
Found Family

Content Awareness: Parent with dementia, manipulative mom

I received a complementary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Stephanie Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

You. Guys. This book!!! Love You Later is out now, and I can’t say enough about how beautiful it was. Bridger is going to steal hearts, full stop. Bridger and Loren together are absolutely adorable. Just like every book by Julie Christianson, there is so much heart and fun in this story. It even starts with a fun “pivot!” Moment! (IYKYK 😉)

Marriage of convenience stories can be absolutely beautiful if done right, and this one very much is. Throw in long time secret pining and friends to love, with a side dose of secret revelations and a man who will fight for the ones he cares about, even to his own detriment… so beautiful!

Then we have sweet Loren who takes care of her dad who has been struggling with dementia-which was written with so much care and consideration-after having already lost her mom and recently jilted by her former fiancé. She’s so strong with such a tender heart, she just needs a soft place to land, and that’s Bridger.

Of course, when you throw in certain conniving side characters and other chaos, the route to happily ever after is full of chaos, but that just makes the hea all the sweeter. Grab your copy today!

I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Cherilyn (Cherwhatyouread) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loren and Bridger find themselves in a mutually beneficial marriage of convenience. They have to prove their marriage is real (in the legal sense) and trust that everything won't go up in smoke. Bridger and Loren are both fun characters and watching them work together through their challenges was entertaining at moments and gut wrenching at others! Bridger fell first but Loren definitely follows in her husband's footsteps. Loved this book!

Favorite parts
-PIVOT!
-Bridger singing
-Dex being Dex. being ridiculous.
-Loren's wedding dress
-Bridger's secret visits

Favorite Quotes:
“I can be romantic,” he says. “When properly motivated.”

Electricity bolts straight to my core. Not the heat of attraction, although Loren has never looked more beautiful. This is something different. Something like pure love.

all I can hear are Bridger’s words of love and desire echoing in my brain. There’s no way I’ll be able to fall asleep now.

And the one constant is him.

[Kaci Bonar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever noticed that on each of Julie Christianson’s books that are blue, the FMCs are redheads?!  There is just something extra magical about them!  Bridger and Loren are no exception, these two started off as wonderful supporting characters, but as protagonists they’re next level!

Loren Cane, English teacher by profession, loyal friend, and loving daughter!  This woman has been through a lot in her life and she’s a credit to the ones who raised her.  As we find out in the previous book, her longtime relationship comes crashing down around her and a fellow teacher/friend helps by stepping in by being the emotional rock she needs.  Even now, all those months later, this friend has stood by Loren as her father continues to navigate his health rollercoaster.  Knowing she must provide not only for herself also him and having the rug of additional finances snatched away from her, the found family she has established amongst some of her fellow teachers come to her aid.

One friend seems to shine brighter than the others, but not because he wants to hog the spotlight, it’s because his feelings run a little bit deeper than the others and his name is Bridger Adams.  Bridger is a science teacher at Stony Peak High, and the most dependable person Loren has ever met.  When Bridger’s carefully guarded secret spills out in a moment of weakness, Loren steps up for him in an unexpected way. Bridger doesn’t want Loren to feel obligated to step up and it’s a risk to his heart that he even agrees in the temporary, but somehow these two find their way.

While there are emotional and physical highs/lows in this story, it’s the loyalty factor that leaves me gobsmacked!  Loren and Bridger come through for each other, but their fellow teachers Sayla and Dex also show how far they’re willing to go to lend a hand.  While some hurdles are written in, the cream rises to the top!  Whether it’s the littlest or the most surprising of things, I’m here for them all!  These characters are all heart and that will forever endear me to them!  Job well done Julie!

[Haley Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love You Later @juliechristiansonauthor
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🫑Closed Door

You don't know yearning until you've met Bridger Adams. He has a PhD in yearning! Love You Later is friends to lovers done SO perfectly. Just stop what you're doing and go read this book! As Dex would say, "10 out of 10, no notes."

"I don't want certainty... I just want you"

Love you Later is book 3 in this interconnected standalone series. Do yourself a favor and just read them all!
Read if you love a mix of friends, still lovers, marriage of convenience, closed, or romance, nicknames, and epic yearning

[Arla Walsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lowkey not bad. I hated his mom tho. Like actually she can rot in a dumpster full of rat feces for all I care. But the fact that he was in love with her the ENTIRE time but never acted on it or even hinted that he liked her was a bit annoying but it all worked out in the end ig. Literally tho the part where she says she wants to stuff her face in tacos and he’s like “I’ve never been more jealous of a tortilla” cracks me up sm like I genuinely cackled lmao😭🤣

[Faith | The Wholesome Shelf]

I really wanted to like this one. I’ve been trying to get into it because I’m such a fan of the marriage of convenience trope, but I’m just not in the right headspace for it. Even at 23% in, I wasn't quite hooked. It’s a soft DNF for now, and I’ll try to get back to it in the future.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julie Christianson writes the most fun FMCs- there I said it! I really loved Loren and found her so relatable. And Bridger was so sweet and full of yearning for our girl. I loved seeing Loren realize her feelings for him while he’s been quietly in love with her already. This marriage of convenience has some little twists and turns (mostly at the hands of Bridger’s mother), which made their story a little more fun for me personally. This story has cute small town vibes, found family, and equal parts heart and humor. I’m not quite ready to leave Harvest Hollow, so I hope we get to see more of these characters in the future!

[Jaymie Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best friends Loren and Bridger were not planning on a wedding…but when a trust fund is only received if Bridger gets married before 30, Loren steps in. The marriage is beneficial for both, what’s the worst that could happen? 🤭

The humor, heart, and sensitivity put into Julie Christianson’s novels is unmatched. I laugh, I smile, and swoon. This is a great pick for those who like a closed door romcom, and love all the yearning! Some things you will find:

💍 Marriage of convenience
🤍 Friends to lovers
💍 Forced Proximity
🤍 Found Family
💍 Caregiver FMC
🤍 Protective MMC

I was gifted a copy from Booked With the Emily’s and Julie Christianson. All opinions are my own! Opinion: I loved it!

[DayDreamer8912 · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5
Genre: Clean Romance/ Sweet Romance
🚨TW: loss of love ones, controlling parent, mentions of dementia

Favourite Moments
💍 He help her with the move (can’t spoil it)
💍 Their teasing and flirting
💍 Them helping each other. (can’t spoil it)
💍 Moments with Sayla and Dex (can’t spoil it)
💍 The things that they do making the marriage believable (can’t spoil it)
💍 Them opening up to each other and getting to know more about each other.
💍 In the kitchen(can’t spoil it)
💍 Their movie nights (can’t spoil it)
💍 His birthday!! (can’t spoil it)
💍 The twist of the story (can’t spoil it )
(lots more)

Swoony Moments
💍 He loves and cares for her and cares for her father (can’t spoil it)
💍 He falls first
💍 He shows his vulnerable side to her.
💍 He try his best to help her in whatever he can to make her smile and always there for her.
💍 He sings in the shower (can’t help it)
💍 He is a hopeless romantic.

Synopsis:
Loren
An English teacher who had multiple jobs to make ends meet, had lost her mother and she is taking care of her father who is struggling with dementia.

Bridger
A science teacher who holds a secret about his family background. He is in love with Loren for the longest time and will do whatever he can to help her.

Loren’s fiancé left her and she is about to lose her summer job too and her father’s dementia is getting worse and in serious need of care while Bridger had his own struggles because in order to inherit his trust funds, he had to be married by 30 which is 2 weeks away. His mother is trying to match make him with a woman to have a partnership between businesses. However, Bridger had someone he is in love with which the person he loves doesn’t know. In order to help Bridger not to marry for the person he doesn’t love, she made a proposal and that’s where their marriage of convenience start. Will he be able to tell her his feelings? Will this marriage of convenience be real? Read Love You Later to find out!!

Review:
Love love these two so much. They are just so adorable together. Love that they both help each other and care for each other.

He falls first but she didn’t know because he is afraid if he tells her his feelings he will lose her. However, because he was supposed to be married by 30 years old so that he can get his inheritance his mom wants him to married the person she chose which made Loren proposed that she will take the role of marrying him.

Awww… and their marriage in convenience begins. It is filled with sweet moments and trying their best to make everything look so real hahaa… and their friends Sayla and Dex helped them as much as possible. And through that they became closer than ever and feelings grew.

Her father is just so sweet. He cares for his daughter and wants her to not worry about him and he loves Bridger too who stood by his daughter and be there for his daughter.

Can’t spoil the whole story. You will have to read to find out!! A cute friends to lovers story.

I was gifted complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own. Thanks to @juliechristiansonauthor for the ARC.

This book is under Harvest Hollow Series you can read the previous books which is Faking the Fall which is Lincoln and Hadley's love story and Hate you, Maybe which is Sayla and Dex's love story.

You can purchase it on Amazon and it is available on KU.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Julie does it again! I have been a fan of hers for years, and I've long known that I will love everything she writes. Love you Later is such a beautiful addition to her Harvest Hallow series and lived up to my incredibly high expectations!

Marriage of convenience. Friends to more. Workplace (teachers) romance. Found family.

From the moment we meet Bridger and Loren in Hate You Maybe, I knew they were meant to be. Their love story felt so natural and I loved seeing them get their happily ever after. This story is not your typical friends to lovers trope. Perhaps its because we know Bridger is in love with Loren from the first page. Or perhaps because we get so many other fun tropes -- marriage of convenience, only one bed, he protects her, and more. But this is easily one of my favorite friends to more books I've ever read. The miscommunication is very minimal and the swoom is fantastic. I was cheering for these two the whole way and loved their happily ever after.

I loved all the glimpses we get of favorite couples from Julie's other Harvest Hallow stories. Getting so many scenes with Sayla and Dex was a huge treat! Hate You Maybe is still my all time favorite of Julie's novels so seeing them after their happily ever after was so fun. I loved all the ways they support Bridger and Loren from helping on their wedding day to planning birthday surprise parties and just being amazing friends. Sayla and Dex forever! Also loved the glimpses from my favorite celebrity couple from Harvest Hallow ;)

This novel includes some heavier topics that Julie incorperates into her story with poise and grace. Loren has lost her mom to cancer before the book starts. Her grief is poignant throughout the story. Her dad is also suffering from early onset dementia which is difficult to say the least. I loved her relationship with her dad and how hard she works for him and his safety. And I adore the ways Bridger connects with Loren's dad and how he supports them both in this difficult transition. Bridger's parents are divorced (his dad left when he was a kid) and his mother is both insane and manipulative. Seriously, WOW, I haven't read about a controlling/manipulative parent like her in quite a while. She is insane and often the worst. Seeing Bridger try to connect with her was admirable. Seeing him fight for love despite her manipulations was fantastic. Both Loren and Bridger deserve the beautiful happily ever after they finally find in this book!

It was fun to see some familiar faces from Julie's previous Harvest Hallow love stories and meet new characters I'm already cheering for. I hope to read more of their stories in future books! Please keep writing Harvest Hallow love stories, Julie! ;)

[Melissa’s Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored Love You Later! Julie Christianson took marriage of convenience and friends to more and knocked it out of the park. Talk about swoon! This is the yearning, sweet kisses, protective hero story I’ve been waiting for!

Bridger Adams is the Batman/Superman combo I didn’t know I needed. He’s thoughtful, infinitely kind, & appears to be a humble science teacher, but is secretly a wealthy, powerful philanthropist. To secure his trust fund and continue his pet projects, he has to marry by his 30th birthday, and his controlling mother already has a bride in mind. But Bridger’s secretly in love with his fellow teacher & best friend, Loren Cane. He longs for more, but after her disastrous engagement, Loren isn’t interested in a relationship.

Loren Cane’s a sweet, nurturing English teacher and I just loved her! As her father’s degenerative dementia progresses, she struggles to provide the care he needs. When her summer teaching job falls through, she has no idea how she’ll afford his PT & other expenses. It’s Bridger to the rescue! When he reveals his tightly held secret of being a real life Bruce Wayne and that he has to marry in a few weeks or lose his trust fund, she devises a marriage of convenience plan that’ll benefit them both… if they can keep feelings from developing.

This story completely grabbed my heart. The longing is palpable! Bridger & Loren jump through so many hoops to convince his mother their marriage is real, and I loved every close-proximity, yearning-filled moment where Bridger has to keep himself in check. Loren isn’t far behind. I especially loved how her trust grows as she sees all the ways Bridger loves and cares for her and her father.

I adored the delightful humor and friendship between Loren & Bridger and their best friends, Sayla & Dex. I was laughing so hard at the wedding they pulled off. Their found-family dynamic is so sweet, and I loved all the ways they supported each other. The humorous moments are beautifully woven in with tender threads of loss, abandonment, and a difficult mother/son relationship.

Highly recommend to closed door romcom fans! Can’t wait for the next book. This book can be read as a standalone, but recommend reading the books in order to avoid spoilers. I received an advanced copy with no expectation of a positive review. All opinions are completely my own & provided voluntarily.

[Billi (toevery_book_thereisaseason) · Rating 5 out of 5]

🩵💍ARC Review💍🩵
Rating: 5/5⭐️
Recommended Age: 16+
Series: Harvest Hollow Love Stories 3

This is the first book I have read by Julie Christianson, and I know I’ll go read her others. Her writing style reminded me of Jen Atkinson and Late Watson yet still remains unique. If you haven’t checked this book, this is your sign to go.

An MMC who yearns is going to be a favorite for me. Bridger made it to that list with flying colors. One of my top favorite MMCs who yearn.🦋🫠🩵 There is just something about a man who is willing to sacrifice himself to the proverbial dragon to save the woman he loves that gets me. Bridger was willing to marry someone else to help Loren. A marriage of convenience, except Loren didn’t like that. She proposes something different. A marriage of convenience…to her. She couldn’t let Bridger sacrifice himself for her without helping him in return. *cue the squeals*😏

Dex was a hoot! So stinking funny. It makes me regret having to not read his book because of the deadline I was under. (My own mismanagement of time fault.) But anyway, his “brilliant” ideas were so funny.

This book made me laugh, squeal,and cry, along with many moments that gave me butterflies.

Love You Later was perfect. No notes. (Iykyk)

You’ll find:
🩵Friends to Lovers
💍Marriage of Convenience
🩵He Falls First; He Falls Harder
💍Forced Proximity
🩵Caregiver FMC
💍Protective MMC
🩵Found Family
💍Only One Bed

POV: Dual POV, first person, present tense
Door: Closed door 🚪
Intimacy level according to Closed Door Romance: Level 2
Swearing chart according to Closed Door Romance: Mild
Trigger Warnings: man!putative mother, father with FTD

*photos are not mine*
**Disclaimer: Thank you to partners, Bookedwiththeemilys and Julie Christianson for an eARC of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.**

[Missy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved loved loved this book so much! I read this in less than 24 hours and I was sad it was over!

Thank you to @bookedwiththeemilys and @juliechristianson for my copy of this book.

When friends and coworkers Bridger and Loren find themselves in need of some help, they decide that they can both help each other by getting married. The problem is that Bridger is already in love with his friend and soon to be wife, but he's pretty sure Loren doesn't feel the same way. Loren absolutely doesn't want to risk losing her friend, so she feels like she has to keep her feelings on lockdown.

Read this if you like:
🩵Friends to lovers
💍Marriage of convenience
🩵Secret Billionaire
💍All the yearning
🩵Found family
💍Forced proximity
🩵Protective MMC
💍Caregiver FMC
🩵Closed door

OK friends get ready to add Bridger Adams to your book boyfriend list. The way he LOVED Loren throughout this whole book, even when he thought he would only be her friend. They way he took care of her, the way he befriended her dad, all of it just made me fall in love with him.

My girl Loren has been through it, she's stubborn and feels like she needs to do everything on her own. She's been carrying the load of taking care of her dad and working extra jobs to help with money and she was really struggling. I loved it so much when she allowed Bridger to lighten her load a bit.

In all the ways they worked to make their marriage look real, they developed real feelings for each other. I loved how they got to know each other better, how Loren wanted to take care of Bridger, how Bridger just wanted to protect Loren. They had a few obstacles thrown in their way (Bridger's mother is a piece of work), but they handled them together.

This is my second book by Julie and I have loved both, I am a forever fan now! Love You Later is out now and you should definitely add this to your TBR!

[Tasha (the_clean_read_book_club) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. And in this situation, I’m the idiot gander, honking out my love for a woman who’ll never want me back.”

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

A marriage of convenience turns into something neither Loren nor Bridger planned for.

Loren Cane is drowning in responsibilities, barely holding life together after loss and ongoing family strain. Bridger Adams is her steady constant…until his inheritance forces him into an impossible choice: marry or lose everything he’s built.

So Loren offers a solution that changes everything: marry me instead.

What starts as practical quickly becomes personal.

TLDR: This one really worked for me.

I’ve been cautious with marriage of convenience lately, a lot have felt like an easy excuse to drop in a mid read fade to back and I’m happy to say that this is a Marriage of Convenience done right for those of us not looking to blur boundaries and still keep the tension and swoon—10/10 execution for this trope.

Bridger is a hero who quietly shows up and falls first in the best way, and Loren’s journey from “I can handle everything myself” to realizing she doesn’t have to? So satisfying. Their dynamic just works.

Forced proximity, found family, emotional tension, and that slow shift from friendship to something more—PERFECTION!

And yes, Dex fans, you’ll be very happy with this next book in the series…as Dex would say, “10/10. No notes.”

This is a heartfelt, easy-to-devour romance that releases tomorrow!! Preorder now and start reading at midnight😁

Happy reading📚

Content/Triggers: mild language (a few biblical swears), one religious exclamation, one crude term, mild innuendo, death of a loved one (off-page, past), dementia, strained parental relationship, romance-kisses only.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

"So you're just gonna put a ring on her finger, move in with the woman, and pine away for her in silence?"
"Pretty much.”
"Good luck with that, man."

"The thing is, I have no true claim over Loren's heart. Just a piece of paper that says she's my legal wife. And yet, raw possessiveness leaks through my chest, overwhelming logic."

He feathers tender kisses at the corners of my mouth, my chin, my cheeks, the tip of my nose. When he slides to my neck, I can barely breathe. But in this moment, I don't need oxygen or food or anything else. I just need him.
"You're safe," he whispers.

This was the sweetest friends-to-lovers, marriage of convenience story - my two favorite tropes! And this is definitely my new favorite by Julie Christianson. I have wanted these characters' story since the last book, and she delivered!

Bridger and Loren were perfection - their romance had heart, humor, high stakes, and mature communication. I loved how selflessly they loved and supported each other, even as friends, and when things started to shift they didn't create unnecessary drama, but chose to be honest and to fight for each other.

Bridger's mother was a PIECE. OF. WORK! (His words, my emphasis added). She certainly served her purpose as an obstacle and villain. I appreciated that you got glimpses of the woman and mother she could be, but the ending didn't bring about some neatly packaged redemption story. Instead Bridger and Loren set boundaries, there's a slightly open door but the rest remains to be seen. On the flip side, Sayla and Dex from the previous book were hilarious and wonderfully supportive BFF/friend square side characters this time around!

"Ten out of ten. No notes." (IYKYK 😉)

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book—how could I not when it opens with a Ross Geller–style moment? Bridger and Loren are moving her into an apartment, and she shouts “PIVOT.” Instantly iconic. Then there are the Bill Nye references tied to Bridger being a science teacher. As someone who grew up watching Bill Nye the Science Guy, I couldn’t help but chuckle at those moments. I also really appreciated that the story features educators—being a teacher myself, I’m always a fan of a good teacher romance.

This rom-com has all the right components of a friends-to-lovers story. I loved how strong their friendship was and how supportive Loren and Bridger are of each other. There are so many laugh-out-loud moments as they navigate their friendship-turned-marriage of convenience. I also found myself cringing at times—especially when it came to Margaret and Rosalind.

Bridger’s mom is a real piece of work. I struggled with her character throughout the story and how cold she is toward both her son and Loren. It was frustrating to see how opposed to love she was—so much so that she was willing to sacrifice her son’s happiness.

I definitely plan to go back and read Faking the Fall and Hate You Maybe. I think that will give me a better sense of Sayla and Dex, whom I absolutely loved. Their energy and unwavering support for Bridger and Loren added so much to the story. Plus, I’m always a sucker for an actor romance, so I already know I’ll enjoy Faking the Fall.

Overall, this is a fantastic book—no spice, but full of emotion and love. Julie does a wonderful job writing the depth of feeling between the characters and highlighting the importance of friendship. I also loved the references to classic shows from my childhood and teen years—very nostalgic.

[Sierra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reader’s Notes:

*Series or Connected Books?* part of a series, but can be read as a stand-alone

-Just a heads up though -> there is a spoiler in this book related to the ending events of Hate You, Maybe (the identity of the donor for the school repairs is revealed in this book)

*Point Of View:* Loren & Bridger

*Any Cursing Or Possibly Offensive Language?* it is mentioned once that a character curses, but no words used on page

*Romance?* Yes! Just kisses

*Things To Know:*

–it is mentioned that a character’s parent left when the character was young (past event)

-it is mentioned that a character’s parent passed (past event)

-a character’s parent has dementia & the character is their primary care

Review:

Oh my goodness I loved these two so much! I loved seeing the hinting at them possibly becoming more in Hate You, Maybe so I was thrilled when this book was announced! And the book lived up to the hype my mind gave it!

I loved getting to know Bridger and his caring heart. I loved that he had dreams that were bigger than what his executor wanted for the money he had squared away. I loved that he wanted to take care of Loren & her dad, even knowing that he might never get the chance at more with Loren. I loved that he went out of his way to make sure Loren was take care of and the little things he’d do for her. I loved that Loren was given the chance to breathe after everything that happens before and during the beginning of this book. It was nice to see her process her feelings for everything that happened and then see her be able to move on and consider Bridger in a different light than friendship. I loved that we got to see more of Sayla & Dex in this book too! They were a lot of fun when it came to being in the know of the fake relationship and helping Bridger & Loren pull it off. It was also fun to see them both trying to encourage Bridger & Loren to see if something real between them was an option.

I’m not sure if there’s a plan for more books in this series or not, but I’m hoping that Bridger’s other marriage candidate might get her own story! She was so sweet!

Summary:

Loren is still grieving her relationship with her ex-fiancé since they’d planned for a future she thought was sure until he suddenly ended things. But there isn’t much time to grieve when her father is having constant health troubles which require her to work multiple jobs to just barely cover his medical bills. The only truly bright spot in her life is her friend & coworker Bridger. No matter how much she tries to push people away, he won’t let her waste away in her ever mounting stress. So when he enlightens her to a situation that could end something good he’s trying to do, Loren doesn’t hesitate to offer her assistance. Even when it means she’ll have to marry her friend…

Bridger fell for Loren when he first met her, but at the time she was happily in a relationship. Now she’s against dating anyone ever again in order to protect her heart. So when Loren offers to help him secure his autonomy with the wealth he’s been hiding from everyone, he knows that things could end badly for his heart. Because the only way to do that would require that they get married. And knowing the executer of the account for his funds, they’ll have to be convincing in order to pull off their ruse effectively.

[Randi Sampson · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a book starts with a Friends right from the first page (first sentence even), you know it's going to be a good one, right? And this one most cetainly was that! Right from the start, Bridger and Loren had me laughing... and those smiles didn't stop even through to the very end. She's trying to take care of her of her father with dementia and has no plans to ever marry after a failed engagement. He's secretly wealthy but will lose full access to his trust fund if he doesn't marry before his upcoming birthday... and that's not his only secret. He's also secretly in love with her. So, a marriage of convenience between two friends is the perfect solution, right? Bridger might just be one of the sweetest MMC ever. I'm always a sucker for a good he falls first story, so I loved that, of course. But he's also so selfless and generous. I couldn't help but love the way he looked after both Loren and her father. And the fact that he was this way even with his mother being who she was? Amazing. Seriously, she's quite the character, adding so much drama to the story. Just when I'd think I had her figured out... she'd surprise me. While their story did touch on some more difficult topics, like the health of her dad, the laugh out loud moments throughout kept it feeling light and fun... and I absolutely loved it!

Love You Later is a closed-door romance with kisses only and minor language. It is the third book in the Harvest Hollow Love Stories series, and while you may get a bit of a spoiler if you read this one first, I do think this could be enjoyed as a standalone as well.

**ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Angie Miale · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely adored Love You Later by Julie Christianson; this sweet, marriage-of-convenience romance set in Harvest Hollow just won me over.

Loren and Bridger are such a lovable couple, and if you enjoy a friends-to-lovers dynamic, this story delivers beautifully. The pacing feels just right, and the dialogue captures that tender, growing realization of love so well. From the very beginning, it’s obvious to the reader that these two belong together; it’s less about if they’ll fall in love and more about when they’ll finally admit it to each other.

Loren’s emotional journey adds depth to the story. After being left at the altar, she carries understandable hesitation, all while balancing her responsibilities as a teacher and as the full-time caregiver for her ailing father. Bridger, meanwhile, brings his own complication, especially a secret trust fund that requires him to marry, and a mother you’ll love to dislike. Their marriage isn’t about convenience in a legal sense, but about keeping up appearances, particularly from his formidable mother, which adds a fun layer of tension.

I also loved revisiting Harvest Hollow and spending time at Tequila Mockingbird again…it really feels like returning to a cozy, romantic world. We even get cameos from the main characters from the first two books. They’re interconnected standalones.

This is a closed-door romance with no swearing, making it a very wholesome and heartwarming read. If you’re looking for a sweet, emotionally satisfying love story, this one is definitely worth picking up.

Thank you to @Bookedwiththeemilys and @juliechristiansonauthor for the ARC and including me on the tour.

[Tammy Lunsford - Escape to Books By Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are some books that I never bother to read the blurb. I just dive in with both feet. This was one of those books. I am so glad I knew nothing about it until I started reading. It was a pleasant surprise.

Bridger Adams is my new hero. He is so giving and also respectful of everyone. No one has a clue the local science teacher has a hefty trust. He lives simply and is happy living that way.

Loren Cane is a strong-willed woman. She loves her father and wants what is best for him. She is a teacher as well, and tutors students on the side to make extra money. She and Bridger are best friends. Unbeknownst to her, he has the means to pay for her Dad to live in a top notch memory care facility. But to access the trust money, he has to get married, with a few more horrific caveats. You know where this is headed.

This marriage of convenience story was also a friends to more story. I mean who could help but fall for Bridger? I also adored Loren's father. He was so sweet, even when his memory was failing him. He was also funny at times.

There was plenty of laugher, but also some emotionally charged moments that almost broke my heart. Then you add in Bridger's mom, or Cruella DeVille as I called her. She fit the bill down to the white streak in her hair. I do not believe I have ever despised a character as much as I did this snooty, condescending woman. Thankfully, all of the other characters were incredible and made the story special. Beware because swooning will be a necessary component while reading this wonderful romance.

Thank you to the author and Booked With the Emilys for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Shell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute friends to lovers, marriage of convenience. Bridger has loved Loren ever since he met her, but she was engaged at the time, so he's only ever been her friend. But when Bridger and Loren find themselves in a mutually beneficial marriage of convenience, he still has to hide his feelings because he'd never want Loren to think he's trying to take advantage of their situation. But of course, the forced proximity and acting like they're married starts to open up Loren's heart to see Bridger in a different light.

I loved how patient and caring Bridger was as he waited for Loren to figure out her feelings. Dex and Sayla were great friends, teasing and encouraging (Dex to Bridger) and cautioning and supporting (Sayla to Loren). I was surprised that Sayla wasn't more exuberant when Loren admitted she had feelings for Bridger.

We also had a scheming, manipulative mother, a father with dementia with whom Bridger was just the sweetest, a little light jealousy, and a financial solution at the end that felt a little Deus ex Machina, but it's a rom-com with a HEA so it's alright. Overall, this book was good, light, and cute.

What you'll find in this book:
*marriage of convenience
*friends to lovers
*teacher MCs
*found family
*he falls first
*forced proximity
*strong friendships
*dual POV

Content warning: father with dementia, manipulative mother
Romance level: 3/7 (kisses only)

Thank you to the author and bookedwiththeemilys, I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Riella Cristobal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was adorable! I was so excited to return to this world and to read Loren and Bridger’s story.
Oh I felt for Loren! She had so much on her plate, with her dad, her job, and the changes around her with Sayla and Dex being married. Bridger’s solution solved her main problem but left her with new issues. She was so sweet and caring, especially for her dad. Loren had been a caretaker on her own for os long and Bridger’s support was a bit of a shock to her system. I loved getting to see with her how to lean on someone else and to learn to trust enough to fall in love!
Bridger was such a sweetheart! I adored him and the way he cared for Loren. He was so thoughtful and genuine. Bridger just wanted to help people and support Loren, but also was so careful about overwhelming her. Bridger was aching for a home and family and he found it with Loren and Harlan.
It was so fun to see Sayla and Dex again! They are hilarious and full of life. I love the way they jumped in as partners in crime for Loren and Bridger and their constant support. It was so sweet to see their friendship. The romance was adorable and I loved how they connected. Harlan was a sweetheart and I loved seeing the budding relationship within their new family. This is a sweet romcom with only kisses. The male main character’s father left his family (in the past, off-page) and the female main character lost her mother (in the past, off-page) and her father has dementia , his care is a current plot point.
I received an ARC.

[Maggie | TheeReadingRedhead · Rating 4 out of 5]

(more like 4.5 stars)

📚 Series: Harvest Hollow Love Stories (Book 3)
🎭 Genre: Romcom

🥜 In a Nutshell: Two friends enter a marriage of convenience to benefit them both. He gains access to his trust based on a marriage stipulation and she gets healthcare provided for her father. Sounds like a good plan until their marriage starts to feel a little too real.

✅ Marriage of convenience
✅ Forced proximity
✅ Friends to more

Every time I read a Julie Christianson book, I always feel like it's my new favorite of hers. I also just really love this series set in Harvest Hollow and especially the books surrounding teachers/school staff. I work in education so I love that setting. Marriage of convenience is one of my favorite tropes too. This one was a secret that they had to sell to Bridger's mother who decides to come stay with them. There were so many cute moments between Loren and Bridger. They are definitely one of my favorite couples that Julie has written. I was a little worried about a forced third act break up but they handled their problems with maturity which I appreciated. In addition to the sweet romance and Bridger being a fantastic book boyfriend, there were many funny friendship moments between Loren and Bridger, as well as with Sadie and Dex. All in all, another fantastic addition to the Harvest Hollow series with one of my favorite couples yet.

Thank you to Julie Christianson for the ARC! All opinions expressed are my own.

[Kelli M. Stowers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loren and Bridger are #relationshipgoals! From their solid friendship to their great communication, they have a love that I aspire to.

Loren has a lot to handle and I loved seeing how much support she had around her. And no one is more supportive than Bridger. After going through a lot of hard things, she realizes “It isn’t about my father or cheeseburgers, either. It’s about the moment Bridger Adams saw how hard things are for me. And he didn’t look away.”

Bridger is the cinnamon-iest cinnamon roll out there. He is lovable and kind. He has everyone’s back, and is just trying to make a positive impact on the world. I loved seeing him take care of others in quiet ways. He’s not there for show. He is truly giving with sincerity and love.

I LOVED how Loren and Bridger communicate. They are open and honest with each other and don’t wait for misunderstandings to fester before addressing them. When they have something to discuss, they say it, but also understand that some discussions need time and space to make sure everyone has the right mindset and intentions.

The found family, “Square of Friendship” between Loren and Bridger and Dex and Sayla was so fun to see. They all have each others’ backs no matter what is happening.

This friends to lovers, small town, marriage of convenience romcom is the 3rd book in the Harvest Hollow Love Stories series. It can be read as a standalone, but the experienced would be enriched by reading in order.