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Most Likely to Pretend: An Age Gap, Ex-Husband's Brother, Fake Dating Romance
They say some secrets never graduate.
Ours came back for the reunion.
Serena
Ten years ago, I had everything.
Prom queen. Class president. Golden girl voted Most Likely to Succeed.
And now? I’m divorced, drifting, and damn good at pretending I didn’t burn my perfect life to the ground.
I’ve spent a decade avoiding my hometown and the people who remember exactly who I used to be.
But now I’m stuck planning our ten-year reunion with sixty days to fake a life that looks nothing like the one I’m actually living. I need a date.
Someone convincing.
Someone deceitful enough to make people believe I’ve moved on.
So I choose the one man guaranteed to ruin me.
My ex-husband’s older brother.
Rhodes
Serena Whitmore has always been my weakness.
Ten years ago, I might’ve called it temptation.
But now she’s back, asking me to help her.
To touch her like it means nothing.
That’s the problem—she thinks this is a performance, a temporary fix.
But the second she puts her hands on me again, she makes a mistake she won’t be able to undo.
Because I don’t share.
I don’t forget.
And I’m done pretending she ever belonged to my brother.
She’s always been mine.
I Know What You Did Last Summer meets Romy and Michelle’s High School Reunion in this darkly witty, 90s nostalgia–laced, SPICY slow-burn romance. Most Likely to Pretend is the first book in the Reputation series, dual POV, and can be read as a standalone.
Warning: This book contains a possessive, morally grey fallen hero, explicit sexual situations, and strong language. There is no cheating, and there is a HEA.
Ours came back for the reunion.
Serena
Ten years ago, I had everything.
Prom queen. Class president. Golden girl voted Most Likely to Succeed.
And now? I’m divorced, drifting, and damn good at pretending I didn’t burn my perfect life to the ground.
I’ve spent a decade avoiding my hometown and the people who remember exactly who I used to be.
But now I’m stuck planning our ten-year reunion with sixty days to fake a life that looks nothing like the one I’m actually living. I need a date.
Someone convincing.
Someone deceitful enough to make people believe I’ve moved on.
So I choose the one man guaranteed to ruin me.
My ex-husband’s older brother.
Rhodes
Serena Whitmore has always been my weakness.
Ten years ago, I might’ve called it temptation.
But now she’s back, asking me to help her.
To touch her like it means nothing.
That’s the problem—she thinks this is a performance, a temporary fix.
But the second she puts her hands on me again, she makes a mistake she won’t be able to undo.
Because I don’t share.
I don’t forget.
And I’m done pretending she ever belonged to my brother.
She’s always been mine.
I Know What You Did Last Summer meets Romy and Michelle’s High School Reunion in this darkly witty, 90s nostalgia–laced, SPICY slow-burn romance. Most Likely to Pretend is the first book in the Reputation series, dual POV, and can be read as a standalone.
Warning: This book contains a possessive, morally grey fallen hero, explicit sexual situations, and strong language. There is no cheating, and there is a HEA.
376 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 30, 2026
About the author
Amanda Richardson
61 books2,857 followersI write love stories with badass heroines and mysterious, brooding heroes. I survive on coffee and live in Yorkshire, England with my family.
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October 29, 2026
𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒈𝒊𝒓𝒍 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒂 𝑾𝒉𝒊𝒕𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒖𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒆.
Rhodes Bishop can do NO WRONG in my eyes; this man was perfection.
𝑰'𝒎 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒖𝒊𝒏 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒆𝒍𝒔𝒆.
In high school, Serena was the girl who had everything, or so people thought, but after losing her mom and getting divorced, she is back in her hometown, where she is trying to pick up the pieces one day at a time. She runs into an old friend and needs to put on the “fake it till you make it mask”. So she asks the one person she shouldn’t ask to be her fake fiancé at her reunion: her ex-husband's older brother.
𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒎𝒚 𝒇𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝑾𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒚, 𝒖𝒏𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒌 𝒊𝒏 𝒇𝒖𝒍𝒍 𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒔, 𝒔𝒐 𝒇𝒊𝒍𝒕𝒉𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒆𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒆.
💗Gives her a credit card with no spending limit and tells her this is for you, basically: treat yourself, sky's the limit.
🖤Knows she is grieving and dealing with a lot, so he hires a crew to clean her mother's house and get it packed up and fixed so she can put it on the market.
💗Finds out she is staying at a motel and puts her in a suite in the hotel he is staying at
🖤He’s wanted her for 10 years
💗Slow burn but so worth it 🥵
🖤Calls her little rain cloud
🖤Gives her a 7 million dollar ring; it’s pink 💗💍
💗He’s possessive, obsessive, and doesn’t share
🖤He’s a grumpy romantic at heart
💗The handwritten notes 🥰
💗Fooling around on the terrace 😈
🖤Pushes his 💦 back in her
💗He has ALWAYS seen the real her and has loved her unconditionally
🖤Wilson 🐶 (star of the show)
💗Runs her a bath, has her comfort food sent up, knows she has texture issues with fabrics
𝑰'𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝑹𝒉𝒐𝒅𝒆𝒔 𝑩𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒑.
Little does she know that Rhodes has loved and yearned for Serena for 10 years, always keeping his distance but secretly taking care of her. He would LOVE a chance to get revenge on his brother for how he treated Serena and make his brother Mason realize what a mess he was and that he had the best girl and he blew it that chance. ( The things this man did for her, oh my heart) He truly loved her and wanted the best for her. He never tried to change her, always saw her perfection, and wanted her to see it too. The 90s theme, handwritten notes it was such an experience. I loved their witty, playful banter; the tension and chemistry and the build of the slow burn was so hot! He waited 10 years, and when he finally got to taste her, he was going to take his sweet time and make it special for both of them.
𝑰 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖.
AMANDA, NO NOTES, GIRL; THIS WAS AMAZING!! I loved Rhodes and Serena, and I can’t wait to read Bri’s book!
Rhodes Bishop can do NO WRONG in my eyes; this man was perfection.
𝑰'𝒎 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒖𝒊𝒏 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒆𝒍𝒔𝒆.
In high school, Serena was the girl who had everything, or so people thought, but after losing her mom and getting divorced, she is back in her hometown, where she is trying to pick up the pieces one day at a time. She runs into an old friend and needs to put on the “fake it till you make it mask”. So she asks the one person she shouldn’t ask to be her fake fiancé at her reunion: her ex-husband's older brother.
𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒎𝒚 𝒇𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝑾𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒚, 𝒖𝒏𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒌 𝒊𝒏 𝒇𝒖𝒍𝒍 𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒔, 𝒔𝒐 𝒇𝒊𝒍𝒕𝒉𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒆𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒆.
💗Gives her a credit card with no spending limit and tells her this is for you, basically: treat yourself, sky's the limit.
🖤Knows she is grieving and dealing with a lot, so he hires a crew to clean her mother's house and get it packed up and fixed so she can put it on the market.
💗Finds out she is staying at a motel and puts her in a suite in the hotel he is staying at
🖤He’s wanted her for 10 years
💗Slow burn but so worth it 🥵
🖤Calls her little rain cloud
🖤Gives her a 7 million dollar ring; it’s pink 💗💍
💗He’s possessive, obsessive, and doesn’t share
🖤He’s a grumpy romantic at heart
💗The handwritten notes 🥰
💗Fooling around on the terrace 😈
🖤Pushes his 💦 back in her
💗He has ALWAYS seen the real her and has loved her unconditionally
🖤Wilson 🐶 (star of the show)
💗Runs her a bath, has her comfort food sent up, knows she has texture issues with fabrics
𝑰'𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝑹𝒉𝒐𝒅𝒆𝒔 𝑩𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒑.
Little does she know that Rhodes has loved and yearned for Serena for 10 years, always keeping his distance but secretly taking care of her. He would LOVE a chance to get revenge on his brother for how he treated Serena and make his brother Mason realize what a mess he was and that he had the best girl and he blew it that chance. ( The things this man did for her, oh my heart) He truly loved her and wanted the best for her. He never tried to change her, always saw her perfection, and wanted her to see it too. The 90s theme, handwritten notes it was such an experience. I loved their witty, playful banter; the tension and chemistry and the build of the slow burn was so hot! He waited 10 years, and when he finally got to taste her, he was going to take his sweet time and make it special for both of them.
𝑰 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖.
AMANDA, NO NOTES, GIRL; THIS WAS AMAZING!! I loved Rhodes and Serena, and I can’t wait to read Bri’s book!
October 20, 2026
Review of advance copy received from Author
Serena has been through it! Knowing her entire history and seeing her come back into town, I have mad respect for her. I would have laid low personally.
Her coming up with a different story about her current life situation and having a fiancé?! I was stressed for her! So when her ex husband’s brother, Rhodes, steps up as her fiancé, I was dying! The more you learn about their history, the more addicted to this story you become!
I really enjoyed watching Rhodes change, both in how he responded to Serena and internally. I loved how they began to see each other for who they really were.
I loved all the dark and petty moments! This book was definitely a bingeable, fun read!
Serena has been through it! Knowing her entire history and seeing her come back into town, I have mad respect for her. I would have laid low personally.
Her coming up with a different story about her current life situation and having a fiancé?! I was stressed for her! So when her ex husband’s brother, Rhodes, steps up as her fiancé, I was dying! The more you learn about their history, the more addicted to this story you become!
I really enjoyed watching Rhodes change, both in how he responded to Serena and internally. I loved how they began to see each other for who they really were.
I loved all the dark and petty moments! This book was definitely a bingeable, fun read!
October 20, 2026
Who doesn’t love a good story with glimpses of the ’90s and a really great romance filled with everything in Amanda’s signature style? I especially loved this book because I recognized myself in a lot of Serena’s choices and actions, particularly her feelings upon returning to her hometown. Whoever blames her for the lies has probably never made a mistake in their life or always made the perfect choices—but sometimes, you just have to make lemonade out of the lemons life gives you! On the other hand, Rhodes… oh, boy! I would have loved to have someone like him in my life to set everything straight! Also, the spice was top-tier! I think this is one of my favorites; even though I usually prefer books on the darker side and this one isn't dark, the romance and plot are in perfect balance.
My favorite character was Wilson—not because the human characters had flaws or anything, but simply because he reminded me so much of my own dog, whom I lost this summer and still miss terribly.
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC for this wonderful story, for which I send a huge, heartfelt thank you to Amanda and her team!
My favorite character was Wilson—not because the human characters had flaws or anything, but simply because he reminded me so much of my own dog, whom I lost this summer and still miss terribly.
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC for this wonderful story, for which I send a huge, heartfelt thank you to Amanda and her team!
October 29, 2026
He yearned for his brother’s girl for 10 years and I am obsessed 😭. Like this man kept a picture of her in his wallet for 10 years, if that’s not yearning I don’t know what is.
Serena was the popular type of girl in high school, smart and she was also dating the school quarterback but that came with is challenges. She always wore a persona but Rhodes her boyfriend’s older brother always saw a crack beneath her smile. While he cared for her she was strictly off limits as she was dating his brother and she was 10 years younger with her whole life ahead of her. So while he may have came across to her that he wasn’t her biggest fan, he ensured she had what she needed discreetly and this certainly didn’t stop as the years went by.
Flash forward 10 years later, Serena is divorced and has returned to her home town after losing her mother. While she is back she to take care of her mother’s estate she bumps into an old friend, Birdie. Birdie, Serena and Val (who shows up later) were practically sisters, or the Sanderson sisters as they went by but honestly life got in the way when they graduated high school and they lost touch. While their meeting stirred up some nostalgia, it also created a problem for Serena as former class president she is now in charge of organising the 10 year reunion.
Serena’s life didn’t turn out how she planned but rather than say it directly she tells a few white lies the main one being she is newly engaged. And look I get her reason as she didn’t want anyone’s pity over her recent divorce and challenges she faced. While leaving the cafe where she meets Birdie she runs into a familiar face, her ex-husbands brother Rhodes, and of course she spills everything that happens. While leaving Birdie sees them both assumes the pair are engaged due to their closeness.
Rhodes informs Serena that he is home on from business but the only business he has her is making the woman in front of him his after the years he kept her at a distance. I guess you can put two and two together that this man while he may not show it on the outside jumps at the opportunity to pretend to be Serena’s fiancé and of course it is a way to get back at his brother for not treasuring the amazing woman he had, but his brothers loss is his game.
The tension and chemistry between these two was undeniable. Yes they may have keep each other an arms length but that tension has been brewing for 10 years. Rhodes worshipped the ground Serena walked on, and he wanted to give her everything life had to offer. 10 years ago Rhodes protected Serena from an awful situation and he never stopped despite them not even living in the same state, unknowingly to her but she will soon realise the fact. Rhodes orchestrated the entire narrative when it came to their fake arrangement, but I mean it wasn’t really fake at all.
I don’t want to give to much away other than I honestly loved the story between these two. It was a bonus that the story had a 90s vibe to it where social media wasn’t at the forefront of it all. Amanda certainly teased the next couple that will be coming and I am ever so excited for them.
Thank you to the author who provided this e-arc for my honest thoughts 💭
Serena was the popular type of girl in high school, smart and she was also dating the school quarterback but that came with is challenges. She always wore a persona but Rhodes her boyfriend’s older brother always saw a crack beneath her smile. While he cared for her she was strictly off limits as she was dating his brother and she was 10 years younger with her whole life ahead of her. So while he may have came across to her that he wasn’t her biggest fan, he ensured she had what she needed discreetly and this certainly didn’t stop as the years went by.
Flash forward 10 years later, Serena is divorced and has returned to her home town after losing her mother. While she is back she to take care of her mother’s estate she bumps into an old friend, Birdie. Birdie, Serena and Val (who shows up later) were practically sisters, or the Sanderson sisters as they went by but honestly life got in the way when they graduated high school and they lost touch. While their meeting stirred up some nostalgia, it also created a problem for Serena as former class president she is now in charge of organising the 10 year reunion.
Serena’s life didn’t turn out how she planned but rather than say it directly she tells a few white lies the main one being she is newly engaged. And look I get her reason as she didn’t want anyone’s pity over her recent divorce and challenges she faced. While leaving the cafe where she meets Birdie she runs into a familiar face, her ex-husbands brother Rhodes, and of course she spills everything that happens. While leaving Birdie sees them both assumes the pair are engaged due to their closeness.
Rhodes informs Serena that he is home on from business but the only business he has her is making the woman in front of him his after the years he kept her at a distance. I guess you can put two and two together that this man while he may not show it on the outside jumps at the opportunity to pretend to be Serena’s fiancé and of course it is a way to get back at his brother for not treasuring the amazing woman he had, but his brothers loss is his game.
The tension and chemistry between these two was undeniable. Yes they may have keep each other an arms length but that tension has been brewing for 10 years. Rhodes worshipped the ground Serena walked on, and he wanted to give her everything life had to offer. 10 years ago Rhodes protected Serena from an awful situation and he never stopped despite them not even living in the same state, unknowingly to her but she will soon realise the fact. Rhodes orchestrated the entire narrative when it came to their fake arrangement, but I mean it wasn’t really fake at all.
I don’t want to give to much away other than I honestly loved the story between these two. It was a bonus that the story had a 90s vibe to it where social media wasn’t at the forefront of it all. Amanda certainly teased the next couple that will be coming and I am ever so excited for them.
Thank you to the author who provided this e-arc for my honest thoughts 💭
October 26, 2026
O Amanda!!! I have SO missed a new book from you, and you DELIVERED us the PERFECT one!! RHODES BISHOP!!! THE MAN YOU ARE!!! 🔥 The yearning, the protectiveness, the way he sees HER when she can’t even see herself?! AND HE’S HER EX-HUSBAND’S OLDER BROTHER?! SAY LESS!! The banter was PERFECT, the chemistry was EVERYTHING, and the spice… HOT isn’t even a good enough word!! 🥵🔥 This is a story about grief, self-worth, expectations, healing, and finding your way back to yourself. And a love so deep that had been waiting for its chance all along.
Serena was once the girl who to everyone else had it all. The perfect reputation, the titles, the expectations, and everyone thinking they knew exactly who she was. Now home to face the loss of her mom, she returns to the town she left behind, and to figure out who she really is and how to chase her own dreams!
And then there’s RHODES. 🥵 The grumpy, gorgeous glasses wearing, serious, obsessed, protective, DOWN-BAD man who has wanted Serena for years but always kept his distance.
A 10-year class reunion. A fake fiancé?! The chance for Rhodes to FINALLY be by her side… The chemistry, the YEARNING, the banter between these two is EVERYTHING! Rhodes is protective and possessive, but I loved that he sees Serena’s strength and wants her to see it. When this man goes all in, when he admits ALL he’s done for her, ALL he’s felt, SWOON, SWOON! And when these two give in?! This man's mouth?! 🥵🔥 Only Amanda writes it so freaking good!
I also LOVED the 90s setting! No texting, just handwritten notes and all that delicious tension! And getting to meet a whole new group of characters. I love the girl group and I can't wait for stories about Bri, Val and even Cara!
If you love a grumpy, possessive MMC who is completely devoted to his woman, YEARS of yearning, great banter, and ALL the spice, you need this book!! Amanda, this was SO worth the wait! I loved every second of this book, and I cannot wait for more from the Reputation series!
Rate: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
💕Fake engagement (with a ring he doesn’t let her take off 👀)
💕Ex husband’s brother
💕Grumpy x grumpy
💕Age gap
💕MMC in slutty little glasses™
💕Not a good man but good to her
💕Whispers a low “play along” in her ear
💕Toxic nostalgia
💕Messy FMC x Controlled MMC
💕Obsession disguised as protection
🌻 Thank you, Amanda Richardson and your team for my arc!
Serena was once the girl who to everyone else had it all. The perfect reputation, the titles, the expectations, and everyone thinking they knew exactly who she was. Now home to face the loss of her mom, she returns to the town she left behind, and to figure out who she really is and how to chase her own dreams!
And then there’s RHODES. 🥵 The grumpy, gorgeous glasses wearing, serious, obsessed, protective, DOWN-BAD man who has wanted Serena for years but always kept his distance.
A 10-year class reunion. A fake fiancé?! The chance for Rhodes to FINALLY be by her side… The chemistry, the YEARNING, the banter between these two is EVERYTHING! Rhodes is protective and possessive, but I loved that he sees Serena’s strength and wants her to see it. When this man goes all in, when he admits ALL he’s done for her, ALL he’s felt, SWOON, SWOON! And when these two give in?! This man's mouth?! 🥵🔥 Only Amanda writes it so freaking good!
I also LOVED the 90s setting! No texting, just handwritten notes and all that delicious tension! And getting to meet a whole new group of characters. I love the girl group and I can't wait for stories about Bri, Val and even Cara!
If you love a grumpy, possessive MMC who is completely devoted to his woman, YEARS of yearning, great banter, and ALL the spice, you need this book!! Amanda, this was SO worth the wait! I loved every second of this book, and I cannot wait for more from the Reputation series!
Rate: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
💕Fake engagement (with a ring he doesn’t let her take off 👀)
💕Ex husband’s brother
💕Grumpy x grumpy
💕Age gap
💕MMC in slutty little glasses™
💕Not a good man but good to her
💕Whispers a low “play along” in her ear
💕Toxic nostalgia
💕Messy FMC x Controlled MMC
💕Obsession disguised as protection
🌻 Thank you, Amanda Richardson and your team for my arc!
October 21, 2026
Serena y Rhodes se conocen desde hace diez años, cuando ella era la novia de su hermano Mason. Ahora, después de un divorcio y varios años lejos de su pueblo natal, Serena regresa con una vida muy diferente a la que imaginaba. Se acerca la reunión de su generación y termina mintiendo sobre todo, su trabajo, su supuesto compromiso y necesita encontrar a alguien que la ayude a mantener las apariencias. Su solución es Rhodes. Lo que Serena no sabe es que hay sentimientos que él ha guardado durante mucho tiempo y por fin podrá demostrarle que se caso con el hermano equivocado. Fingir que están comprometidos podría ser la parte fácil, porque cuanto más tiempo pasan juntos, más difícil resulta distinguir lo que es mentira de lo que ambos desean de verdad.
______
A Rhodes no le importa lo que tenga que hacer con tal de mantener a Serena a salvo, incluso si eso significa matar.
Gracias Amanda por el ARC.
______
A Rhodes no le importa lo que tenga que hacer con tal de mantener a Serena a salvo, incluso si eso significa matar.
Gracias Amanda por el ARC.
November 1, 2026
Ebook. Purchased. Not my favorite Amanda Richardson but I did mostly enjoy it. I think her calling it a 90’s vibe/90’s homage is a little heavy handed - I didnt get those vibes really. But I did like the twists and turns even if some plot points were left unaddressed.
CW/TW: death of parent/caregiving for sick parent, SA, CSA
CW/TW: death of parent/caregiving for sick parent, SA, CSA
October 23, 2026
I cannot contain how much I absolutely loved this one! Oh my god, it might be my new favorite by Amanda. This was the perfect balance of tension, forbiddenness, a splash of fake dating, with a down bad MMC who has secretly pinned for the FMC for years. It had it all and then some, and I want to erase my memory so I can expect for the first time all over again 😭
🖤 90's Nostalgia
🩷 Age Gap (10yrs)
🖤 Ex's Brother
🩷 Unalives For Her
🖤 Fake Fiancé
🩷 ASD Rep
🖤 Grumpy x Grumpy
Serena Whitmore has really been through the ringer since she graduated high school. She was voted most likely to succeed, but since high school all Serena feels like she has done is fail. Now 10 years post graduation she is back in her hometown, with her dog, and a hell of a lot of emotional baggage in tow. She's a 28 year old divorcée, she's unemployed, and she's back to clean out her mothers house who died a little over a year prior. For all intents and purposes, Serena's a mess.
So when she runs into an old friend from high school, and they ask her how she's been? She lies... tremendously. She suddenly has a job as a botanical artist with not one, but two store fronts! Along with a dazzling new fiancé. As Serena is tasked with coordinating her 10 year class reunion, (where she is going to come face to face with her ex-husband and his new girl) she realizes she needs to find a fake fiancé STAT.
And that is exactly where our dazzling, and slightly unhinged, MMC Rhodes comes. Rhodes just so happens to be Serena's ex-husbands much older (and dare I say hotter in every way 🤭) brother. Whom she hasn't seen or spoken to in years. And they definitely don't talk about what happened one terrible night ten years ago...
Rhodes might think that he's a "bad man" but honey whenever he held up a red flag, all I saw was green 😅. Don't get me wrong, he does some really bad things... but in the end is it reallyyy that bad? Rhodes has quite literally pinned after this woman for ten years, doing everything he could from afar to make sure she's safe. As the story progresses and you learn just how far Rhodes has gone over the years to protect Serena, it becomes clear this man (as much as he would protest the fact) has never once been the villain. Like I cannot get over him. He has instantly made the list of one of my top book boyfriends! 😍
Now moving on to Rhodes and Serena together! I loved their intense chemistry and emotional connection. This was a slow burn, but omg the TENSION that has been building up between these two for years burned so hot throughout. When they finally cross that line and give into their desires... an INFERNO 🔥. It also brought tears to my eyes watching these two finally give in and especially for Serena to accept the love she truly deserves.
And I think it was that love, and most of all stability that Rhodes provided that allowed Serena to grow so much in this story. Serena had a lot to work through in this between the loss of her mother, and learning to find herself again after years of taking care of everyone else but herself. I loved watching her realize that the best version of herself, is the one that is the most honest. And isn't that a lovely message to us all? 🥹
Overall, this was so unbelievably good! I always know going into an Amanda Richardson book that I am going to have a spicy good time, but this one was far more emotional than I was expecting. It was the perfect blend of spicy tension, and emotional yearning that had me on the edge of my seat. The personal growth for both characters was beautiful, and their connection to one another was even more so. Ahh I could scream for ever about this one, but please listen when I say READ THIS ONE! You will have the time of your life and I hope you fall for Rhodes and Serena as much as I did 🥰
** Thank you Amanda Richardson and her team for the eARC of this one 🫶🏼
🖤 90's Nostalgia
🩷 Age Gap (10yrs)
🖤 Ex's Brother
🩷 Unalives For Her
🖤 Fake Fiancé
🩷 ASD Rep
🖤 Grumpy x Grumpy
Serena Whitmore has really been through the ringer since she graduated high school. She was voted most likely to succeed, but since high school all Serena feels like she has done is fail. Now 10 years post graduation she is back in her hometown, with her dog, and a hell of a lot of emotional baggage in tow. She's a 28 year old divorcée, she's unemployed, and she's back to clean out her mothers house who died a little over a year prior. For all intents and purposes, Serena's a mess.
So when she runs into an old friend from high school, and they ask her how she's been? She lies... tremendously. She suddenly has a job as a botanical artist with not one, but two store fronts! Along with a dazzling new fiancé. As Serena is tasked with coordinating her 10 year class reunion, (where she is going to come face to face with her ex-husband and his new girl) she realizes she needs to find a fake fiancé STAT.
And that is exactly where our dazzling, and slightly unhinged, MMC Rhodes comes. Rhodes just so happens to be Serena's ex-husbands much older (and dare I say hotter in every way 🤭) brother. Whom she hasn't seen or spoken to in years. And they definitely don't talk about what happened one terrible night ten years ago...
Rhodes might think that he's a "bad man" but honey whenever he held up a red flag, all I saw was green 😅. Don't get me wrong, he does some really bad things... but in the end is it reallyyy that bad? Rhodes has quite literally pinned after this woman for ten years, doing everything he could from afar to make sure she's safe. As the story progresses and you learn just how far Rhodes has gone over the years to protect Serena, it becomes clear this man (as much as he would protest the fact) has never once been the villain. Like I cannot get over him. He has instantly made the list of one of my top book boyfriends! 😍
Now moving on to Rhodes and Serena together! I loved their intense chemistry and emotional connection. This was a slow burn, but omg the TENSION that has been building up between these two for years burned so hot throughout. When they finally cross that line and give into their desires... an INFERNO 🔥. It also brought tears to my eyes watching these two finally give in and especially for Serena to accept the love she truly deserves.
And I think it was that love, and most of all stability that Rhodes provided that allowed Serena to grow so much in this story. Serena had a lot to work through in this between the loss of her mother, and learning to find herself again after years of taking care of everyone else but herself. I loved watching her realize that the best version of herself, is the one that is the most honest. And isn't that a lovely message to us all? 🥹
Overall, this was so unbelievably good! I always know going into an Amanda Richardson book that I am going to have a spicy good time, but this one was far more emotional than I was expecting. It was the perfect blend of spicy tension, and emotional yearning that had me on the edge of my seat. The personal growth for both characters was beautiful, and their connection to one another was even more so. Ahh I could scream for ever about this one, but please listen when I say READ THIS ONE! You will have the time of your life and I hope you fall for Rhodes and Serena as much as I did 🥰
** Thank you Amanda Richardson and her team for the eARC of this one 🫶🏼
October 30, 2026
I want to say Most Likely to Pretend may be my first Ex-Husband’s Brother trope I’ve read. I loved it!! I definitely want more! Author Amanda Richardson, whose writing I’ve long been a fan of, developed Rhodes’ character so well as she did with Serena’s. That “I Know What You Did Last Summer” and ‘90s vibe came through. The scene was set almost like a small-town romance, and then boom—you know it’s an Amanda Richardson book! Morally Gray characters and actions. Secrets. It’s all there. But we also have Rhodes and Serena being fake-engaged for the sake of her high school reunion. I liked the neurospicy rep and how that was worked into the characters. It felt real. I also loved the supporting characters.
Thank you to Author Amanda Richardson for the gifted e-copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
💕 Fake engagement (with a ring he doesn’t let her take off )
💕 Ex husband’s brother
💕 Grumpy x grumpy
💕 Age gap
💕 MMC in slutty little glasses™
💕 Not a good man but good to her
💕 Whispers a low “play along” in her ear
💕 Toxic nostalgia
💕 Messy FMC x Controlled MMC
💕 Obsession disguised as protection
Thank you to Author Amanda Richardson for the gifted e-copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
💕 Fake engagement (with a ring he doesn’t let her take off )
💕 Ex husband’s brother
💕 Grumpy x grumpy
💕 Age gap
💕 MMC in slutty little glasses™
💕 Not a good man but good to her
💕 Whispers a low “play along” in her ear
💕 Toxic nostalgia
💕 Messy FMC x Controlled MMC
💕 Obsession disguised as protection
October 30, 2026
This book ripped my heart out as it was a wonderful book. If I could give it 20 stars, I would! I lost sleep reading this book but it was so worth it.
Amanda is a fantastic author and really knows how to write a book that sings to your heart.
This book is based on Serena who marries her high school sweetheart Mason but after a number of years and an event, she arrives back to her hometown broke and divorced. Mason has an older brother Rhodes (10 years old than Mason) and Serena always thought Rhodes hated her (but did he?)
When Serena comes back to town, she is convinced to organize her high school reunion. She has told her old friends that she is engaged but she isn't. Rhodes steps in and pretends to be her fake fiancé. From there the storyline really steps up.
This book had everything - love, hate, passion, spice, dirty talk, obsession, trauma and a great back story.
I couldn't put this book down and unfortunately I cannot tell you what happens as you need to read it.
Run, don't walk to get this book. You won't regret it.
I cannot wait for the next book ♥️
Amanda is a fantastic author and really knows how to write a book that sings to your heart.
This book is based on Serena who marries her high school sweetheart Mason but after a number of years and an event, she arrives back to her hometown broke and divorced. Mason has an older brother Rhodes (10 years old than Mason) and Serena always thought Rhodes hated her (but did he?)
When Serena comes back to town, she is convinced to organize her high school reunion. She has told her old friends that she is engaged but she isn't. Rhodes steps in and pretends to be her fake fiancé. From there the storyline really steps up.
This book had everything - love, hate, passion, spice, dirty talk, obsession, trauma and a great back story.
I couldn't put this book down and unfortunately I cannot tell you what happens as you need to read it.
Run, don't walk to get this book. You won't regret it.
I cannot wait for the next book ♥️
October 22, 2026
**ARC Review**
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Y'all, I just finished Most Likely to Pretend and I am feral. This book dragged me out of my reading slump and kept me up until 2am because putting it down was not an option.
Rhodes is THAT man. Years of quiet obsession disguised as hatred? The fake engagement? The way he cares the most while pretending he doesn't care at all? I was gone.
Spice is high, tension is higher, and there are just enough twists to keep you guessing. Plus a HEA that had me grinning like an idiot.
If morally gray men who love harder than anyone give you life, you need this one October 30th. Thank you so much to the author for the ARC, this one is going to live in my head for a while.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Y'all, I just finished Most Likely to Pretend and I am feral. This book dragged me out of my reading slump and kept me up until 2am because putting it down was not an option.
Rhodes is THAT man. Years of quiet obsession disguised as hatred? The fake engagement? The way he cares the most while pretending he doesn't care at all? I was gone.
Spice is high, tension is higher, and there are just enough twists to keep you guessing. Plus a HEA that had me grinning like an idiot.
If morally gray men who love harder than anyone give you life, you need this one October 30th. Thank you so much to the author for the ARC, this one is going to live in my head for a while.
October 25, 2026
I think it's safe to say that we all need a guy like Rhodes in our life. The devotion that he has for Serena is everything. I loooved this book.
Amanda Richardson certainly has a way with words like no one else that can immerse you in the story.
𝑰 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒅𝒗𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 𝒄𝒐𝒑𝒚 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰 𝒂𝒎 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒍𝒚.
Amanda Richardson certainly has a way with words like no one else that can immerse you in the story.
𝑰 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒅𝒗𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 𝒄𝒐𝒑𝒚 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰 𝒂𝒎 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒍𝒚.
November 1, 2026
Not my favorite AR although Rhodes is pretty high on my list of favorite AR MMCs. It was billed as 90s nostalgia and it really felt like that wasn’t part of it. It almost took away from it, like them texting or FaceTiming I think would have added a lot to the story and their building relationship. Also did not enjoy the dangling threads of a bunch of plot points.
October 22, 2026
𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐨𝐨𝐧-𝐢𝐬𝐡...
October 30, 2026
Serena returns home after 10 years away from her hometown to organise her mother's house after her passing. As if that wasn't hard enough, Serena's life has become less than perfect since she left Point Serrano.
Voted most likely to succeed in her class, Serena was the golden girl who had it all; head cheerleader dating the football star, caring, beautiful, and smart. So when she returns divorced, homeless, jobless, and broke, Serena does what any 90s heroine would do and fabricates her success.
Except before she knows it, she's now been roped into helping organise her 10 year school reunion, has an imaginary fiance, and is allegedly a successful botanical artist with store fronts and contracts. Keeping up this charade is going to be harder than she originally thought.
When Rhodes has a literal run-in with Serena and hears about her dilemma of needing a date and fake fiance for her reunion, he valiantly offers his help.
He's finally going to make his move, even if it's under the cover of a fake relationship. None of it is fake for Rhodes, though, and he intends tonprove to Serena once, and for all, that he's the brother she should have chosen.
The first few chapters contain flashbacks to 10 years ago, telling Rhodes and Serena's interactions and reasons for the way life between them turned out. I'm not a fan of back and forwards within books, but it was only a few jumps and well written between the present-day chapters.
Rhodes is such a simp for Serena, taking care of her from afar all these years, putting up a front of hatred behind his slutty little glasses. Knowing he can’t have her for himself, he tries to remove himself from the temptation and her life; resenting his brother for having what he wants most and not appreciating her while he had it.
I really enjoyed this book! It was fun recognising the 90s references. The chapter titles had me giggling down memory lane! Complete with a speech and slow clap. Take me back to when time was simpler in the 90s!
Cara's twist on childhood events was a surprise, turning her into an unlikely ally and maybe even a friend.
Bri's story will be interesting! Giving off age gap, enemies to lovers, Yes Sir vibes with the uptight British threat to her life.
Val's story is going to be a heartbreaker, you can tell already! Mentions of her losing her one love already. She’s on a whirlwind of dates to try and replicate that feeling without wanting to get attached ever again.
I can't wait for the next book in this series!
Voted most likely to succeed in her class, Serena was the golden girl who had it all; head cheerleader dating the football star, caring, beautiful, and smart. So when she returns divorced, homeless, jobless, and broke, Serena does what any 90s heroine would do and fabricates her success.
Except before she knows it, she's now been roped into helping organise her 10 year school reunion, has an imaginary fiance, and is allegedly a successful botanical artist with store fronts and contracts. Keeping up this charade is going to be harder than she originally thought.
When Rhodes has a literal run-in with Serena and hears about her dilemma of needing a date and fake fiance for her reunion, he valiantly offers his help.
He's finally going to make his move, even if it's under the cover of a fake relationship. None of it is fake for Rhodes, though, and he intends tonprove to Serena once, and for all, that he's the brother she should have chosen.
The first few chapters contain flashbacks to 10 years ago, telling Rhodes and Serena's interactions and reasons for the way life between them turned out. I'm not a fan of back and forwards within books, but it was only a few jumps and well written between the present-day chapters.
Rhodes is such a simp for Serena, taking care of her from afar all these years, putting up a front of hatred behind his slutty little glasses. Knowing he can’t have her for himself, he tries to remove himself from the temptation and her life; resenting his brother for having what he wants most and not appreciating her while he had it.
I really enjoyed this book! It was fun recognising the 90s references. The chapter titles had me giggling down memory lane! Complete with a speech and slow clap. Take me back to when time was simpler in the 90s!
Cara's twist on childhood events was a surprise, turning her into an unlikely ally and maybe even a friend.
Bri's story will be interesting! Giving off age gap, enemies to lovers, Yes Sir vibes with the uptight British threat to her life.
Val's story is going to be a heartbreaker, you can tell already! Mentions of her losing her one love already. She’s on a whirlwind of dates to try and replicate that feeling without wanting to get attached ever again.
I can't wait for the next book in this series!
October 29, 2026
✨️ARC Review- I received an early copy from the author.✨️
Most Likely To Pretend by Amanda Richardson drops October 30th, and once again she had my jaw on the floor with one of her morally gray men — the kind who will burn the world down for the woman he loves.
“Careful, Serena.” His voice drops lower, close enough now that I can feel the words more than hear them. “You have a habit of asking me for things I can’t give you.”
Serena has been through it. A traumatic event in her teens that reshapes her entire future, a sick mother she’s caring for, and another life‑altering choice that forces her to carry more weight than anyone should. You feel every ounce of pressure she’s under. I definitely saw paets of ne in Serena. The food texture issues, always putting others first, the neeeeeed to take care of others among other things. It was great to see so many representations reflected in our leads.
Please, check your trigger warnings — because Rhodes is the kind of morally gray MMC who will do anything to protect her. Not to mention what leads to his actions plays out on oage.
We get nearly 6% of the book showcasing when they finally...connect... 😜 and the slow build is worth every second. The tension, the history, the emotional push‑and‑pull — Rhodes does not hold back once he finally has Serena close. And that balcony moment? I had to pause and breathe.
I’ll admit, I was torn on Rhodes for a small portion of the story. I understood him, but I questioned him and how he was going to be worthy. I wasn’t sure how everything would land… until a world‑shattering reveal from the last person I expected. Rhodes is the man, he cares for Serena even when she is non the wiser. He's always been watching, protecting, taking care of her. He may not fully understand social queues or how to court a lady, but he has all the right intentions. I loved him for who he was.
Their journey is intense, two people shaped by pain, divided by years, connected by one complicated relationship. Similar in their wounds, different in their choices, but impossible not to root for.
Amanda Richardson always delivers characters you ache for, blush‑worthy moments, and a storyline that grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go. I loved the 90s nostalgia so much.
Eyes on me,” he says, his voice rough. “I want you to know exactly who’s doing this to you. Who’s been inside you. Who’s going to be inside you every night for the rest of your fucking life, if you’ll have me.”
Most Likely To Pretend by Amanda Richardson drops October 30th, and once again she had my jaw on the floor with one of her morally gray men — the kind who will burn the world down for the woman he loves.
“Careful, Serena.” His voice drops lower, close enough now that I can feel the words more than hear them. “You have a habit of asking me for things I can’t give you.”
Serena has been through it. A traumatic event in her teens that reshapes her entire future, a sick mother she’s caring for, and another life‑altering choice that forces her to carry more weight than anyone should. You feel every ounce of pressure she’s under. I definitely saw paets of ne in Serena. The food texture issues, always putting others first, the neeeeeed to take care of others among other things. It was great to see so many representations reflected in our leads.
Please, check your trigger warnings — because Rhodes is the kind of morally gray MMC who will do anything to protect her. Not to mention what leads to his actions plays out on oage.
We get nearly 6% of the book showcasing when they finally...connect... 😜 and the slow build is worth every second. The tension, the history, the emotional push‑and‑pull — Rhodes does not hold back once he finally has Serena close. And that balcony moment? I had to pause and breathe.
I’ll admit, I was torn on Rhodes for a small portion of the story. I understood him, but I questioned him and how he was going to be worthy. I wasn’t sure how everything would land… until a world‑shattering reveal from the last person I expected. Rhodes is the man, he cares for Serena even when she is non the wiser. He's always been watching, protecting, taking care of her. He may not fully understand social queues or how to court a lady, but he has all the right intentions. I loved him for who he was.
Their journey is intense, two people shaped by pain, divided by years, connected by one complicated relationship. Similar in their wounds, different in their choices, but impossible not to root for.
Amanda Richardson always delivers characters you ache for, blush‑worthy moments, and a storyline that grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go. I loved the 90s nostalgia so much.
Eyes on me,” he says, his voice rough. “I want you to know exactly who’s doing this to you. Who’s been inside you. Who’s going to be inside you every night for the rest of your fucking life, if you’ll have me.”
October 30, 2026
The yearning. The devotion. The kind of all-consuming adoration that makes a man willing to love someone quietly, fiercely, and selflessly for a decade without ever asking for anything in return. Rhodes. This man.
There is something about a love that has survived ten years of secrets, longing, trauma, and everything left unsaid that just hits differently. And Rhodes’ love for Serena? It was profound. All-consuming. Sometimes dark and obsessive, yes, but underneath it all was a devotion so deeply selfless that I couldn’t help but fall for him. He spent TEN YEARS taking care of her, looking out for her, making sure she was okay, all behind the scenes. Never asking for recognition. Never asking for anything in return. Just loving her.
And the chemistry? Absolutely electric. These two have a history that you can feel in every interaction, every lingering look, every whispered word. The tension, the familiarity, the things they don’t say but both know are there. This wasn’t just about two people finding their way back to each other. It was about finally acknowledging a love that had never really gone away.
I also loved Serena’s journey. Beneath the former golden girl, the expectations, and the carefully constructed idea of who she was supposed to be, was a woman who needed to figure out who she actually wanted to become. Watching her confront the pieces of her life that no longer fit, and finally begin to let go of the exhausting need to be perfect for everyone else, brought an emotional depth to this story that I really appreciated. Sometimes finding yourself means allowing the carefully maintained version of yourself to fall apart first.
This story is messy, angsty, deliciously dark, and layered with toxic nostalgia, secrets, and a whole lot of unresolved feelings. And Rhodes? Give me a man who looks at a woman like she is the beginning and end of everything. A man whose devotion runs so deep that even ten years apart couldn’t change what he felt.
I came for the fake engagement and the forbidden ex-husband’s-brother trope, but I stayed for the yearning, the chemistry, and a love that refused to let go.
Rhodes and Serena. What a ride.
Thank you so much to Amanda Richardson and her team for the ARC. This review is only my opinion
There is something about a love that has survived ten years of secrets, longing, trauma, and everything left unsaid that just hits differently. And Rhodes’ love for Serena? It was profound. All-consuming. Sometimes dark and obsessive, yes, but underneath it all was a devotion so deeply selfless that I couldn’t help but fall for him. He spent TEN YEARS taking care of her, looking out for her, making sure she was okay, all behind the scenes. Never asking for recognition. Never asking for anything in return. Just loving her.
And the chemistry? Absolutely electric. These two have a history that you can feel in every interaction, every lingering look, every whispered word. The tension, the familiarity, the things they don’t say but both know are there. This wasn’t just about two people finding their way back to each other. It was about finally acknowledging a love that had never really gone away.
I also loved Serena’s journey. Beneath the former golden girl, the expectations, and the carefully constructed idea of who she was supposed to be, was a woman who needed to figure out who she actually wanted to become. Watching her confront the pieces of her life that no longer fit, and finally begin to let go of the exhausting need to be perfect for everyone else, brought an emotional depth to this story that I really appreciated. Sometimes finding yourself means allowing the carefully maintained version of yourself to fall apart first.
This story is messy, angsty, deliciously dark, and layered with toxic nostalgia, secrets, and a whole lot of unresolved feelings. And Rhodes? Give me a man who looks at a woman like she is the beginning and end of everything. A man whose devotion runs so deep that even ten years apart couldn’t change what he felt.
I came for the fake engagement and the forbidden ex-husband’s-brother trope, but I stayed for the yearning, the chemistry, and a love that refused to let go.
Rhodes and Serena. What a ride.
Thank you so much to Amanda Richardson and her team for the ARC. This review is only my opinion
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October 30, 2026I always trust Amanda Richardson to deliver heart, heat, and humor in her stories. In Most Likely to Pretend, as in many of her romance books, she also tackles some difficult life lessons and dark themes, using "good girl" FMC Serena and "bad boy" MMC Rhodes to show the importance of being authentic and choosing happiness over living up to others' expectations, as well as stopping evil when it shows its true nature.
Without spoiling the plot, I feel compelled to mention that I'm glad Amanda addressed how "monsters" can hide behind an attractive and charming facade and convince others of their goodness. We often can't tell whether someone is "good" or "bad" based on their appearances or words alone, so we shouldn't make assumptions and should consider and punish their actions as needed, acting in good faith to protect their victims. In this book, I think the monster gets nothing less than what he deserves. I wish more real-life monsters got Rhodes's version of justice, and I wish more real-life victims got Serena's and Cara's closure.
On a lighter note, I love Serena and Rhodes's age-gap, opposites-attract, somewhat-forbidden relationship because for one, it's steaming hot, and for two, each allows the other to be themselves without judgment, leading to mutual understanding, respect, and happiness. And the (secret) YEARNING in this book? It's done right; I have no notes. I also appreciate the female friendships, which show that we all struggle less when we share our struggles with friends (or loved ones) rather than hiding them and pretending our lives are perfect, often to earn approval we don't need to live well. These are difficult but important life lessons all of us should learn.
Overall, Most Likely to Pretend is a fun but emotional read for me; it made me cry and smile so many times because I could see myself in so many characters and understand their emotions, motives, and worries. (I loved the '90s references in the titles too! Friends, anyone?) I love how this book made me think and feel--not only for the characters but also for anyone who believes they're too flawed to be loved. If I were in school, I'd be voted most likely to read any book Amanda Richardson releases. I love an author who has something to say, and she always does.
Without spoiling the plot, I feel compelled to mention that I'm glad Amanda addressed how "monsters" can hide behind an attractive and charming facade and convince others of their goodness. We often can't tell whether someone is "good" or "bad" based on their appearances or words alone, so we shouldn't make assumptions and should consider and punish their actions as needed, acting in good faith to protect their victims. In this book, I think the monster gets nothing less than what he deserves. I wish more real-life monsters got Rhodes's version of justice, and I wish more real-life victims got Serena's and Cara's closure.
On a lighter note, I love Serena and Rhodes's age-gap, opposites-attract, somewhat-forbidden relationship because for one, it's steaming hot, and for two, each allows the other to be themselves without judgment, leading to mutual understanding, respect, and happiness. And the (secret) YEARNING in this book? It's done right; I have no notes. I also appreciate the female friendships, which show that we all struggle less when we share our struggles with friends (or loved ones) rather than hiding them and pretending our lives are perfect, often to earn approval we don't need to live well. These are difficult but important life lessons all of us should learn.
Overall, Most Likely to Pretend is a fun but emotional read for me; it made me cry and smile so many times because I could see myself in so many characters and understand their emotions, motives, and worries. (I loved the '90s references in the titles too! Friends, anyone?) I love how this book made me think and feel--not only for the characters but also for anyone who believes they're too flawed to be loved. If I were in school, I'd be voted most likely to read any book Amanda Richardson releases. I love an author who has something to say, and she always does.
October 30, 2026
Oh my, Amanda Richardson did it again. Most Likely to Pretend is a great start for the Reputation series. Loved the 90's nostalgia vibes, the Pinterest mood board and the playlist. The playlist is everything and is on repeat. And with a little luck I managed to figure out the time frame. And I found myself relating to Serena a whole lot more. I loved the switch between past and present and the different points of view. Serena is the girl that has it all, according to others in high school. But that's not the truth. Because she's perfect at pretending. Now her life is in ruins and she's back in her hometown and she's struggling with finding her way and who she is. Being talked to organize a class reunion isn't in her plans. Then some white lies were told. Because being back and being a failure isn't an option. And that's the reason she's faking it with Rhodes, her ex's brother. And Rhodes is such a complicated character with definite morally grey vibes. But I was floored by his quiet obsession and devotion to Serena. The years of pinning and pent up emotions, the tension and the longing. Oh my, then the fake engagement is absolutely the answer to all the problems Serena is having with the reunion. And slowly all the pretending is so real and so true. Finally those two had the opportunity to confess their feelings. Let's just say that Rhodes and Serena were perfect together. Loved it that they both managed to figure out what they wanted to do with their lives and supported each other. The chemistry between them was steaming hot and the spice was through the roof. The story was so good and the plot twists kept me guessing what's next. I loved Rhodes and Serena's happily ever after. That epilogue with the sneak peak in their future made me grinning. Now I want to know about all the other girls.
Thanks to the author for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of this book.
Thanks to the author for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of this book.
October 30, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Oh boy, where do I start? Serena and Rhodes are everything. 😩
Serena is just a girl who has so much on her shoulders, but she carries it so well that no one knows her internal struggles. Fresh off a divorce with no true life highlights to write home about, she panics when she runs into one of her high school friend and essentially lies about everything, including a fiancé who doesn’t exist. Her friend wrongly associates her with Rhodes, Serena’s ex-husband’s older brother, who Serena was convinced hated her for as long as she knew him.
Rhodes… the man that he is 😮💨 A powerful attorney, Rhodes has been secretly OBSESSED with Serena ever since he met her. He comes to her rescue about the fake-fiancé story and agrees to the ruse with a few ulterior motives of his own.
Not only do the two share a dark secret from their past, but recent developments with Serena being convinced to plan her 10-year high school reunion threaten to expose their secret and potentially ruin their lives.
I loved this story so much. From Serena’s journey through self-discovery and finally allowing herself to ask for help and admit when she wasn’t actually the high achiever everyone thought she had become, to Rhodes’s silent devotion of love to protect and support Serena from afar throughout the years, it’s hard to pick just one aspect of this book that was my favorite.
Amanda did an amazing job with the depth of her characters, the right amount of suspense, cute 90s references, the SPICE (PHEW), and setting up Serena’s friend, Bri, for the next book in this series. I’m so excited to continue The Reputation Series. Thank you, Amanda and team, for giving me the opportunity to be an ARC reader! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
TROPES:
🌺Age Gap
🖤Ex-Husband’s Brother
🌺Fake Fiancé
🖤He’s OBSESSED
🌺Ex Good Girl
🖤Reformed People Pleaser
🌺Morally Gray Anti-Hero
🖤High Spice 🌶️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Oh boy, where do I start? Serena and Rhodes are everything. 😩
Serena is just a girl who has so much on her shoulders, but she carries it so well that no one knows her internal struggles. Fresh off a divorce with no true life highlights to write home about, she panics when she runs into one of her high school friend and essentially lies about everything, including a fiancé who doesn’t exist. Her friend wrongly associates her with Rhodes, Serena’s ex-husband’s older brother, who Serena was convinced hated her for as long as she knew him.
Rhodes… the man that he is 😮💨 A powerful attorney, Rhodes has been secretly OBSESSED with Serena ever since he met her. He comes to her rescue about the fake-fiancé story and agrees to the ruse with a few ulterior motives of his own.
Not only do the two share a dark secret from their past, but recent developments with Serena being convinced to plan her 10-year high school reunion threaten to expose their secret and potentially ruin their lives.
I loved this story so much. From Serena’s journey through self-discovery and finally allowing herself to ask for help and admit when she wasn’t actually the high achiever everyone thought she had become, to Rhodes’s silent devotion of love to protect and support Serena from afar throughout the years, it’s hard to pick just one aspect of this book that was my favorite.
Amanda did an amazing job with the depth of her characters, the right amount of suspense, cute 90s references, the SPICE (PHEW), and setting up Serena’s friend, Bri, for the next book in this series. I’m so excited to continue The Reputation Series. Thank you, Amanda and team, for giving me the opportunity to be an ARC reader! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
TROPES:
🌺Age Gap
🖤Ex-Husband’s Brother
🌺Fake Fiancé
🖤He’s OBSESSED
🌺Ex Good Girl
🖤Reformed People Pleaser
🌺Morally Gray Anti-Hero
🖤High Spice 🌶️
October 28, 2026
🌶️🌶️.5/5
Most Likely to Pretend was such a good time! This one’s got ex-husband’s brother, it’s always been you, a little morally gray action, some fake dating, and serious 90s vibes.
This one follows Serena, who returns to her hometown fresh off a divorce and floundering in her career. A chance encounter with an old friend leads to her helping plan their high school reunion and somehow fabricating an entire life that doesn’t exist, including a fiancé. And who better to step in and play the part than Rhodes, her ex-husband’s older brother, who just so happens to have been in love with her for the last ten years?
I really enjoyed this one! Rhodes has that controlling, always observing, slightly morally gray, completely down bad for her vibe that I just ate up. The way this man has been yearning for her for TEN YEARS? Delicious. And I really liked Serena, too. I thought she was incredibly relatable in that stage of adulthood where you feel like you should have everything figured out, but you’re actually just trying to keep your head above water. I loved that vulnerability in her.
These two together were great. The chemistry was there, the spice was great, and I loved how Rhodes supported Serena and made her feel comfortable being exactly who she is.
My only small critique is that I wish we’d gotten a little more insight into Serena’s feelings toward Rhodes ten years ago. We got small snippets, but not quite enough for me to fully fall into that, it’s always been you, that was trying to be established on her end. But honestly, it didn’t change my enjoyment of the story, just a thought while reading.
But honestly, that’s a pretty minor criticism in an otherwise really enjoyable read. I highly recommend this one, and I can’t wait to see where this series goes!
🌟thank you to Amanda Richardson for the arc and the opportunity to provide my honest review
Most Likely to Pretend was such a good time! This one’s got ex-husband’s brother, it’s always been you, a little morally gray action, some fake dating, and serious 90s vibes.
This one follows Serena, who returns to her hometown fresh off a divorce and floundering in her career. A chance encounter with an old friend leads to her helping plan their high school reunion and somehow fabricating an entire life that doesn’t exist, including a fiancé. And who better to step in and play the part than Rhodes, her ex-husband’s older brother, who just so happens to have been in love with her for the last ten years?
I really enjoyed this one! Rhodes has that controlling, always observing, slightly morally gray, completely down bad for her vibe that I just ate up. The way this man has been yearning for her for TEN YEARS? Delicious. And I really liked Serena, too. I thought she was incredibly relatable in that stage of adulthood where you feel like you should have everything figured out, but you’re actually just trying to keep your head above water. I loved that vulnerability in her.
These two together were great. The chemistry was there, the spice was great, and I loved how Rhodes supported Serena and made her feel comfortable being exactly who she is.
My only small critique is that I wish we’d gotten a little more insight into Serena’s feelings toward Rhodes ten years ago. We got small snippets, but not quite enough for me to fully fall into that, it’s always been you, that was trying to be established on her end. But honestly, it didn’t change my enjoyment of the story, just a thought while reading.
But honestly, that’s a pretty minor criticism in an otherwise really enjoyable read. I highly recommend this one, and I can’t wait to see where this series goes!
🌟thank you to Amanda Richardson for the arc and the opportunity to provide my honest review
October 25, 2026
Picking this book up, I imnediately thought it was going to be a light read. Whilst it did have some lightness in the banter between Serena, Bri and Val, it much so much more. The depth, the bare bones of the book had lots realistic moments of overwhelming clarity for so many people. Trying to be what everybody else expects you to be as a young woman leaving college, the validations , the titles given in year books from people when they think they know you, for Serena this had a heavyiness on her shoulders, only Rhodes saw everything. He understood what she was going through, how his younger brother Mason treated her, only he could watch from afar. One night changed everything and they both share a secret that could destroy them both. Serena left with Mason and led a new life, going to college, playing her part.
Until she returned to the place where she had grown up, to re discover herself
Ten years her senior, her boyfriends older brother, Rhodes always took a step back. Takimg care of Serena without her ever knowing. He seems a grumpsy, arrogant lawyer. When they meet again, she needs a fake finance, its a perfect set up for Rhodes, everything he's ever wanted and more.
What starts out as a fake relationship, leads to a love that is real, full of tenderness but so much steam and heat! Rhodes wasn't a selfish, childish man like his younger brother , he was a true Alpha male claiming Serena as his in front of everyone she knew. He wanted to show everyone that she was his, but that she was a strong women on her own. At times the book was funny, the banter, Rhodes being so serious and growly. Serena finally accepted herself, realised she was perfect as she was.
I loved this book so much, never having read a book by Amanda I have missed out, she has a brilliant skill putting words onto paper that grip you, dig deep within yourself but also have a story with comoassion, hot men and sassy women. I can't wait to read Bri's book. I will miss Rhodes and Serena but I'm sure they will pop up in this world again. Thanks for the ARC from the author , i was honoured to have read and reviewed it! 🥰🥰🥰
Until she returned to the place where she had grown up, to re discover herself
Ten years her senior, her boyfriends older brother, Rhodes always took a step back. Takimg care of Serena without her ever knowing. He seems a grumpsy, arrogant lawyer. When they meet again, she needs a fake finance, its a perfect set up for Rhodes, everything he's ever wanted and more.
What starts out as a fake relationship, leads to a love that is real, full of tenderness but so much steam and heat! Rhodes wasn't a selfish, childish man like his younger brother , he was a true Alpha male claiming Serena as his in front of everyone she knew. He wanted to show everyone that she was his, but that she was a strong women on her own. At times the book was funny, the banter, Rhodes being so serious and growly. Serena finally accepted herself, realised she was perfect as she was.
I loved this book so much, never having read a book by Amanda I have missed out, she has a brilliant skill putting words onto paper that grip you, dig deep within yourself but also have a story with comoassion, hot men and sassy women. I can't wait to read Bri's book. I will miss Rhodes and Serena but I'm sure they will pop up in this world again. Thanks for the ARC from the author , i was honoured to have read and reviewed it! 🥰🥰🥰
October 29, 2026
Most Likely to Pretend is the story about those who were super popular in high school, voted most likely to succeed, and then for whatever reason - LIFE - don't. Serena was that girl - homecoming queen, dating the football star, cheerleader, valedictorian, all of the things - but now, 10 years later, she is a self-described failure. She is back in town because her mother has passed and she needs to ready her childhood home for sale. She left town right after graduation, married the homecoming king/football star that she'd dated all through high school, took care of her mother who had dementia, and did everything for everyone - except herself. She dropped out of school, bounced from job to job, gave up her art, and her identity - all to take care of her mom and her husband, who then cheated on her with her high school rival. Back in her hometown, she immediately runs into her old best friend, and, when put on the spot about what she's been up to, completely lies and says she has a successful business and is engaged. Her friend, ropes her into helping plan the 10 year high school reunion, since she was valedictorian. Next, Serena runs into her ex-husband's older brother (10 years older) - the one she always thought hated her. He agrees to pretend to be engaged to her until after the reunion. Rhodes, the ex's older brother, has secretly been in love with Serena since his brother first brought her home, but pretended to be indifferent toward her so that he wouldn't get hurt by her rejection. The two also share a dark secret from the past, which tries to come back and haunt them now. The story has a lot of slow burn, angst, grief and self-doubt, healing, yearning, obsession, etc., and the banter between Serena and Rhodes is everything!
October 30, 2026
Most Likely to Pretend by Amanda Richardson was a wonderful book from which we can all learn something. The story is told mostly from the female main character’s point of view with just a few chapters from the main male character, Rhodes. It is also told in both the present and the past. An unusual aspect is that the present isn’t 2026. Don’t be confused, this isn’t an historical novel, but the author chose a unique setting. The story shifts between Serena’s present with an impending ten year reunion, and ten years previously.
Serena is newly divorced and not on her feet financially. She has experienced significant tragedy and returns to her home town where she is cajoled into helping set up the ten year reunion with her previous best friends. Embarrassed by her current circumstances, she embellishes the truth and Rhodes agrees to act as her new fiance. The fact that he is her ex-husband’s brother makes for an interesting story.
Serena is an interesting character and exhibits some of the same feelings many returning graduates experience. Here lies a profound message for all young people. Rhodes has also been directed in a way he did not necessarily choose. He comes from money and has worked hard to be a success. But Rhodes has secrets, too. He is also ten years older than Serena.
Their love story is beautiful and has taken a long time to come to fruition. Quite the slow burn. There are some unexpected revelations in the story that make it even more interesting and rich. It also sets up the next story for one of Serena’s friends. Amanda Richardson writes well and she writes good stories. I will eagerly be awaiting the next one about Srena’s friend, Bri. In the meantime, I encourage you to grab this one. You won't be disappointed.
Serena is newly divorced and not on her feet financially. She has experienced significant tragedy and returns to her home town where she is cajoled into helping set up the ten year reunion with her previous best friends. Embarrassed by her current circumstances, she embellishes the truth and Rhodes agrees to act as her new fiance. The fact that he is her ex-husband’s brother makes for an interesting story.
Serena is an interesting character and exhibits some of the same feelings many returning graduates experience. Here lies a profound message for all young people. Rhodes has also been directed in a way he did not necessarily choose. He comes from money and has worked hard to be a success. But Rhodes has secrets, too. He is also ten years older than Serena.
Their love story is beautiful and has taken a long time to come to fruition. Quite the slow burn. There are some unexpected revelations in the story that make it even more interesting and rich. It also sets up the next story for one of Serena’s friends. Amanda Richardson writes well and she writes good stories. I will eagerly be awaiting the next one about Srena’s friend, Bri. In the meantime, I encourage you to grab this one. You won't be disappointed.
October 29, 2026
MF Small Town Romance
“You’re mine now. Not his. Mine.”
Great read!!!! I really enjoyed this book. It was so much more than I thought it would be. It had flashbacks of pivotal moments in their previous ‘relationship’. It had the perfect amount of angst and tension, their chemistry was off the charts, there was spice, utter heartbreaking moments and some great laughs. This had great plot twists that I definitely didn’t see that coming.
Rhodes was a completely different man under all that composure and control. He was the perfect mix of a red a green flag book boyfriend.
At the reunion…. A wonderful speech was made that had me in tears…it was truly a beautiful message
No cheating, no OWD, no third act breakup with a HEA
* Age Gap 28 / 38
* Ex Husband’s Older Brother
* Fake Fiancé
* Morally Grey Anti Hero
* Man Obsessed
* Tatted FMC
* Slutty Little Glasses
* He Falls First
* It Was Always You
* Reformed People Pleaser FMC
* Neurospicy Rep
* Quoting Poetry
“You never storm, or rage… even when you have every right to. You just… rain. Bleeding off the sadness and anger quietly, apologizing for inconveniencing everyone.”
“I have loved you since you were eighteen years old and too apologetic for your own good. I have loved you through every day of the last ten years, and I will love you until I stop breathing.”
I don’t want half of you, Rhodes. I never did. I want the whole terrifyingly broody, grumpy, brilliant man, exactly as he is.” My voice cracks, and my fingers twitch against his scruff. “You don’t have to be perfect or good or wholesome. That sounds boring, anyway. You just have to be mine and I’ll be happy forever.”
“You’re mine now. Not his. Mine.”
Great read!!!! I really enjoyed this book. It was so much more than I thought it would be. It had flashbacks of pivotal moments in their previous ‘relationship’. It had the perfect amount of angst and tension, their chemistry was off the charts, there was spice, utter heartbreaking moments and some great laughs. This had great plot twists that I definitely didn’t see that coming.
Rhodes was a completely different man under all that composure and control. He was the perfect mix of a red a green flag book boyfriend.
At the reunion…. A wonderful speech was made that had me in tears…it was truly a beautiful message
No cheating, no OWD, no third act breakup with a HEA
* Age Gap 28 / 38
* Ex Husband’s Older Brother
* Fake Fiancé
* Morally Grey Anti Hero
* Man Obsessed
* Tatted FMC
* Slutty Little Glasses
* He Falls First
* It Was Always You
* Reformed People Pleaser FMC
* Neurospicy Rep
* Quoting Poetry
“You never storm, or rage… even when you have every right to. You just… rain. Bleeding off the sadness and anger quietly, apologizing for inconveniencing everyone.”
“I have loved you since you were eighteen years old and too apologetic for your own good. I have loved you through every day of the last ten years, and I will love you until I stop breathing.”
I don’t want half of you, Rhodes. I never did. I want the whole terrifyingly broody, grumpy, brilliant man, exactly as he is.” My voice cracks, and my fingers twitch against his scruff. “You don’t have to be perfect or good or wholesome. That sounds boring, anyway. You just have to be mine and I’ll be happy forever.”
October 25, 2026
🖤🩷🤍
Most Likely to Pretend
By Amanda Richardson
5 ⭐️
3 🌶️
This story is a masterclass of now and then. We start off with an absolute bang, 10 years earlier at highschool graduation night… we get Ace of Base on the radio, checking pagers (not smart phones) and absolute 90s party vibes. We meet FMC Serena, her two best friends Briony and Val, her lame ass boyfriend Mason and eventually, MMC Rhodes, the boyfriends older brother.
Serena always operated under the impression that Rhodes hated her, but we see very early on that that’s quite the opposite. He’s been in love with Serena since before anyone ever knew. I love a book when he falls first and its even better when not only has he fallen, but he learns EVERYTHING about her.
Serena is the girl everyone thought would succeed, the golden girl destined to marry the captain of the football team, the youngest son of one of the most powerful lawyers in the country. When she marries Mason, he never understands her, never cares for her, never takes care of her or makes space for her to succeed. And our flashbacks show us just how much Rhodes took that place silently in the background.
When her 10 year reunion comes around and Serena is roped into planning (as any good class president should) she panics and makes herself into a full on success story, successful life, job and a hot new fiance - who else but her ex-husband’s older, mysterious, ultra successful, Rhodes.
While we get to know each of the characters as they reconnect, we get flashbacks of the moments that built the foundation of their relationship (including an insane touch her and die - literally - moment). While in real time we get to experience scorching hot tensions between our MCs.
This book had me COMPLETELY sat from start to finish and while its very different from the usual themes we expect from Amanda. I absolutely LOVED every minute of it and of being in a brand new world created by my favourite author.
Most Likely to Pretend
By Amanda Richardson
5 ⭐️
3 🌶️
This story is a masterclass of now and then. We start off with an absolute bang, 10 years earlier at highschool graduation night… we get Ace of Base on the radio, checking pagers (not smart phones) and absolute 90s party vibes. We meet FMC Serena, her two best friends Briony and Val, her lame ass boyfriend Mason and eventually, MMC Rhodes, the boyfriends older brother.
Serena always operated under the impression that Rhodes hated her, but we see very early on that that’s quite the opposite. He’s been in love with Serena since before anyone ever knew. I love a book when he falls first and its even better when not only has he fallen, but he learns EVERYTHING about her.
Serena is the girl everyone thought would succeed, the golden girl destined to marry the captain of the football team, the youngest son of one of the most powerful lawyers in the country. When she marries Mason, he never understands her, never cares for her, never takes care of her or makes space for her to succeed. And our flashbacks show us just how much Rhodes took that place silently in the background.
When her 10 year reunion comes around and Serena is roped into planning (as any good class president should) she panics and makes herself into a full on success story, successful life, job and a hot new fiance - who else but her ex-husband’s older, mysterious, ultra successful, Rhodes.
While we get to know each of the characters as they reconnect, we get flashbacks of the moments that built the foundation of their relationship (including an insane touch her and die - literally - moment). While in real time we get to experience scorching hot tensions between our MCs.
This book had me COMPLETELY sat from start to finish and while its very different from the usual themes we expect from Amanda. I absolutely LOVED every minute of it and of being in a brand new world created by my favourite author.
October 27, 2026
Most Likely To Pretend by Amanda Richardson is a book that has an absolute level of emotional depth, slow burn tension, and absolute devotion.
From the very first page, i was completely absorbed by the storyline. Set against a nostalgic nineties backdrop of handwritten notes, the story follows Serena as she returns home after a failed marriage, carrying the exhausting weight of being a lifelong people pleaser. Her desperation to maintain appearances at her high school reunion leads to a web of lies and a desperate plea to her ex husband's older brother, Rhodes, to act as her fake fiancé.
What made me deeply invested in this story was the emotional reality of Serena's internal struggle. The burden of old yearbook titles, family pressures, and the constant need for validation resonated deeply with me. Rhodes is top tier in obsessive romance book boyfriends, ten years senior, brooding, fiercely protective, and deeply observant of every hidden crack in Serena's armor, what she likes to eat,what she reacts and doesn't react to in terms of clothing. Watching them transition from a tentative fake arrangement to a love built on true safety, raw tenderness, and intense steam made every chapter unputdownable. Chapter 21 had me in a choke hold and the emotional payoff of Serena finally accepting herself is magnificent.
Read this book for the exquisite forbidden tension, the grumpy hero who only has eyes for her, and a romance that proves some people are simply worth waiting a decade for.
Thank you Amanda for the ARC. I’m looking forward to reading Bri's book.
From the very first page, i was completely absorbed by the storyline. Set against a nostalgic nineties backdrop of handwritten notes, the story follows Serena as she returns home after a failed marriage, carrying the exhausting weight of being a lifelong people pleaser. Her desperation to maintain appearances at her high school reunion leads to a web of lies and a desperate plea to her ex husband's older brother, Rhodes, to act as her fake fiancé.
What made me deeply invested in this story was the emotional reality of Serena's internal struggle. The burden of old yearbook titles, family pressures, and the constant need for validation resonated deeply with me. Rhodes is top tier in obsessive romance book boyfriends, ten years senior, brooding, fiercely protective, and deeply observant of every hidden crack in Serena's armor, what she likes to eat,what she reacts and doesn't react to in terms of clothing. Watching them transition from a tentative fake arrangement to a love built on true safety, raw tenderness, and intense steam made every chapter unputdownable. Chapter 21 had me in a choke hold and the emotional payoff of Serena finally accepting herself is magnificent.
Read this book for the exquisite forbidden tension, the grumpy hero who only has eyes for her, and a romance that proves some people are simply worth waiting a decade for.
Thank you Amanda for the ARC. I’m looking forward to reading Bri's book.
October 24, 2026
4 stars
Characters: 4/4
Plot: 4/4
Spice: 2.5/5
First Person
Dual POV
MF
Contemporary
High School Reunion
Fake Engagement
Ex’s Brother
Age Gap
Morally Grey
Found Family
Mental Health Rep
Grief
Yearning
“I want you exactly as you are—difficult, mouthy, incapable of doing what you’re told.
But I want the privilege of being the one person you’d submit for.
The person you pay attention to. The person you trust. Because you can trust me.
You just have to relinquish some of that control you love to hold onto so dearly.”
Serena is back in her home town to settle some family matters. This just so happens to coincide with her ten year high school reunion. As the former class president and valedictorian, she gets roped into planning the event. There’s just one problem, her carefully crafted life turned out to be a lie. Now she desperately needs a fake fiancé.
Enter Rhodes, the older lawyer who’s been obsessed with Serena for ten years…and just happens to be her ex-husband’s brother. He agrees to pretend to be in a relationship with Serena with a few conditions, one of which includes her dating him.
Rhodes is determined to care for Serena like she always should have been and show her what an incredible person she really is inside. The two bring out each other’s best through their unconditional support of each other.
A lovely adult coming into their own story with tons of emotion and great mental health representation.
Characters: 4/4
Plot: 4/4
Spice: 2.5/5
First Person
Dual POV
MF
Contemporary
High School Reunion
Fake Engagement
Ex’s Brother
Age Gap
Morally Grey
Found Family
Mental Health Rep
Grief
Yearning
“I want you exactly as you are—difficult, mouthy, incapable of doing what you’re told.
But I want the privilege of being the one person you’d submit for.
The person you pay attention to. The person you trust. Because you can trust me.
You just have to relinquish some of that control you love to hold onto so dearly.”
Serena is back in her home town to settle some family matters. This just so happens to coincide with her ten year high school reunion. As the former class president and valedictorian, she gets roped into planning the event. There’s just one problem, her carefully crafted life turned out to be a lie. Now she desperately needs a fake fiancé.
Enter Rhodes, the older lawyer who’s been obsessed with Serena for ten years…and just happens to be her ex-husband’s brother. He agrees to pretend to be in a relationship with Serena with a few conditions, one of which includes her dating him.
Rhodes is determined to care for Serena like she always should have been and show her what an incredible person she really is inside. The two bring out each other’s best through their unconditional support of each other.
A lovely adult coming into their own story with tons of emotion and great mental health representation.
October 24, 2026
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Swoon 🫦🫦🫦🫦
LMAO 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Tears 🥹🥺
Banter 😉😉
Small Town / Age Gap / Fake Fiancé / Forced Promixity / HEA
Reputation Series, Book One - Serena Whitmore was the “it” girl in high school … prom queen, cheerleader, valedictorian … all the things until life happened. On graduation night, a tragedy occurs during a party at the home of her boyfriend, Mason Bishop. NDAs are signed, but only Serena and Mason’s older brother, Rhodes, know the awful truth. Fast forward ten years … Serena has gone to college, married Mason, divorced Mason, and is back home dealing with her family home after her mother’s passing. When she runs into her best friends from school, she gets talked into arranging the 10-year class reunion. She’s so embarrassed about the sad way her life turned out that she lies and tells them she’s a successful artist, business owner, and is newly engaged. Rhodes happens to overhear the conversation and volunteers to be the fake fiancé. If you enjoy lots of yearning … this book is for you. This story took some crazy twists and turns that I wasn’t expecting, but it was so exciting to read. I am really looking forward to the next book in the series because the girl in that story is a hoot and a half. Many thanks to Amanda Richardson and her PR staff for the advanced copy. I hope I can get in on the next one.
Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Swoon 🫦🫦🫦🫦
LMAO 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Tears 🥹🥺
Banter 😉😉
Small Town / Age Gap / Fake Fiancé / Forced Promixity / HEA
Reputation Series, Book One - Serena Whitmore was the “it” girl in high school … prom queen, cheerleader, valedictorian … all the things until life happened. On graduation night, a tragedy occurs during a party at the home of her boyfriend, Mason Bishop. NDAs are signed, but only Serena and Mason’s older brother, Rhodes, know the awful truth. Fast forward ten years … Serena has gone to college, married Mason, divorced Mason, and is back home dealing with her family home after her mother’s passing. When she runs into her best friends from school, she gets talked into arranging the 10-year class reunion. She’s so embarrassed about the sad way her life turned out that she lies and tells them she’s a successful artist, business owner, and is newly engaged. Rhodes happens to overhear the conversation and volunteers to be the fake fiancé. If you enjoy lots of yearning … this book is for you. This story took some crazy twists and turns that I wasn’t expecting, but it was so exciting to read. I am really looking forward to the next book in the series because the girl in that story is a hoot and a half. Many thanks to Amanda Richardson and her PR staff for the advanced copy. I hope I can get in on the next one.
October 30, 2026
This starts out as the story of Serena who is dating Mason, Rhodes' younger brother. Serena feels that Rhodes has always disliked her and her relationship with his brother and the fact that he's following her to the same college to be together. Serena and Mason end up married to help Serena's mom who's not in the best of health. Years later Mason cheats and Serena divorces him and wanders aimlessly trying to figure out how her life went in such a different direction then she'd planned.
Fast forward and Serena ends up back in her home town broke and divorced with her dog and runs into her old high school girlfriends. She ends up being talked into helping plan their upcoming high school reunion. Exactly what she didn't want to do. She tells some lies about how great her life is currently and ropes Rhodes into helping her by pretending to be her fiancee.
Rhodes is hesitant at first but agrees to the plan to show Mason exactly what he lost.
The more they are together Rhodes shows Serena how she should have been treated and finally explains how he's loved her all along.
I loved this book so much and Rhodes Bishop is everything you want in a man. A little older and obsessed with the woman he's been in love with for 10 years who happened to be his younger brother's ex-wife.
I received a free copy of this book via Book Funnel and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Fast forward and Serena ends up back in her home town broke and divorced with her dog and runs into her old high school girlfriends. She ends up being talked into helping plan their upcoming high school reunion. Exactly what she didn't want to do. She tells some lies about how great her life is currently and ropes Rhodes into helping her by pretending to be her fiancee.
Rhodes is hesitant at first but agrees to the plan to show Mason exactly what he lost.
The more they are together Rhodes shows Serena how she should have been treated and finally explains how he's loved her all along.
I loved this book so much and Rhodes Bishop is everything you want in a man. A little older and obsessed with the woman he's been in love with for 10 years who happened to be his younger brother's ex-wife.
I received a free copy of this book via Book Funnel and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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