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Do Not Kiss Nicholas Prince: A Novel
Not yet published
Expected 2 Feb 27Eli Harlow is stuck in a rut. His dating life is tragic, he spends his days making tea for pensioners, and he’s living in the shadow of his family’s famous hotel. He’s nothing like his legendary gran, whose bestselling novels set at Azure House have gained her millions of dedicated fans.
But when Eli discovers that one of his Gran’s beloved books is being turned into a movie, things go from bad to worse. No one can ever do the story justice. Not when it’s one so close to his heart. And once it’s announced that the lead role has gone to Nicholas Prince – a boy band player turned wannabe actor – Eli decides enough is enough.
In a drunken rage, he creates an anonymous Do Not Cast Nicholas Prince! He doesn’t really think it will make a difference; he just wants to vent, but before he knows it, the petition goes viral.
Then he meets Nicholas. Handsome, annoyingly charming, surprisingly-talented Nicholas.
As filming commences on location, Eli finds himself thrust into the star’s enigmatic orbit. When the tabloids mistake a tense moment for something more, Nicholas’s agent suggests they use it as a marketing ploy and pretend the two are dating. The actor and the author’s a perfect media match.
Except now it’s becoming increasingly hard for Eli to determine what feelings are real and what’s just acting. And with his secret petition threatening the whole production, the truth might break his heart…
Perfect for fans of THE IDEA OF YOU and RED, WHITE AND ROYAL BLUE!
But when Eli discovers that one of his Gran’s beloved books is being turned into a movie, things go from bad to worse. No one can ever do the story justice. Not when it’s one so close to his heart. And once it’s announced that the lead role has gone to Nicholas Prince – a boy band player turned wannabe actor – Eli decides enough is enough.
In a drunken rage, he creates an anonymous Do Not Cast Nicholas Prince! He doesn’t really think it will make a difference; he just wants to vent, but before he knows it, the petition goes viral.
Then he meets Nicholas. Handsome, annoyingly charming, surprisingly-talented Nicholas.
As filming commences on location, Eli finds himself thrust into the star’s enigmatic orbit. When the tabloids mistake a tense moment for something more, Nicholas’s agent suggests they use it as a marketing ploy and pretend the two are dating. The actor and the author’s a perfect media match.
Except now it’s becoming increasingly hard for Eli to determine what feelings are real and what’s just acting. And with his secret petition threatening the whole production, the truth might break his heart…
Perfect for fans of THE IDEA OF YOU and RED, WHITE AND ROYAL BLUE!
Kindle Edition
Expected publication February 2, 2027
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Nothing like being rudely kicked out of a rut by finding out that your precious family's history is being turned into a movie. Worse yet, it's anchored by a former boyband frontman who's trying his hand at acting. In a drunken fit, Eli Harlow set up an online petition against said celebrity, until it predictably starts to backfire against him.
'Do not Kiss Nicholas Prince' (the title is a mouthful but it made me laugh!) is an enemies-to-lovers story that takes place in an unusual setting. I loved the instant dislike both Eli and Nicholas have of each other, though the filming location and the amount of media scrutiny trigger the forced proximity and fake dating tropes. Fairly predictably, this fake relationship turns into something less fake and more nebulously real, but there are obviously way too many obstacles that mean they're an impossible pair on paper at least.
There's a little too much of the shrinking violet syndrome here however: if Eli's personal trauma and plucky spirit was at first enjoyable to read, the more cowardly and rather annoying side emerged not long after and outstayed its welcome. I also wasn’t a fan of the prolonged deception on Eli’s part, nor the subsequent lack of deeper communication between the two of them. There’s quite a bit of surface-level connection despite some genuinely deeper moments of sharing, and while Eli and Nic are tested as a couple from time to time, I ultimately wasn’t convinced that they had built enough of a bridge between them by the end, where the dumpster fire was lit and resolved in a rush .
Still, it’s a fun read, and the unusual setting gives the romance plenty of opportunities to bloom. I just wish some of the deeper issues had been explored more fully, because doing so could have given both the story and the pairing considerably more poignancy and depth.
*ARC by the publisher via Edelweiss
'Do not Kiss Nicholas Prince' (the title is a mouthful but it made me laugh!) is an enemies-to-lovers story that takes place in an unusual setting. I loved the instant dislike both Eli and Nicholas have of each other, though the filming location and the amount of media scrutiny trigger the forced proximity and fake dating tropes. Fairly predictably, this fake relationship turns into something less fake and more nebulously real, but there are obviously way too many obstacles that mean they're an impossible pair on paper at least.
There's a little too much of the shrinking violet syndrome here however: if Eli's personal trauma and plucky spirit was at first enjoyable to read, the more cowardly and rather annoying side emerged not long after and outstayed its welcome. I also wasn’t a fan of the prolonged deception on Eli’s part, nor the subsequent lack of deeper communication between the two of them. There’s quite a bit of surface-level connection despite some genuinely deeper moments of sharing, and while Eli and Nic are tested as a couple from time to time, I ultimately wasn’t convinced that they had built enough of a bridge between them by the end, where the dumpster fire was lit and resolved in a rush .
Still, it’s a fun read, and the unusual setting gives the romance plenty of opportunities to bloom. I just wish some of the deeper issues had been explored more fully, because doing so could have given both the story and the pairing considerably more poignancy and depth.
*ARC by the publisher via Edelweiss
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Mira and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. Enemies to lovers and fake dating are my two favorite tropes so I love a book that combines them! Eli’s life sort of stood still the day his dad died. He’s got his family and their family hotel, Azure House, but it’s filled with memories of his dad so it hurts to be there. Yet when his mom calls and tells him about his gran’s, a famous romance author, last minute party request, he does his best to make it happen. Then, at the party, his gran drops a bomb that they are making one of her books into a movie. And not just any book, the one that’s a reflection of his dad. He’s furious, even more furious that they’ve cast Nicholas Prince, former boy band member, as the lead. Eli knows he’s not right for the part. And then a drunk bitter mess leads him to writing a petition to fire Nicholas. Soon he meets Nicholas and the dude is a prick. The two do not get along and the fact that petition is getting traction makes it worse. After they are seen having an exchange, the movie decides that it would be good if the two were seen to be in a relationship. Can Eli really fake date someone he hates? Soon though, the more time they spend together the more he realizes that Nicholas is actually sweet and charming. But what happens is Nicholas finds out about the petition? And can anything real ever exist between the two of them? An absolutely swoony book! Brandon Purves had me hooked from the first page! I loved Eli and Nicholas, the jibes at each other and their sweet moments! It’s a slow burn and I’m also a big fan of those! Romantic, heartwarming, with plenty of warm and fuzzies and some spice too!! Simply adored this one!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I find fake dating tropes silly, so I was happy that they pretty quickly shifted away from the fake dating thing into real dating even if everyone involved didn't realize it right away. I thought they were cute as a couple.
August 16, 2026
Thank you to MIRA and NetGalley for the arc!
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews