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In Good Company: A Fake Dating Workplace Romance
Alma Ruiz has two priorities: prove herself in her first real job and get her ex-boyfriend back. Carrying the weight of her family’s expectations, she has no room for mistakes, especially not after a painful breakup that left her questioning everything she thought she knew about love.
Unfortunately, her job also comes with Callum Markum.
Callum is quick-witted, infuriatingly confident, and always ready with a smart remark that pushes Alma’s buttons. At work, they clash as often as they collaborate, their sharp banter masking a tension neither of them is willing to acknowledge.
After a reckless proposition to pretend to be interested in each other to make her ex jealous, Alma and Callum navigate sparks, tension, and messy emotions that neither of them expected. When a company trip to Jamaica finally forces them to confront their feelings, pretending stops being an option.
And in this messy, chaotic, and heart-fluttering workplace romance, Alma and Callum are about to learn that the person who drives you the craziest might just be the one you can’t live without.
Unfortunately, her job also comes with Callum Markum.
Callum is quick-witted, infuriatingly confident, and always ready with a smart remark that pushes Alma’s buttons. At work, they clash as often as they collaborate, their sharp banter masking a tension neither of them is willing to acknowledge.
After a reckless proposition to pretend to be interested in each other to make her ex jealous, Alma and Callum navigate sparks, tension, and messy emotions that neither of them expected. When a company trip to Jamaica finally forces them to confront their feelings, pretending stops being an option.
And in this messy, chaotic, and heart-fluttering workplace romance, Alma and Callum are about to learn that the person who drives you the craziest might just be the one you can’t live without.
308 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 16, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
May 31, 2026
This was such a cute contemporary romance! I saw a lot of my overthinking in our main FMC and I did have some good laughs during this book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
In Good Company really leans into one of my favorite romance dynamics: two people who spend half their time irritating each other and the other half pretending that tension means absolutely nothing.
Alma and Callum’s dynamic immediately worked for me because the banter doesn’t sound polished or overly performative — it feels reactive, slightly reckless, and very much fueled by the fact that they know exactly how to get under each other’s skin. The fake dating setup also feels believable within the context of the story because it comes from emotion and impulse rather than some elaborate arrangement.
I also appreciated that Alma’s character seems shaped by more than just the romance itself. The pressure of wanting to succeed professionally while still carrying the weight of a difficult breakup and family expectations gives the premise a little more emotional grounding. There’s a difference between a romance where characters fall for each other because the plot says so, and one where the relationship develops while both people are already dealing with unresolved parts of themselves.
And honestly, the company trip to Jamaica feels like the exact moment where this kind of story naturally shifts from tension-filled workplace banter into something more difficult to avoid emotionally.
Callum sounds particularly appealing in that very specific romance-hero way where confidence and sarcasm are probably doing a lot of work to hide sincerity. Those characters tend to work best when there’s enough tension underneath the humor, and the synopsis definitely suggests that balance.
Overall, this sounds like a romance that understands why fake dating and workplace tension continue to work so well together: proximity, unresolved attraction, and two people becoming emotionally invested long before they’re ready to admit it.
Alma and Callum’s dynamic immediately worked for me because the banter doesn’t sound polished or overly performative — it feels reactive, slightly reckless, and very much fueled by the fact that they know exactly how to get under each other’s skin. The fake dating setup also feels believable within the context of the story because it comes from emotion and impulse rather than some elaborate arrangement.
I also appreciated that Alma’s character seems shaped by more than just the romance itself. The pressure of wanting to succeed professionally while still carrying the weight of a difficult breakup and family expectations gives the premise a little more emotional grounding. There’s a difference between a romance where characters fall for each other because the plot says so, and one where the relationship develops while both people are already dealing with unresolved parts of themselves.
And honestly, the company trip to Jamaica feels like the exact moment where this kind of story naturally shifts from tension-filled workplace banter into something more difficult to avoid emotionally.
Callum sounds particularly appealing in that very specific romance-hero way where confidence and sarcasm are probably doing a lot of work to hide sincerity. Those characters tend to work best when there’s enough tension underneath the humor, and the synopsis definitely suggests that balance.
Overall, this sounds like a romance that understands why fake dating and workplace tension continue to work so well together: proximity, unresolved attraction, and two people becoming emotionally invested long before they’re ready to admit it.
June 16, 2026
3.5
ARC READ REVIEW
Alma and Callum's banter felt natural and effortless from the start. They didn’t feel forced and they just knew how to get under each other’s skin.
The fake dating trope also worked surprisingly well because it felt rooted in emotion and circumstance rather than some unbelievable setup.
What I enjoyed most was that Alma had more going on than just the romance. Between the pressure of her career, the lingering effects of a difficult breakup, and the expectations she carries from her family, she felt like a fully developed character rather than someone whose entire storyline revolved around finding love. It gave the story more real life setup and made her feel more authentic.
Both Alma and Callum had baggage to carry along that gave the story a bit more depth.
Callum was the perfect mix of confidence, sarcasm, and hidden vulnerability, making him easy to root for from start to finish, even when he was frustrating.
Overall, this was a fun romance that reminded me why fake dating and workplace romances continue to be popular. The chemistry was there, the tension was there, and watching two people become emotionally invested long before they were ready to admit it made for an enjoyable read.
ARC READ REVIEW
Alma and Callum's banter felt natural and effortless from the start. They didn’t feel forced and they just knew how to get under each other’s skin.
The fake dating trope also worked surprisingly well because it felt rooted in emotion and circumstance rather than some unbelievable setup.
What I enjoyed most was that Alma had more going on than just the romance. Between the pressure of her career, the lingering effects of a difficult breakup, and the expectations she carries from her family, she felt like a fully developed character rather than someone whose entire storyline revolved around finding love. It gave the story more real life setup and made her feel more authentic.
Both Alma and Callum had baggage to carry along that gave the story a bit more depth.
Callum was the perfect mix of confidence, sarcasm, and hidden vulnerability, making him easy to root for from start to finish, even when he was frustrating.
Overall, this was a fun romance that reminded me why fake dating and workplace romances continue to be popular. The chemistry was there, the tension was there, and watching two people become emotionally invested long before they were ready to admit it made for an enjoyable read.
Review of advance copy received from Author
MUST READ🩵🩵
Heartbroken by your ex after your studies, leaving you completely devastated. You go to your first job hoping you can get him back or at least heal yourself - but that is easy to say, but a job, because your ex, whom you haven't gotten over, works with you - together with someone who has a higher position than you, who gets on your nerves. Of all the options you can imagine, she chooses to fake date the man with the higher position to make her ex jealous. But what should she do when she develops feelings for this annoying but handsome man? Read the book and find out. I give this book 4,5 stars because it is a well-written book and also handles all the tropes well. I also have a lot of emotional connection to this book; the story about the ex and how she got over it touched me deeply. Also, how one finds oneself again is very beautiful; as someone who has also struggled, it is beautifully written—and it is a beautiful gesture how mental health is revealed so openly and deeply in this book. I find that beautiful, and it also helps me feel a bit better in my healing journey. Thank you for writing this beautiful story
Heartbroken by your ex after your studies, leaving you completely devastated. You go to your first job hoping you can get him back or at least heal yourself - but that is easy to say, but a job, because your ex, whom you haven't gotten over, works with you - together with someone who has a higher position than you, who gets on your nerves. Of all the options you can imagine, she chooses to fake date the man with the higher position to make her ex jealous. But what should she do when she develops feelings for this annoying but handsome man? Read the book and find out. I give this book 4,5 stars because it is a well-written book and also handles all the tropes well. I also have a lot of emotional connection to this book; the story about the ex and how she got over it touched me deeply. Also, how one finds oneself again is very beautiful; as someone who has also struggled, it is beautifully written—and it is a beautiful gesture how mental health is revealed so openly and deeply in this book. I find that beautiful, and it also helps me feel a bit better in my healing journey. Thank you for writing this beautiful story
June 21, 2026
Fake dating with Latino representation? I was sat.
Okay, first off—Alma? I loved her.
A rookie in her field trying to find her place while dealing with financial struggles and that constant need to take care of the people she loves, even when she isn’t fully okay herself? Girl, same.
Her banter with Callum was so much fun, and the fact that she wasn’t a pushover made me love her even more. And the second Callum started speaking Spanish? Yeah, I was basically done for.
I also really appreciated the way the book handled mental health and relationships. Watching everything unfold between them was incredibly rewarding, and that ending??? So flipping cute.
That said, around the halfway point, the pacing felt a little up and down for me. Some of Alma and Callum’s decisions definitely had me wanting to yell at my screen (and I may or may not have done exactly that), but I also understood that many of those choices were tied to the themes the story was exploring.
Overall, this was a fun, enjoyable workplace romance with fake dating, great Latino representation, and plenty of sweet moments that kept me turning the pages.
Okay, first off—Alma? I loved her.
A rookie in her field trying to find her place while dealing with financial struggles and that constant need to take care of the people she loves, even when she isn’t fully okay herself? Girl, same.
Her banter with Callum was so much fun, and the fact that she wasn’t a pushover made me love her even more. And the second Callum started speaking Spanish? Yeah, I was basically done for.
I also really appreciated the way the book handled mental health and relationships. Watching everything unfold between them was incredibly rewarding, and that ending??? So flipping cute.
That said, around the halfway point, the pacing felt a little up and down for me. Some of Alma and Callum’s decisions definitely had me wanting to yell at my screen (and I may or may not have done exactly that), but I also understood that many of those choices were tied to the themes the story was exploring.
Overall, this was a fun, enjoyable workplace romance with fake dating, great Latino representation, and plenty of sweet moments that kept me turning the pages.
May 17, 2026
*spoiler free*
I LOVED in Good Company! The FMC was relatable and really touched on the struggles of being an eldest daughter/provider. I really enjoyed the sprinkles of her heritage and culture throughout the chapters. I don't normally read purely romance (usually it's a subgenre of my reads tho) but OMG did Alma and Callum's story take me for a wild ride. BTW, hate Owen. You'll understand later. The mental health portrayal was spot on; it was intimate and tasteful which I appreciated as someone who has had previous struggles myself. I think most people have found someone who they really cared for but one or both of them wasn't ready for the intensity, my greatest love and I followed similar steps to this story. It's wonderful to see the beauty of life and overcoming our fears. And last but not least...the spicy scenes...are perfection! Like lawdy did I keep myself glued to my kindle after the halfway point lol. 20/10. Cannot wait for the next book!
I LOVED in Good Company! The FMC was relatable and really touched on the struggles of being an eldest daughter/provider. I really enjoyed the sprinkles of her heritage and culture throughout the chapters. I don't normally read purely romance (usually it's a subgenre of my reads tho) but OMG did Alma and Callum's story take me for a wild ride. BTW, hate Owen. You'll understand later. The mental health portrayal was spot on; it was intimate and tasteful which I appreciated as someone who has had previous struggles myself. I think most people have found someone who they really cared for but one or both of them wasn't ready for the intensity, my greatest love and I followed similar steps to this story. It's wonderful to see the beauty of life and overcoming our fears. And last but not least...the spicy scenes...are perfection! Like lawdy did I keep myself glued to my kindle after the halfway point lol. 20/10. Cannot wait for the next book!
June 17, 2026
3.5/5 ⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
🩷 Banter
💙 Slow burn
🩷 workplace romance
💙 fake dating
🫶🏼 Mental health Rep
The banter between Alma and Callum is great! Alma is fresh out of college and starting her first full time job, Callum is her cocky supervisor who she happened to spill her coffee on before her first day of work. The middle portion I got kind of tired of the back and forth between Callum and Owen. I’m also not a fan of the way either of them treat and talk to her. There was a gap of time that felt too long in the moment but when the story wrapped up it was explained. Overall I really liked the story line. I struggled with the behaviors at times but that was intended to be tough with the inner battles too. I’m honored I was chosen to receive an Advanced Reader Copy of this book by the author. This review is 100% my personal opinion.
🌶️🌶️🌶️
🩷 Banter
💙 Slow burn
🩷 workplace romance
💙 fake dating
🫶🏼 Mental health Rep
The banter between Alma and Callum is great! Alma is fresh out of college and starting her first full time job, Callum is her cocky supervisor who she happened to spill her coffee on before her first day of work. The middle portion I got kind of tired of the back and forth between Callum and Owen. I’m also not a fan of the way either of them treat and talk to her. There was a gap of time that felt too long in the moment but when the story wrapped up it was explained. Overall I really liked the story line. I struggled with the behaviors at times but that was intended to be tough with the inner battles too. I’m honored I was chosen to receive an Advanced Reader Copy of this book by the author. This review is 100% my personal opinion.
June 5, 2026
Advanced readers copy given by author
The book started off really strong and had me hooked pretty early on — like I was genuinely invested and excited to see where things were going!!
But somewhere after Alma told Owen she didn’t want him the story just lost a little bit of its grip on me. It became harder to stay as invested as I was in the beginning and I found myself not quite as pulled in as I was those first few chapters!!
The ending was pretty and it wrapped things up nicely but it wasn’t anything that blew me away or left me completely swooning either. Just a sweet and quiet finish that matched the overall tone of the second half!!
A solid debut that showed a lot of promise especially in those early chapters — I just wish that energy had carried all the way through!!
The book started off really strong and had me hooked pretty early on — like I was genuinely invested and excited to see where things were going!!
But somewhere after Alma told Owen she didn’t want him the story just lost a little bit of its grip on me. It became harder to stay as invested as I was in the beginning and I found myself not quite as pulled in as I was those first few chapters!!
The ending was pretty and it wrapped things up nicely but it wasn’t anything that blew me away or left me completely swooning either. Just a sweet and quiet finish that matched the overall tone of the second half!!
A solid debut that showed a lot of promise especially in those early chapters — I just wish that energy had carried all the way through!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
✨📚 In Good Company was such a cute office romance! The characters felt super relatable, the chemistry was there, and the banter had me smiling the whole time. 💕💼
I really enjoyed watching the relationship develop, but some scenes felt a little rushed, and there were moments where the descriptions jumped around enough to pull me out of the story. 🤏🏽
Overall, it was a fun, light read with lovable characters and witty dialogue that made it easy to keep turning the pages. I’d give it a solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5!
I really enjoyed watching the relationship develop, but some scenes felt a little rushed, and there were moments where the descriptions jumped around enough to pull me out of the story. 🤏🏽
Overall, it was a fun, light read with lovable characters and witty dialogue that made it easy to keep turning the pages. I’d give it a solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book was PHENOMENAL! The chemistry between Callum and Alma is off the charts, with not one but *two* of my favorite tropes (enemies to lovers and fake dating). The romance was scorching hot, the handling of Callum's mental health struggles was beautiful well done, and it all culminated in the best grand gesture moment I've ever read. Kudos to the author on a fabulous debut!
May 23, 2026
Received an ARC in exchange for a review.
This was a cute workplace romance book. First off I want to work at company that does all inclusive work trips like the one in this book! Had good mental health representations and I enjoyed the dynamic of family relationships also found in the book!
This was a cute workplace romance book. First off I want to work at company that does all inclusive work trips like the one in this book! Had good mental health representations and I enjoyed the dynamic of family relationships also found in the book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review! 3.5/5
It was an easy read and a pretty solid debut novel. I did feel that it times, the flow wasn’t the best but it wasn’t too bad at all. If you enjoy workplace romances with fun banter then definitely check it.
It was an easy read and a pretty solid debut novel. I did feel that it times, the flow wasn’t the best but it wasn’t too bad at all. If you enjoy workplace romances with fun banter then definitely check it.
Review of advance copy received from Author
You’re next must-have poolside read! ☀️ J.A. Mason’s modern banter between Alma and Callum is incredibly clever, and the whole book feels like catching up with old friends. It’s the perfect story for anyone navigating life post-college, or just trying to figure out why adulting has to be so hard.
June 16, 2026
If you’re looking for a spicy romance book, this is the book for you! It’s a dual POV workplace romance. Beautifully written and will keep you turning the page late into the night to see what happens next!
June 12, 2026
A really sweet contemporary romance! This was a fun read for me because it did genuinely have me laughing at some points!
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
-ARC received from the author. All opinions are my own-
This story started so good! I loved the easy, fun and realistic dialogue between all the characters. The writing was excellent and it was easy to become invested in the characters story lines. However, I had issues with timing and staying on track with where we were. In some instances it seemed as if whole chunks of time were just missing, or things were happening and I had to go back to see if I skipped a page because how did we even get here with no explanation. It unfortunately slowed my momentum and pulled me out of the story.
The author did a great job at showcasing the struggles each of the MCs was dealing with. Alma, with her need to be the perfect daughter and Callum, with his depression. The mental health aspect of Callums story was done well and it was refreshing to see a character actively participating in and consistently using the coping strategies they have in place to deal with their struggles.
🌶️🌶️🌶️
-ARC received from the author. All opinions are my own-
This story started so good! I loved the easy, fun and realistic dialogue between all the characters. The writing was excellent and it was easy to become invested in the characters story lines. However, I had issues with timing and staying on track with where we were. In some instances it seemed as if whole chunks of time were just missing, or things were happening and I had to go back to see if I skipped a page because how did we even get here with no explanation. It unfortunately slowed my momentum and pulled me out of the story.
The author did a great job at showcasing the struggles each of the MCs was dealing with. Alma, with her need to be the perfect daughter and Callum, with his depression. The mental health aspect of Callums story was done well and it was refreshing to see a character actively participating in and consistently using the coping strategies they have in place to deal with their struggles.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews