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The Lie of Having It All

Not yet published
Expected 19 Mar 26

Win a free print copy of this book!

8 days and 10:55:21

25 copies available
U.S. only
Rate this book
A small-town forbidden romance between a grumpy publicist and his sunshine, pop-star client that can be read as a standalone or as part of an interconnected romance series!

What to expect:

-A fun, spicy, standalone rom com
-Grumpy sunshine vibes and banter
-A pop star lying low in a small town
-A grumpy publicist looking for peace and quiet
-Allllll the delicious spice (our MMC Leo is the king of talking dirty)
-Found family vibes


From a young age, child star-turned pop star Willa Stone knew “having it all” was a myth. The truth is, at some point, you have to choose what you really want in life: a career or a love life, fame or friends, success or peace. Knowing her true purpose in life is to create music and perform, she’s long accepted that her life would always be on display, and every moment would revolve around building the brand. Even her relationships are manufactured, a lifetime of fake PR relationships in order to build interest in her next album.

When she’s instructed to hide from the limelight for a while, she isn’t sure what to do with herself. That is, until she stumbles into Holly Ridge. There, she starts daydreaming about finding balance and, for the first time in her life, having it all.

After a health scare made him realize he was living for nothing but his job, Leo Sinclaire is out to find balance in his life. This starts with buying a rundown house, connecting with the roots he’s ignored since becoming a cutthroat publicist to some of the world's biggest stars, and, most importantly, being alone.

Unfortunately, he quickly finds that if he wants to be alone, Holly Ridge is the wrong choice. That peaceful existence completely evaporates when he discovers his biggest client—and biggest headache—has the same small town as her place to hide away. He spends time trying to keep her in line, both for his job and his sanity, but after a while, old feelings start to surface, and even though dating a client is strictly forbidden, he can’t seem to stop thinking about her.

What happens when those thoughts turn into trying to figure out if they can have it all, together?

Paperback

Expected publication March 19, 2026

42 people are currently reading
11782 people want to read

About the author

Morgan Elizabeth

25 books6,580 followers
Morgan is a born and raised Jersey girl, living there with her two boys, toddler daughter, and mechanic husband. She’s addicted to iced espresso, barbecue chips, and Starburst jellybeans. She usually has headphones on, listening to some spicy audiobook or Taylor Swift. There is rarely an in between.



Writing has been her calling for as long as she can remember. There’s a framed ‘page one’ of a book she wrote at seven hanging in her childhood home to prove the point. Her entire life she’s crafted stories in her mind, begging to be released but it wasn’t until recently she finally gave them the reigns.

I’m so grateful you’ve agreed to take this journey with me.

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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
1,035 reviews78 followers
March 11, 2026
Thank you so much House of Hearts Lit for this ARC 🫶🏻

I am always so happy to pick up a new Morgan book!
Willa Stone is a pop star that is constantly pushed to fake date other celebs. Before her next fake boyfriend she needs to lay low.

She escapes to Holly ridge. Leo, her publicist has also decided to slow things down and head to the small town to work on his new home. He’s upset to see Willa there because he’s always been attracted to her!

As they spend more time together, they admit their true feelings. With both of them being in contracts that control them, they have to find a way to be together!

I’m so happy Willa found her strength to have it all! With terrible PR and managers along with her mother, she had a lot to overcome!
Profile Image for Brina.readz.
248 reviews2 followers
Review of advance copy received from Autorin bzw. Autor
March 13, 2026
Thank you to Morgan Elizabeth and House of Hearts for I a digital ARC of "The Lie of Having It All" in exchange for my honest review.

I was so excited to be back in Holly Ridge and absolutely adored Willa and Leos story. I have read a few of Morgan's other books and loved knowing that Willa pops up in some I haven't read yet as well (I will definitely be reading those now).

The slow burn aspect of Leo and Willa dancing around each other for years and then reconnecting while they're back in Holly Ridge was perfection. Their hidden attraction and yearning practically jumped off the page. And once they gave in their chemistry was just insane! The men in Holly Ridge are something else! All of their little moments together were so thought out and beautiful.

Willa was such a beautifully strong and vulnerable (at times naive) character, going through such a great process and development throught the book that really tore at my heartstrings. The way she found her family among all our Holly Ridge girlies was beautiful and I will never get tired of Wren, Hallie or Nat (so ready for her HEA). You just know they have each other's backs 100%.

The Lie of Having It All Willa is constantly thinking about is the red string of this book and handled so beautifully (stating with that amazing note by the author).

"The world tells us the lie of having it all so that we keep going, of how to keep striving when life gets hard. But the people at the top, the ones who are the most successful, will all tell you the same thing— at some point, you have to choose. You have to choose what you want most of all and how to be okay with everything else falling behind."

"At the top of a Ferris wheel in a tiny town I’ve learned to call home, I finally have it all."

I cannot get enough of this little town, that friend group, those men throwing their women over their shoulder and all the adorable love stories!
Profile Image for Alicia.
164 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy received from Author
March 13, 2026
Thank you Morgan Elizabeth for an ARC of this book!

4.5/5 ⭐️

If you’ve read Morgan Elizabeth’s books, you know these two have been floating around the Morganverse forever, pop superstar Willa and her publicist Leo, so when I found out they were finally getting their own story I was so excited!

Leo has been Willa’s publicist for years, and neither of them realizes they’ve both been quietly harboring feelings for the other the entire time. When they both end up escaping to Holly Ridge, everything starts to shift.

Of course, the Holly Ridge crew wastes no time pulling them in. Wren, Hallie, Nat, Jesse, Madden, and Adam make it basically impossible for Willa and Leo not to get adopted into the chaos, and I loved every second of it.

Leo was perfect for Willa.

Without giving too much away, Willa is starting to realize how tightly controlled her life has been, how scheduled every moment is and how little say she’s had in the decisions shaping her career and future. Watching her begin to question what she actually wants for herself was such a powerful part of the story.

And Leo? Leo has always had Willa’s best interests at heart. But seeing him truly understand what she’s going through, support her, and give her the space she needs to figure things out on her own was everything.

Their relationship felt so genuine. They see each other clearly, love each other for exactly who they are, and would do anything for one another.

This book was heartfelt, romantic, and such a fun return to Holly Ridge. Morgan Elizabeth continues to build a world that feels like coming home, and getting Willa and Leo’s story was worth the wait.
Profile Image for Katie Thayer.
378 reviews51 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
March 13, 2026

✨ARC Review✨
The Lie Of Having It All
By Morgan Elizabeth

That was the day I came to terms with the fact that the concept of having it all is a lie.

“You’re tied to me?”
“Knotted so tight, I don’t think I can ever undo it.”

“You look so f***ing pretty like this, all done up as your pretty princess version, but being my little slut.”

Oh these two!! Ahh! Leo and Willa are a power couple and they don’t even know it! Willa and Leo are both over worked and stressed out. And end up in the same small town together trying to decompress and let the stress and worry go. As the weeks go on these two who has a business relationship move to a romantic relationship and in doing so learn what is worth fighting for. When realty calls, choices need to be made. And in the end find out what truly having it all means.
I loved being back in Holly Ridge and with these characters and previous characters. The girl gang is top notch! And watching Willa find her badass girl boss confidence was so fun! I really enjoyed this book!


Tropes:
Grumpy x Sunshine
Forced Proximity
Mutual Pining
Forbidden
Protective MMC

Spice Starts at: 34%

Spice: 2.5/4
Stars: 4.5/5

Available March 19th
Profile Image for Maggan.
282 reviews3 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
March 11, 2026
4.5 stars!

I thought this was a beautiful story of two people finding themselves and each other.
First of all... my god do I go feral for pining and yearning hehehehehehe.
I absolutely love how we see Willa find herself and her voice more and more, and the way Leo supports her and gives her the 'normal' she so desperately wants... gahhhhhh I love them. And of course Willa brings out a carefree (well sometimes lol) and soft side in Leo that is absolutely swoon worthy. That man would have me folded like a lawn chair hello?????
Of course, I was so happy to be back with the entire Holly Ridge crew (I'm so excited for the next books :))) and the way they're just so... them. Leo was never getting away from them ever hahahaha.
The last part of the book was exactly what I'd hoped with everybody getting what they deserved (in a positive and a negative sense lol).

Thank you Morgan Elizabeth for the ARC!!!
Profile Image for Beth (bethsbookshelfx).
457 reviews11 followers
March 13, 2026
“𝘉𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘢, 𝘐 𝘢𝘭𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢 𝘣𝘰𝘯𝘶𝘴."
———————————————————————
I enjoy every single Morgan book I read. Her writing is so easy to read and so engaging. Her characters are always so well thought out and complex which helps with making you fall in love with them. Leo and Willa may be one of my favourite ME couples to date. I am so completely fucked is probably one of my favourite lines in a book. Cause we know that true. I also loved Nat in this book. She’s actually hilarious and I loved the scenes between her and Madden 👀 I shall just wait me thinks.
———————————————————————
“𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘪𝘴, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘵. 𝘏𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘙𝘪𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘓𝘦𝘰 𝘣𝘺 𝘮𝘺 𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦, 𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘢𝘪𝘭 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘦𝘵—𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱—𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘪𝘵.”
———————————————————————
🎤 Popstar x Publicist
🏠 Grumpy x Sunshine
🎤 Forced Proximity
🏠 Forbidden Romance
🎤 Mutual Pining
🏠 Found Family
Profile Image for Lesa  Stewart.
190 reviews2 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
March 13, 2026
ARC review

I loved this so much!! From the first chapter the whole Holly Ridge gang is back in action. I love that Willa gets her time to shine. The dynamics between Leo and Willa are sheer perfection.

I know Morgan loves Taylor Swift and so everytime Leo called Willa, Honey, in my head played “you can call me honey if you want, cause I’m the one you want.” Then I looked and saw that exact song on the playlist.

I loved their first time meeting a definite meet cute. I loved how he was dead set on helping her achieve all her first. Being a childhood pop star and never getting to experience things like s’mores or toilet papering houses. He didn’t care what it was he wanted her to experience it.

The spice was spicing too. His little spicy gift for her was great. But come on Leo you could have done her wishes in that Ferris Wheel.

Great Job and I hope the next book is Nat and Madden because there is something brewing there.
141 reviews2 followers
March 13, 2026
Thank you to House of Hearts and Morgan Elizabeth for selecting me as an ARC reader of another amazing book.

Willa Stone has been in the spotlight since a child. No decisions for her life she’s been in control of. After a rough interaction with the press and told to lay low she on a whim decides to go to Holly Ridge to work through a writers block. At the same time her publicist that she had an incredible meet cute with 8 years ago before he realized she was a pop star is renovating a new house in Holly Ridge. Quickly their friend group intertwined and she imbedded herself to help him renovate his house. He starts to take her on the mundane firsts everyone has experienced both revealing they’ve always had something for eachother. She learns that you don’t need everything to be happy, you just need your friends who show up without being asked.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Brynley Hope.
712 reviews10 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
March 13, 2026
✨Grumpy x sunshine
✨PR manager x pop star
✨Forbidden
✨Found family

Wow wow wow this was SO beautiful!!! Morgan has been putting out books lately that feel so incredibly special to me to the point where I almost have no words. Seeing Willa go from being so sheltered to standing up for herself & experiencing firsts with Leo that she never could have imagined made me emotional! The found family aspect was so all consuming & I'm about to pack up and move to Holly Ridge too! If Morgan writes it, i will read it as early as I can get my hands on it, full stop.

Thank you so much to Morgan Elizabeth for allowing me to be on her ARC & content team!!!
402 reviews3 followers
March 13, 2026
Oh these two had me swooning! Willa is your quintessential pop star icon and Leo is your grumpy standoffish PR manager for her. When Willa shows up in the cute little town Leo is not happy to see who his new neighbor is… I loved every minute of their love story. His protective and caring nature, her learning to be just Willa and stand up for herself. It was pure gold. Plus we get to see all of our favorites from the first two books. This girl group cracks me up. I just want to hang with them so bad! This town and every story has been so fantastic like the perfect hug. I love this town and group of friends.
Profile Image for claireesbookshelf.
537 reviews14 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
March 12, 2026
o.m.g. This book was honestly so amazing, and I cannot believe this is my first Morgan Elizabeth book because I WILL be reading her backlist ASAP. I did have a hard time keeping some of the characters straight, but that was definitely because I hadn't read the previous 2 books in the series. Overall, I loved how grumpy Leo was UNTIL he turned into a total sap for Willa. The meet cute and 8 years of yearning, yea that's what I like to see. The found family aspect was also so amazing and funny to read and I loved seeing Willa grow into herself and not just the pop star princess version.
Profile Image for Amber.
1,107 reviews47 followers
Review of advance copy
March 12, 2026
I just love grumpy protective Leo. He was so supportive and loving. He always has Willa's best interest in mind. He knew what she needed and did everything in his power to give it to her. Willa becomes so much stronger throughout the book. She finds herself again and stands up for herself against her manager and team that only care for the brand. Holly Ridge and its fun cast of characters were full of banter and laughs.
Profile Image for Sarah.
106 reviews2 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
March 12, 2026
Thank you for the ARC! I enjoyed this book.
Profile Image for Emma.
840 reviews2 followers
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
March 13, 2026
Loved it! Taylor Swift vibes with a unique storyline and so much spice. I love the Holly Ridge series and getting to meet Willa and Leo was amazing. Such a great story!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews

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