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Just for the Season
Frankie Winters' life has fallen apart spectacularly, with her becoming single, jobless AND homeless all in the same day. Fleeing to the sea – more specifically to her gran and cousin’s hometown of Milbury Bay – feels like the right answer.
Marcus Brooks swore off women the moment his ex-wife walked out on him and his children. And after a tumultuous encounter with a certain stubborn stranger in the local café, he’s only more convinced he made the right decision.
But when Frankie decides she needs a fake boyfriend to reassure her eighty-five-year-old gran she’s doing just fine (even if she isn’t!), her gaze lands on the last man she should the grumpy, unruly one she argued with over the last carrot cake.
Saying yes to Frankie’s insane plan might be Marcus’s biggest mistake yet… or the best decision he’s ever made. Because sometimes, the last thing you’re looking for is exactly what you need.
Marcus Brooks swore off women the moment his ex-wife walked out on him and his children. And after a tumultuous encounter with a certain stubborn stranger in the local café, he’s only more convinced he made the right decision.
But when Frankie decides she needs a fake boyfriend to reassure her eighty-five-year-old gran she’s doing just fine (even if she isn’t!), her gaze lands on the last man she should the grumpy, unruly one she argued with over the last carrot cake.
Saying yes to Frankie’s insane plan might be Marcus’s biggest mistake yet… or the best decision he’s ever made. Because sometimes, the last thing you’re looking for is exactly what you need.
280 pages, Paperback
Published August 24, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
August 3, 2026
You know when sometimes you just want a lovely romance book but one that can make you laugh? Well this is it ! The perfect mix of cute romance and very funny.
This book literally contains my fav trope : single dad, fake dating, in a town where everyone gossips, rom com. So when I saw this I knew I had to read it and I’m NOT disappointed!
This is such a cute and lovely read. And very funny. What I really enjoyed is the writing ! Very smooth and I liked how we directly get into the story from the first pages, and how it makes you laugh and crack up, which makes you wanna read more and more.
The chemistry between Marcus and Frankie was so good, and I like how they went from their messy first meeting to fake date to fall for each other…It was so funny seeing them panic while falling for each other when both swear off men for one and women for the other…
And oh how I loved seeing part of Marcus realities to be a single dad ! It really added that soft touch to him which I loved !
This was my first book from the author but I’ll definitely read more !
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc.
September 16, 2026
Audio: my very first audiobook, well if I’m being honest I tried one before this and got 8 minutes in and could not continue. But this was a dual character audio. They were British and I just ate it up! The FMC’s voice reminded me so much of Kate Winslet (think The Holiday) and Emilia Clarke (Me Before You). I love them both a lot so it just felt cozy. A nice easy light fun fall love story.
September 6, 2026
⭐ 3.5
Este libro lo disfrute en dos formatos, tanto en digital como audiolibro.
Para empezar, tenemos a dos narradores que ME ENCANTARON, el acento británico es de esos que me encantan y DIOS, mis oídos se bendijeron con sus voces, Ciaran Saward como Marcus y Laura Kirman como Frankie hicieron un trabajo estupendo, me gusto como narraron cada escena y si, les entendí completo.
Ahora vamos a la historia, esta es de esas historias donde el fake dating no es tan falso, ya que casi todo el mundo lo sabe menos la persona que tiene que creerlo, y fue bueno, tanto Marcus como Frankie tuvieron una química muy buena, aunque empezaran con el pie izquierdo por un pastel. La historia fluye bien y me gusto que hablaran todo, pero eso sí, ese drama ya casi al final con la hija de Marcus me hizo un poco de ruido, si bien entendible, siento que fue muy dramático para mi gusto.
Fue un buen libro/audiolibro y puedo decir que ando en una buena racha de libros de otoño junto con el trope de fake dating así que este se va a la lista para recomendarlo.
*******
I enjoyed this book in two formats: both digitally and as an audiobook.
To start with, there are two narrators whom I ABSOLUTELY LOVED—their British accents are exactly the kind I love, and OH MY GOD, my ears were blessed by their voices. Ciaran Saward as Marcus and Laura Kirman as Frankie did a fantastic job; I loved how they narrated each scene, and yes, I understood every word they said.
Now let’s talk about the story—this is one of those stories where “fake dating” isn’t really that fake, since almost everyone knows about it except the person who’s supposed to believe it, and it was good. Both Marcus and Frankie had great chemistry, even though they got off on the wrong foot because of a cake. The story flows well, and I liked that they talked about everything—though, that drama toward the end involving Marcus’s daughter did bother me a bit. While it was understandable, I felt it was too dramatic for my taste.
It was a good book/audiobook, and I can say I’m on a roll with fall reads—especially those featuring the fake dating trope—so this one’s going on my list of recommendations.
📌 I received an e-arc through netgalley, and this is my honest opinion/review of it.
Este libro lo disfrute en dos formatos, tanto en digital como audiolibro.
Para empezar, tenemos a dos narradores que ME ENCANTARON, el acento británico es de esos que me encantan y DIOS, mis oídos se bendijeron con sus voces, Ciaran Saward como Marcus y Laura Kirman como Frankie hicieron un trabajo estupendo, me gusto como narraron cada escena y si, les entendí completo.
Ahora vamos a la historia, esta es de esas historias donde el fake dating no es tan falso, ya que casi todo el mundo lo sabe menos la persona que tiene que creerlo, y fue bueno, tanto Marcus como Frankie tuvieron una química muy buena, aunque empezaran con el pie izquierdo por un pastel. La historia fluye bien y me gusto que hablaran todo, pero eso sí, ese drama ya casi al final con la hija de Marcus me hizo un poco de ruido, si bien entendible, siento que fue muy dramático para mi gusto.
Fue un buen libro/audiolibro y puedo decir que ando en una buena racha de libros de otoño junto con el trope de fake dating así que este se va a la lista para recomendarlo.
*******
I enjoyed this book in two formats: both digitally and as an audiobook.
To start with, there are two narrators whom I ABSOLUTELY LOVED—their British accents are exactly the kind I love, and OH MY GOD, my ears were blessed by their voices. Ciaran Saward as Marcus and Laura Kirman as Frankie did a fantastic job; I loved how they narrated each scene, and yes, I understood every word they said.
Now let’s talk about the story—this is one of those stories where “fake dating” isn’t really that fake, since almost everyone knows about it except the person who’s supposed to believe it, and it was good. Both Marcus and Frankie had great chemistry, even though they got off on the wrong foot because of a cake. The story flows well, and I liked that they talked about everything—though, that drama toward the end involving Marcus’s daughter did bother me a bit. While it was understandable, I felt it was too dramatic for my taste.
It was a good book/audiobook, and I can say I’m on a roll with fall reads—especially those featuring the fake dating trope—so this one’s going on my list of recommendations.
📌 I received an e-arc through netgalley, and this is my honest opinion/review of it.
July 27, 2026
This was my first book by Jo Lovett and it was a thoroughly enjoyable read! I really liked her writing style. I was drawn to it by the autumnal cover and immediately hooked by the first few chapters which were very funny. That humour continued throughout the story. Frankie and Marcus have a ‘fauxmance’ which develops into a very close friendship before they both realise they have real, strong feelings for each other. There are some great side characters- not only their friends but also Marcus’s 2 children- and their challenges felt genuine which I appreciated. We get to see their relationship really build from a terrible first meeting, through getting to know one another for the sake of keeping up appearances, to realising how well they get on together.
Whilst the book is set in October/ November time- and there is a party with a joint Halloween and bonfire night theme- it isn’t mega autumnal, just a few nice nods to the season. You could certainly read this at any time of year and enjoy it though.
Thank you to Boldwood books and NetGalley for this ARC.
Whilst the book is set in October/ November time- and there is a party with a joint Halloween and bonfire night theme- it isn’t mega autumnal, just a few nice nods to the season. You could certainly read this at any time of year and enjoy it though.
Thank you to Boldwood books and NetGalley for this ARC.
September 9, 2026
Just for the Season was a 3-star read for me. I really wanted to love this fall-themed book, but unfortunately, it was just okay.
One thing I absolutely loved was how they incorporated Scrabble as a fun family game throughout the story. I thought that was such a cute touch and added a little something extra to the book.
Unfortunately, I really wasn’t a fan of the third-act breakup. I didn’t like how it happened, and honestly, it almost had me stopping the audiobook around 95% because I disliked it that much.
Overall, it had some cute moments and a great fall vibe, but it just didn’t completely work for me.
One thing I absolutely loved was how they incorporated Scrabble as a fun family game throughout the story. I thought that was such a cute touch and added a little something extra to the book.
Unfortunately, I really wasn’t a fan of the third-act breakup. I didn’t like how it happened, and honestly, it almost had me stopping the audiobook around 95% because I disliked it that much.
Overall, it had some cute moments and a great fall vibe, but it just didn’t completely work for me.
September 14, 2026
i loved Just for the Season so much. i went into it expecting a good romance, but i wasn’t expecting it to hit such a personal spot for me. as someone who was adopted, the parts of this story that deal with being given up & all the complicated feelings that can come with that really got to me. this book captured some of those emotions in a way that made me feel really seen. the questions, the hurt, why certain choices were made—it all felt incredibly tender & genuine. & on top of all of that, i genuinely loved the story itself. it was sweet, romantic, emotional, & just one of those books that finds you at exactly the right time. i thought i was getting a romance, & somehow i got a little bit of healing along with it. ❤️ definitely a 5-star read for me.
September 16, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This cozy little romance was exactly what I needed! There was no spice, which I actually think was super refreshing, because I feel like it’s often overdone.
This cozy little romance was exactly what I needed! There was no spice, which I actually think was super refreshing, because I feel like it’s often overdone.
August 19, 2026
It’s a happy fall story, cozy little town, fake dating romance. It was cute and easy to read but I felt like it could have been written better. The meet cute at the cafe over the last carrot cake was okay, the cat antibiotic was a little weird though. And then the cat is never really talked about again.
The FMC, Frankie, goes through losing her home, job and fiancé all at the same time, but doesn’t ever really dig into it. Her mom makes her pay for her flight and then never shows up and again it’s mostly over within a few pages? It all felt very surface level.
Rubys character had a very abrupt change during the third act that seemed odd, and she doesn’t even get scolded for trying to get a flight to a different country, stealing money from her boss, and basically disappearing. Again, over in a few pages.
I think that it was missing some depth, it all felt very surface level. But it was cute and an easy read.
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC.
The FMC, Frankie, goes through losing her home, job and fiancé all at the same time, but doesn’t ever really dig into it. Her mom makes her pay for her flight and then never shows up and again it’s mostly over within a few pages? It all felt very surface level.
Rubys character had a very abrupt change during the third act that seemed odd, and she doesn’t even get scolded for trying to get a flight to a different country, stealing money from her boss, and basically disappearing. Again, over in a few pages.
I think that it was missing some depth, it all felt very surface level. But it was cute and an easy read.
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Frankie loses her fiancé, her job, and her home in one day, then immediately starts a blood feud over the last carrot cake because apparently THAT is where her nervous system draws the line. Honestly, fair. You can only absorb so much life collapse before dessert becomes sacred. This woman arrives in Milbury Bay freshly dumped, professionally discarded, technically homeless, and one bad interaction away from biting someone. Then Marcus tries to take the cake she has emotionally imprinted on, and suddenly we are in active negotiations.
Marcus, meanwhile, needs the cake for his daughter Ruby’s fourteenth birthday, which does make him slightly less villainous, but Frankie does not have access to that information when she mentally files him under Insufferable Cake Thief. He is a divorced single dad, his ex-wife walked out on him and the kids, and he has responded by closing the romantic department completely. Lights off. Doors locked. Nobody is getting a tour. Then Frankie enters his life yelling about carrot cake, which is exactly how fate behaves when it has no respect for a man’s carefully maintained emotional perimeter.
They keep running into each other because Milbury Bay is the kind of town where privacy is treated like a personal insult. Everyone knows everyone. Everyone notices everything. If you stand near somebody twice, the village has already discussed whether you’ll need a church or a registry office. Frankie is trying to quietly rebuild her life, but quiet is not an available service here.
Then Frankie gets drunk and announces that Marcus is her boyfriend because she does not want her eighty-five-year-old gran worrying about her. Not “I’m doing fine.” Not “I’m focusing on myself.” No. She picks the man she fought over cake and publicly assigns him a relationship. And Marcus AGREES to help. Sir, you have children. You have responsibilities. You met this woman during a pastry dispute. At what point did this feel like a low-risk decision?
So now they are fake dating, except the entire town is watching and these two keep doing things that look suspiciously like actual dating. They spend time together. They talk. They get attached. They worry about each other. Then they call it “method acting” because apparently if you give your feelings a theater term, they cannot hurt you. Babe, if you are staring at your fake partner’s mouth and experiencing distress when they pull away, the method has escaped containment.
And Marcus is such a good dad that it becomes deeply inconvenient for Frankie’s plan to remain fake. He is careful with Ruby and Luke. He knows his ex leaving did real damage, and he is not going to bring someone into their lives casually. Frankie understands that because she has her own little pile of abandonment wounds she keeps tucked behind the sarcasm. They both know what it feels like when somebody leaves. That is why neither one trusts the idea of someone staying.
That part got me. Frankie’s life falls apart because people and institutions she trusted decide she is disposable. Marcus has built his whole life around making sure his children never feel abandoned again. They keep pretending this arrangement is temporary while quietly becoming the exact kind of safety the other person does not believe they are allowed to have. Rude. Moving on.
Then Ruby’s feelings come crashing into the situation, and suddenly everyone is making choices at full emotional volume. Marcus has to put his kids first. Obviously. Frankie knows that. Obviously. But after watching this relationship build so carefully, the turn felt like someone grabbed the steering wheel while we were still looking out the window. I understood the problem. I just wanted everybody to breathe for five minutes before emotionally evacuating the building.
Also, that cover promised me aggressive autumn and I would like to file a small seasonal complaint. There are cozy drinks, cake, a Halloween and Bonfire Night party, and general crisp-weather energy, but I wanted more leaves. Put them in scarves. Make someone walk through weather while having feelings. Still, Milbury Bay did a lot of the cozy work through the café, the gossip, the family, and everyone acting like Frankie’s private life is a community allotment.
Just for the Season gets 3.5 stars from me. Frankie and Marcus are charming little disasters, the carrot-cake hostility was an excellent beginning, and the fake dating worked because their friendship actually had time to become something real before either one admitted it. The final conflict moved faster than I wanted, but I was still fully invested in whether the angry cake woman and the emotionally locked single dad would finally stop calling their relationship fake while behaving like married people at the village café.
Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC, and for proving that one slice of carrot cake can start a feud, launch a fake relationship, activate an entire small-town gossip network, and force two abandonment-prone adults to confront whether they might actually deserve something good. I will never approach the last slice casually again.
Marcus, meanwhile, needs the cake for his daughter Ruby’s fourteenth birthday, which does make him slightly less villainous, but Frankie does not have access to that information when she mentally files him under Insufferable Cake Thief. He is a divorced single dad, his ex-wife walked out on him and the kids, and he has responded by closing the romantic department completely. Lights off. Doors locked. Nobody is getting a tour. Then Frankie enters his life yelling about carrot cake, which is exactly how fate behaves when it has no respect for a man’s carefully maintained emotional perimeter.
They keep running into each other because Milbury Bay is the kind of town where privacy is treated like a personal insult. Everyone knows everyone. Everyone notices everything. If you stand near somebody twice, the village has already discussed whether you’ll need a church or a registry office. Frankie is trying to quietly rebuild her life, but quiet is not an available service here.
Then Frankie gets drunk and announces that Marcus is her boyfriend because she does not want her eighty-five-year-old gran worrying about her. Not “I’m doing fine.” Not “I’m focusing on myself.” No. She picks the man she fought over cake and publicly assigns him a relationship. And Marcus AGREES to help. Sir, you have children. You have responsibilities. You met this woman during a pastry dispute. At what point did this feel like a low-risk decision?
So now they are fake dating, except the entire town is watching and these two keep doing things that look suspiciously like actual dating. They spend time together. They talk. They get attached. They worry about each other. Then they call it “method acting” because apparently if you give your feelings a theater term, they cannot hurt you. Babe, if you are staring at your fake partner’s mouth and experiencing distress when they pull away, the method has escaped containment.
And Marcus is such a good dad that it becomes deeply inconvenient for Frankie’s plan to remain fake. He is careful with Ruby and Luke. He knows his ex leaving did real damage, and he is not going to bring someone into their lives casually. Frankie understands that because she has her own little pile of abandonment wounds she keeps tucked behind the sarcasm. They both know what it feels like when somebody leaves. That is why neither one trusts the idea of someone staying.
That part got me. Frankie’s life falls apart because people and institutions she trusted decide she is disposable. Marcus has built his whole life around making sure his children never feel abandoned again. They keep pretending this arrangement is temporary while quietly becoming the exact kind of safety the other person does not believe they are allowed to have. Rude. Moving on.
Then Ruby’s feelings come crashing into the situation, and suddenly everyone is making choices at full emotional volume. Marcus has to put his kids first. Obviously. Frankie knows that. Obviously. But after watching this relationship build so carefully, the turn felt like someone grabbed the steering wheel while we were still looking out the window. I understood the problem. I just wanted everybody to breathe for five minutes before emotionally evacuating the building.
Also, that cover promised me aggressive autumn and I would like to file a small seasonal complaint. There are cozy drinks, cake, a Halloween and Bonfire Night party, and general crisp-weather energy, but I wanted more leaves. Put them in scarves. Make someone walk through weather while having feelings. Still, Milbury Bay did a lot of the cozy work through the café, the gossip, the family, and everyone acting like Frankie’s private life is a community allotment.
Just for the Season gets 3.5 stars from me. Frankie and Marcus are charming little disasters, the carrot-cake hostility was an excellent beginning, and the fake dating worked because their friendship actually had time to become something real before either one admitted it. The final conflict moved faster than I wanted, but I was still fully invested in whether the angry cake woman and the emotionally locked single dad would finally stop calling their relationship fake while behaving like married people at the village café.
Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC, and for proving that one slice of carrot cake can start a feud, launch a fake relationship, activate an entire small-town gossip network, and force two abandonment-prone adults to confront whether they might actually deserve something good. I will never approach the last slice casually again.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
5/5 ⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely loved ‘Just for the Season’ by Jo Lovett. This was such an amazing read and definitely a five star book for me. I finished it in just two days!
I absolutely loved Marcus and Frankie and really enjoyed watching their relationship develop. The romance was so well done and developed naturally, while also having a strong emotional connection between the characters. I also really liked that it wasn’t overly focused on spice, which made the romance even more enjoyable for me. The writing reminded me a little of Beth O’Leary, which I really enjoyed.
I also loved the fake-dating trope, as it’s one of my favourite tropes, and I thought it was done really well in this book. There were so many funny moments throughout the story that had me smiling, and I really enjoyed the lighter moments alongside the more emotional parts.
One of my favourite things about this book was the family dynamic. I loved how much the characters cared about their families and how the book explored relationships, love, trust and the impact that family relationships can have on people. I thought the author did a really good job of making these parts feel emotional and genuine without taking away from the romance.
I especially loved how Marcus put Ruby’s feelings and choices before his own. I thought this showed just how much he genuinely cared about his children, and I really appreciated how strongly the book portrayed the importance of putting your children first.
I also really liked the side characters and how they each added something to the story. Frankie’s Gran (Rose) was definitely one of my favourites, and I loved her story. I would honestly love a second book set in this world, perhaps following Ellie, Frankie’s cousin, as I would love to see more of these characters.
The cover is also absolutely beautiful and definitely gives autumn vibes! I originally thought this would be a very autumnal read because of the cover, but I actually think this is a book you could read at any time of year. Although there are some autumnal elements throughout the story, they aren’t overwhelming and I really liked that.
Overall, ‘Just for the Season’ was such a beautiful, emotional, funny and heartwarming read. I loved the romance, the fake dating, the characters, the family dynamics and the setting, and I became completely invested in the story. This was such an amazing read and I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a cosy, emotional romance with wonderful characters. I’ll definitely be reading more from Jo Lovett in the future!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely loved ‘Just for the Season’ by Jo Lovett. This was such an amazing read and definitely a five star book for me. I finished it in just two days!
I absolutely loved Marcus and Frankie and really enjoyed watching their relationship develop. The romance was so well done and developed naturally, while also having a strong emotional connection between the characters. I also really liked that it wasn’t overly focused on spice, which made the romance even more enjoyable for me. The writing reminded me a little of Beth O’Leary, which I really enjoyed.
I also loved the fake-dating trope, as it’s one of my favourite tropes, and I thought it was done really well in this book. There were so many funny moments throughout the story that had me smiling, and I really enjoyed the lighter moments alongside the more emotional parts.
One of my favourite things about this book was the family dynamic. I loved how much the characters cared about their families and how the book explored relationships, love, trust and the impact that family relationships can have on people. I thought the author did a really good job of making these parts feel emotional and genuine without taking away from the romance.
I especially loved how Marcus put Ruby’s feelings and choices before his own. I thought this showed just how much he genuinely cared about his children, and I really appreciated how strongly the book portrayed the importance of putting your children first.
I also really liked the side characters and how they each added something to the story. Frankie’s Gran (Rose) was definitely one of my favourites, and I loved her story. I would honestly love a second book set in this world, perhaps following Ellie, Frankie’s cousin, as I would love to see more of these characters.
The cover is also absolutely beautiful and definitely gives autumn vibes! I originally thought this would be a very autumnal read because of the cover, but I actually think this is a book you could read at any time of year. Although there are some autumnal elements throughout the story, they aren’t overwhelming and I really liked that.
Overall, ‘Just for the Season’ was such a beautiful, emotional, funny and heartwarming read. I loved the romance, the fake dating, the characters, the family dynamics and the setting, and I became completely invested in the story. This was such an amazing read and I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a cosy, emotional romance with wonderful characters. I’ll definitely be reading more from Jo Lovett in the future!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I would like to thank the author and the publisher for providing me with the ARC of this book and for the opportunity to read and review it.
This was a quick and easy read, I finished it in a single day. I do have to say that I was a little disappointed by the autumnal aspect (or rather the lack of it.) The cover gives very strong autumn vibes, and that was the main reasons I requested this book, and while the story is technically set during autumn (since it is mentioned), it doesn’t play any role in the book. Aside from a seasonal drink being mentioned at one point, there weren’t any autumnal activities, descriptions, or atmosphere. That said, for about 80% of the book I thought it was a fine romance, nothing made it stand out to me that much but I was still enjoying it for what it was (I would also recommend it to readers who enjoy romance but prefer books without spicy scenes, as this one doesn’t contain any.) But unfortunately what happened towards the end really affected my enjoyment of the book.
SPOILERS:
The entire conflict involving Marcus’ daughter felt so forced. When she discovers their relationship she literally tells him that if he loves her as his daughter, he needs to stop seeing his girlfriend. This confused me because 1) there wasn’t anything unhealthy about the relationship, and 2) his daughter already knew her, they had spent time together, she had cooked for them and they had a good relationship. The conflict was clearly introduced only to create a third act breakup (which is already something I don’t enjoy.) But what bothered me even more was Marcus reaction. He’s a single parent with a 14 year old daughter right, and when she tells him that she doesn’t want him to be with someone else, he simply agrees to end a healthy relationship. What kind of parenthood is that? Just talk through those feelings with your daughter, try to understand where she is coming from, and involve a professional if she is struggling with the idea of her father having a new relationship. Simply ending the relationship because his, I repeat, 14 years old daughter asked him to didn’t make any sense at all, a very strange way of handling the situation as a parent. And then after all of that, his daughter changes her mind in a day basically because of a conversation. That made the entire conflict feel even more unnecessary if such a major issue could be resolved that easily. I really don’t understand why it needed to cause the breakup in the first place.
This was a quick and easy read, I finished it in a single day. I do have to say that I was a little disappointed by the autumnal aspect (or rather the lack of it.) The cover gives very strong autumn vibes, and that was the main reasons I requested this book, and while the story is technically set during autumn (since it is mentioned), it doesn’t play any role in the book. Aside from a seasonal drink being mentioned at one point, there weren’t any autumnal activities, descriptions, or atmosphere. That said, for about 80% of the book I thought it was a fine romance, nothing made it stand out to me that much but I was still enjoying it for what it was (I would also recommend it to readers who enjoy romance but prefer books without spicy scenes, as this one doesn’t contain any.) But unfortunately what happened towards the end really affected my enjoyment of the book.
SPOILERS:
The entire conflict involving Marcus’ daughter felt so forced. When she discovers their relationship she literally tells him that if he loves her as his daughter, he needs to stop seeing his girlfriend. This confused me because 1) there wasn’t anything unhealthy about the relationship, and 2) his daughter already knew her, they had spent time together, she had cooked for them and they had a good relationship. The conflict was clearly introduced only to create a third act breakup (which is already something I don’t enjoy.) But what bothered me even more was Marcus reaction. He’s a single parent with a 14 year old daughter right, and when she tells him that she doesn’t want him to be with someone else, he simply agrees to end a healthy relationship. What kind of parenthood is that? Just talk through those feelings with your daughter, try to understand where she is coming from, and involve a professional if she is struggling with the idea of her father having a new relationship. Simply ending the relationship because his, I repeat, 14 years old daughter asked him to didn’t make any sense at all, a very strange way of handling the situation as a parent. And then after all of that, his daughter changes her mind in a day basically because of a conversation. That made the entire conflict feel even more unnecessary if such a major issue could be resolved that easily. I really don’t understand why it needed to cause the breakup in the first place.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a fun and sweet small town rom-com following a single dad and a woman who just got dumped by her douche of a fiancé.
WHAT I LIKED
- The Setting. Milbury Bay felt like a character in the story and I was so in love with it. I’d love to read more love stories set in this town.
- The side characters felt like real friends and family and I wish we got more of them. Especially Simon and Ellie. Can we get an Ellie book? I’d absolutely love to see her find love too.
- Marcus is a wonderful love interest.
WHAT I DIDN’T LOVE
I feel like there were a few issues here where the editor should have done a bit more. There were a couple of odd story structure things like we change chapters in the middle of a conversation. But not like “oh the character says something shocking and we change to a new chapter due to a cliffhanger”.
A character says something and then we get a paragraph of internal monologue and the chapter ends. Then we get a new chapter from the MMC’s POV and we get his internal monologue for several paragraphs and THEN he continues the conversation from the previous chapter. It felt quite jarring and I had to go back to reread what the conversation was because it was such an odd place to switch POV.
There was a lot of “telling” rather than showing and at times it felt like the author was hitting the reader over the head with the point. “If Marcus has to choose between me and his children, it is of course right for him to choose his children. He has no choice in fact.” We didn’t need to see this in writing to understand this.
I loved Ruby at the beginning. She was such an interesting character so the twist towards the end with Ruby made no sense to me. We got no foreshadowing that she would feel or act the way she did. The twist at the end that led to the third act conflict felt very forced. I loved Ruby’s character throughout the book until we got to the end of chapter 24 and it was like I was seeing a completely different character than I had been reading the whole time
- Jack?? Our FMC was living with Ellie and Jack at the beginning of the story and I had to keep reminding myself that jack was NOT an infant because he’s mentioned a lot but he doesn’t have a single line of dialogue. So again, I’d love an Ellie book so we can get a bit of his personality
Overall, I liked the story well enough and would still read more from the author. The things that she did well were WONDERFUL to read and the things that I’m complaining about aren’t deal-breakers but simply things to consider.
WHAT I LIKED
- The Setting. Milbury Bay felt like a character in the story and I was so in love with it. I’d love to read more love stories set in this town.
- The side characters felt like real friends and family and I wish we got more of them. Especially Simon and Ellie. Can we get an Ellie book? I’d absolutely love to see her find love too.
- Marcus is a wonderful love interest.
WHAT I DIDN’T LOVE
I feel like there were a few issues here where the editor should have done a bit more. There were a couple of odd story structure things like we change chapters in the middle of a conversation. But not like “oh the character says something shocking and we change to a new chapter due to a cliffhanger”.
A character says something and then we get a paragraph of internal monologue and the chapter ends. Then we get a new chapter from the MMC’s POV and we get his internal monologue for several paragraphs and THEN he continues the conversation from the previous chapter. It felt quite jarring and I had to go back to reread what the conversation was because it was such an odd place to switch POV.
There was a lot of “telling” rather than showing and at times it felt like the author was hitting the reader over the head with the point. “If Marcus has to choose between me and his children, it is of course right for him to choose his children. He has no choice in fact.” We didn’t need to see this in writing to understand this.
I loved Ruby at the beginning. She was such an interesting character so the twist towards the end with Ruby made no sense to me. We got no foreshadowing that she would feel or act the way she did. The twist at the end that led to the third act conflict felt very forced. I loved Ruby’s character throughout the book until we got to the end of chapter 24 and it was like I was seeing a completely different character than I had been reading the whole time
- Jack?? Our FMC was living with Ellie and Jack at the beginning of the story and I had to keep reminding myself that jack was NOT an infant because he’s mentioned a lot but he doesn’t have a single line of dialogue. So again, I’d love an Ellie book so we can get a bit of his personality
Overall, I liked the story well enough and would still read more from the author. The things that she did well were WONDERFUL to read and the things that I’m complaining about aren’t deal-breakers but simply things to consider.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Jo Lovett’s Just for the Season proves that losing your fiancé, your job, and your home in one day is apparently only the beginning of the chaos. Boldwood Books and NetGalley, thank you so much for the gifted book.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Frankie Winters’ life doesn’t simply fall apart. It packs a suitcase, slams the door, and leaves her standing in the wreckage. Escaping London for Milbury Bay and the comfort of her cousin and beloved gran seems like the sensible next step. Starting an argument with a grumpy stranger over the last piece of carrot cake? Maybe not quite as sensible.
That stranger is Marcus, a divorced father of two who has absolutely no interest in dating again. Their first meeting is prickly, ridiculous, and honestly one of the funniest parts of the book. Naturally, Frankie later announces that Marcus is her boyfriend after a little too much wine because she doesn’t want her eighty-five-year-old gran worrying about her. Small-town gossip handles the rest.
“Sometimes, the last thing you’re looking for is exactly what you need.”
I loved watching their fake relationship slowly become a real friendship before either of them was ready to admit something more was happening. Frankie is emotional, stubborn, and trying desperately to look as though she has everything under control. Marcus is protective and cautious, especially where his children, Ruby and Luke, are concerned. Their relationship felt sweeter because they didn’t rush it. They talked, spent time together, and gradually became people the other could lean on.
The story also has more heart than the cheerful cover suggests. Frankie and Marcus both carry the hurt of being left behind, while Ruby is still struggling with her mother’s absence. Those moments gave the romance some real weight and had me feeling much more emotional than I expected from a book that begins with a carrot-cake battle.
I’d hand this to anyone who loves fake dating, single-dad romances, meddling villages, found family, and relationships that grow from reluctant friendship into something genuine.
Would you surrender the last piece of carrot cake—or would you start a lifelong feud over it?
#JustForTheSeason #JoLovett #BoldwoodBooks #FakeDatingRomance #SingleDadRomance #SmallTownRomance
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Frankie Winters’ life doesn’t simply fall apart. It packs a suitcase, slams the door, and leaves her standing in the wreckage. Escaping London for Milbury Bay and the comfort of her cousin and beloved gran seems like the sensible next step. Starting an argument with a grumpy stranger over the last piece of carrot cake? Maybe not quite as sensible.
That stranger is Marcus, a divorced father of two who has absolutely no interest in dating again. Their first meeting is prickly, ridiculous, and honestly one of the funniest parts of the book. Naturally, Frankie later announces that Marcus is her boyfriend after a little too much wine because she doesn’t want her eighty-five-year-old gran worrying about her. Small-town gossip handles the rest.
“Sometimes, the last thing you’re looking for is exactly what you need.”
I loved watching their fake relationship slowly become a real friendship before either of them was ready to admit something more was happening. Frankie is emotional, stubborn, and trying desperately to look as though she has everything under control. Marcus is protective and cautious, especially where his children, Ruby and Luke, are concerned. Their relationship felt sweeter because they didn’t rush it. They talked, spent time together, and gradually became people the other could lean on.
The story also has more heart than the cheerful cover suggests. Frankie and Marcus both carry the hurt of being left behind, while Ruby is still struggling with her mother’s absence. Those moments gave the romance some real weight and had me feeling much more emotional than I expected from a book that begins with a carrot-cake battle.
I’d hand this to anyone who loves fake dating, single-dad romances, meddling villages, found family, and relationships that grow from reluctant friendship into something genuine.
Would you surrender the last piece of carrot cake—or would you start a lifelong feud over it?
#JustForTheSeason #JoLovett #BoldwoodBooks #FakeDatingRomance #SingleDadRomance #SmallTownRomance
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Books have always been my happy place, and romance is the genre I never seem to get tired of. One of my favorite tropes is "fake relationship," so this book immediately caught my attention. After enjoying both "It's Not Me, It's You" and "Wild About You," I was excited to pick up another Jo Lovett romance, and this one did not disappoint.
This story hooked me right from the beginning thanks to one of the funniest meet cutes I have read in a while. Frankie and Marcus start off firmly on the wrong foot, which made watching their relationship evolve even more enjoyable. I could not wait to see how the fake relationship would come into play, and when it finally did, it was every bit as entertaining as I had hoped. I also appreciated that their romance developed naturally instead of feeling rushed.
One of my favorite aspects of the book was the emotional depth beneath the humor. Both Frankie and Marcus are carrying wounds from abandonment, and I thought the author handled those lasting effects really well. Frankie has spent much of her life believing she is not someone people choose to stay for, while Marcus is trying to help his children navigate similar feelings after their mother left. I loved seeing the way they encouraged one another to heal and recognize their own worth. I also have to mention the twist involving their grandparents, which genuinely caught me by surprise and added another memorable layer to the story.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Even when Frankie and Marcus hit a bump in the road, I appreciated that they found their way back to each other in a way that felt believable. The epilogue was especially satisfying and left me with a smile on my face. I cannot wait to see what Jo Lovett writes next.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**
This story hooked me right from the beginning thanks to one of the funniest meet cutes I have read in a while. Frankie and Marcus start off firmly on the wrong foot, which made watching their relationship evolve even more enjoyable. I could not wait to see how the fake relationship would come into play, and when it finally did, it was every bit as entertaining as I had hoped. I also appreciated that their romance developed naturally instead of feeling rushed.
One of my favorite aspects of the book was the emotional depth beneath the humor. Both Frankie and Marcus are carrying wounds from abandonment, and I thought the author handled those lasting effects really well. Frankie has spent much of her life believing she is not someone people choose to stay for, while Marcus is trying to help his children navigate similar feelings after their mother left. I loved seeing the way they encouraged one another to heal and recognize their own worth. I also have to mention the twist involving their grandparents, which genuinely caught me by surprise and added another memorable layer to the story.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Even when Frankie and Marcus hit a bump in the road, I appreciated that they found their way back to each other in a way that felt believable. The epilogue was especially satisfying and left me with a smile on my face. I cannot wait to see what Jo Lovett writes next.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Frankie goes from having a fiancé, a job, and a place to live to losing all three basically overnight. Meanwhile, Marcus has exactly one thing on his mind: making sure his daughter’s 14th birthday is perfect. Two completely different situations that somehow lead to an argument over a carrot cake, and the start of something new.
Both Frankie and Marcus’s first meeting and their second had me laughing! And as someone who lives in a small town where everyone knows everyone’s business, I totally got everything they said about that kind of place, which honestly made it even funnier.
Marcus’s relationship with his kids was so sweet, and I couldn't wait to see how Frankie would fit into their lives, especially when it came to Ruby. I do wish the kids had been a little more present throughout the story, but when Ruby finally took center stage near the end, the tension kept me turning the pages.
The writing is super easy to get into, and I flew through this book! The story flows really naturally, and for the most part, so do the conversations, although there were a few lines of dialogue here and there that felt a little awkward.
I do wish the enemies part of the enemies to lovers dynamic had lasted a bit longer though, because it was so much fun. That said, once they become friends, the relationship shifts into a different dynamic that I ended up enjoying just as much.
And about the slow burn I have to say that it is slow burning! There was one particular moment that had me feeling so impatient, but in the best way possible. It was such a beautiful scene and honestly one of my favorites in the entire book.
Just for the Season is such a fun, cozy small town romance that's perfect if you're obsessed with the fake dating trope, swoony romantic moments, and a genuinely slow burn. I'd especially recommend picking it up on a cozy fall day. Not just because of the cover, but because the whole story gives off the ultimate fall vibes.
Both Frankie and Marcus’s first meeting and their second had me laughing! And as someone who lives in a small town where everyone knows everyone’s business, I totally got everything they said about that kind of place, which honestly made it even funnier.
Marcus’s relationship with his kids was so sweet, and I couldn't wait to see how Frankie would fit into their lives, especially when it came to Ruby. I do wish the kids had been a little more present throughout the story, but when Ruby finally took center stage near the end, the tension kept me turning the pages.
The writing is super easy to get into, and I flew through this book! The story flows really naturally, and for the most part, so do the conversations, although there were a few lines of dialogue here and there that felt a little awkward.
I do wish the enemies part of the enemies to lovers dynamic had lasted a bit longer though, because it was so much fun. That said, once they become friends, the relationship shifts into a different dynamic that I ended up enjoying just as much.
And about the slow burn I have to say that it is slow burning! There was one particular moment that had me feeling so impatient, but in the best way possible. It was such a beautiful scene and honestly one of my favorites in the entire book.
Just for the Season is such a fun, cozy small town romance that's perfect if you're obsessed with the fake dating trope, swoony romantic moments, and a genuinely slow burn. I'd especially recommend picking it up on a cozy fall day. Not just because of the cover, but because the whole story gives off the ultimate fall vibes.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
DNF'd at 75%. Since I'd already passed 50%, I was ready to endure and finish it. Then I thought: why should I waste more time when I could start another book I might actually like?
I was ready to love this book. It promised me autumn + the cute fake-boyfriend trope + the grumpy hero + enemies-to-lovers sparks + a rock-bottom-to-rebuild arc.
What I found:
• No autumn. There are very few descriptions in general, and the only autumn I got despite what the cover promised was a rather lame, dragging and childish cinnamon bun event that brings the protagonists together.
• No chemistry. There is lots — loooots — of dialogue, including plenty of dialogue that goes nowhere, but I felt no sparks between these two in 75% of the book.
• Very little insight into what either character is thinking or feeling. This was probably the most frustrating part for me. Without that inner dimension, I found it very difficult to become invested in either of them or their relationship.
• No grumpy hero. Marcus is just a serious man who keeps talking about his ex-wife and his failed marriage.
• No enemies-to-lovers. After the cinnamon bun incident, there is basically no real antagonism between them.
• No rock-bottom-to-rebuild arc. What do you even rebuild when we're given so little psychological insight into the characters?
It was definitely not the book for me and, as my DNF rubric puts it, by 75% I genuinely felt like I was wasting my time. I also felt a little cheated by how different the actual reading experience was from what I expected going in.
⭐⭐ instead of one because it is decently written. Unfortunately, that wasn't enough to make me want to spend the remaining 25% of my time on it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was ready to love this book. It promised me autumn + the cute fake-boyfriend trope + the grumpy hero + enemies-to-lovers sparks + a rock-bottom-to-rebuild arc.
What I found:
• No autumn. There are very few descriptions in general, and the only autumn I got despite what the cover promised was a rather lame, dragging and childish cinnamon bun event that brings the protagonists together.
• No chemistry. There is lots — loooots — of dialogue, including plenty of dialogue that goes nowhere, but I felt no sparks between these two in 75% of the book.
• Very little insight into what either character is thinking or feeling. This was probably the most frustrating part for me. Without that inner dimension, I found it very difficult to become invested in either of them or their relationship.
• No grumpy hero. Marcus is just a serious man who keeps talking about his ex-wife and his failed marriage.
• No enemies-to-lovers. After the cinnamon bun incident, there is basically no real antagonism between them.
• No rock-bottom-to-rebuild arc. What do you even rebuild when we're given so little psychological insight into the characters?
It was definitely not the book for me and, as my DNF rubric puts it, by 75% I genuinely felt like I was wasting my time. I also felt a little cheated by how different the actual reading experience was from what I expected going in.
⭐⭐ instead of one because it is decently written. Unfortunately, that wasn't enough to make me want to spend the remaining 25% of my time on it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
🚨 SPOILER ALERT: READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!
I am giving Just for the Season by Jo Lovett a cozy, crisp 4-star review! ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Get ready to wrap yourself in your favorite oversized sweater and grab a pumpkin spice latte because this autumn romance delivers all the fake dating goodness, cozy fall aesthetics, and sweet seasonal sparks right to your Kindle screen!
ARC Disclosure: A huge thank you to NetGalley, publisher Boldwood Books, and author Jo Lovett for providing an early digital review copy (eARC) of this book! All thoughts, fanatical reactions, and honest reflections shared in this review are entirely my own.
The Review
Just for the Season by Jo Lovett is a fantastic, feel-good autumn read! Give me a fake relationship trope paired with a cozy fall backdrop any day, and I am completely sold. Loved this story so much! Jo Lovett nails the atmosphere, making you feel the crisp autumn air and smell the warm baked goods right through the pages.
The fake relationship setup creates the perfect blend of playful banter, accidental closeness, and mounting romantic tension. Watching two people pretend to be together for the season while slowly realizing their feelings are very real is top-tier romance comfort. If you are looking for the ultimate autumn read packed with fake dating fun, cozy cafe vibes, and heartwarming connection, this 4-star gem is an absolute must-add to your TBR!
The Good
The fake dating dynamic combined with the autumn aesthetic is unmatched! The cozy seasonal details, delicious baked treats, and sparkling chemistry make it impossible not to fall in love with this story.
The Not So Good
The miscommunication bump near the final act slows down the fun momentum briefly, but the resolution is so sweet and satisfying that it completely lands the ending
I am giving Just for the Season by Jo Lovett a cozy, crisp 4-star review! ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Get ready to wrap yourself in your favorite oversized sweater and grab a pumpkin spice latte because this autumn romance delivers all the fake dating goodness, cozy fall aesthetics, and sweet seasonal sparks right to your Kindle screen!
ARC Disclosure: A huge thank you to NetGalley, publisher Boldwood Books, and author Jo Lovett for providing an early digital review copy (eARC) of this book! All thoughts, fanatical reactions, and honest reflections shared in this review are entirely my own.
The Review
Just for the Season by Jo Lovett is a fantastic, feel-good autumn read! Give me a fake relationship trope paired with a cozy fall backdrop any day, and I am completely sold. Loved this story so much! Jo Lovett nails the atmosphere, making you feel the crisp autumn air and smell the warm baked goods right through the pages.
The fake relationship setup creates the perfect blend of playful banter, accidental closeness, and mounting romantic tension. Watching two people pretend to be together for the season while slowly realizing their feelings are very real is top-tier romance comfort. If you are looking for the ultimate autumn read packed with fake dating fun, cozy cafe vibes, and heartwarming connection, this 4-star gem is an absolute must-add to your TBR!
The Good
The fake dating dynamic combined with the autumn aesthetic is unmatched! The cozy seasonal details, delicious baked treats, and sparkling chemistry make it impossible not to fall in love with this story.
The Not So Good
The miscommunication bump near the final act slows down the fun momentum briefly, but the resolution is so sweet and satisfying that it completely lands the ending
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I’ve read a few novels by Jo Lovett and this one was one of my favourites so far. The characters were interesting and likeable and the storyline was fun. Frankie moves back to her home village, where everyone knows what everyone else is doing. She’s homeless, jobless and penniless when she arrives following the split from her partner and temporarily moves in with her cousin Ellie and nephew Jack. In her friend Simon’s cafe she decides she must have cake and not any cake but carrot cake (who doesn’t need cakes in times of crisis!) however single Dad Marcus also needs carrot cake as it’s his Daughter Ruby’s birthday, there’s only one problem, there’s only one left. The battle for the carrot cake is Frankie and Marcus’ first encounter however during a drunken moment to avoid worrying her Gran Frankie says that her and Marcus are dating and they have to start a fake romance because all the village knows every movement they make and Frankie doesn’t want it getting back to her Gran that they aren’t dating. As they go on fake dates and spend more time together however they realise that there is chemistry and a genuine attraction. However not everyone is happy about them being in a real relationship and Marcus has to make a difficult decision.
I felt this book had real depth, it didn’t feel rushed and it felt genuine and explored how a parents rejection can make a person feel along with what it’s like to cope with being a single parent and the issues faced.
A page turner that based around Autumn but can be read any time of year.
Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book but opinion is all my own.
I felt this book had real depth, it didn’t feel rushed and it felt genuine and explored how a parents rejection can make a person feel along with what it’s like to cope with being a single parent and the issues faced.
A page turner that based around Autumn but can be read any time of year.
Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book but opinion is all my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was just absolute joy in book form. I knew after just the first few pages that I was going to love this and I ended up loving it even more than I thought I would. You know how some books say they're laugh out loud funny and then don't live up to expectations? This one actually is, and it happened several times. I'm so charmed by this town and these characters and would happily read ten more books about them, which is the biggest compliment I can give.
But onto the book itself. Frankie has just gone through a triple whammy (her words) as her fiance broke up with her, and she lost her house(that she lived with him in) and her job (he was her boss). As a result, she decides to visit her cousin Ellie, her son Jack, and her grandmother in their little town of Milbury.
And she decides she really needs cake. Problem is, so does a handsome stranger behind her in line and after fighting about a specific cake, they end up scraping it off the floor and dividing it in half. Ridiculous, but also really cute. Handsome stranger shows up at Ellie's house awhile later to give her cat some medicine; as it turns out, he's Ellie's neighbor, single dad Marcus.
When Frankie meets her elderly grandmother again, she names Marcus as her new boyfriend to get her off her back but in a town like this where everyone knows everyone else's business, she unknowingly gets stuck in the lie and Marcus, encouraged by his daughter, begrudgingly continues with it as well. As they spend more time together to keep up the ruse, they start realizing how much they actually enjoy each other's company.
I adored Frankie and Marcus, both together and separately. Frankie is probably one of the most rootable (I know that's not a word, but just go with it) main characters I've read in a long time. She's also extremely relatable and someone I would want to be friends with if she was a real person. Marcus is the perfect guy. He's such a good dad and is literally full of green flags. And together? They're absolutely magic. This is a closed door romance but their chemistry jumps off the pages.
This is one I know I'll be revisiting again but I'm not ready to say goodbye to them. Perhaps a sequel set a few years later with Marcus' daughter Ruby as the main character? Please make it happen!
But onto the book itself. Frankie has just gone through a triple whammy (her words) as her fiance broke up with her, and she lost her house(that she lived with him in) and her job (he was her boss). As a result, she decides to visit her cousin Ellie, her son Jack, and her grandmother in their little town of Milbury.
And she decides she really needs cake. Problem is, so does a handsome stranger behind her in line and after fighting about a specific cake, they end up scraping it off the floor and dividing it in half. Ridiculous, but also really cute. Handsome stranger shows up at Ellie's house awhile later to give her cat some medicine; as it turns out, he's Ellie's neighbor, single dad Marcus.
When Frankie meets her elderly grandmother again, she names Marcus as her new boyfriend to get her off her back but in a town like this where everyone knows everyone else's business, she unknowingly gets stuck in the lie and Marcus, encouraged by his daughter, begrudgingly continues with it as well. As they spend more time together to keep up the ruse, they start realizing how much they actually enjoy each other's company.
I adored Frankie and Marcus, both together and separately. Frankie is probably one of the most rootable (I know that's not a word, but just go with it) main characters I've read in a long time. She's also extremely relatable and someone I would want to be friends with if she was a real person. Marcus is the perfect guy. He's such a good dad and is literally full of green flags. And together? They're absolutely magic. This is a closed door romance but their chemistry jumps off the pages.
This is one I know I'll be revisiting again but I'm not ready to say goodbye to them. Perhaps a sequel set a few years later with Marcus' daughter Ruby as the main character? Please make it happen!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I honestly don't think you can go wrong with a small town romance and fake dating, so Just for the Season was always going to be right up my street. This was my first Jo Lovett book, and it definitely won't be my last.
Frankie and Marcus were so easy to root for. I loved how their relationship didn't jump straight into romance, but instead took the time to build through friendship, trust, and getting to know each other. Their chemistry felt really natural, and I couldn't help but smile watching them slowly realise that maybe their fake relationship wasn't so fake after all.
One of my favourite parts of the book was Marcus’s role as a single dad. I really liked that the story didn't shy away from the realities of dating when children are involved, and it made the romance feel even more genuine. The whole cast of side characters added so much warmth to the story, and Milbury Bay felt like the kind of place I'd happily keep coming back to.
I was expecting lots of cosy autumn vibes because of the cover, and while there are definitely some lovely seasonal moments throughout, it's not one of those books that has to be read in autumn. The cosy atmosphere comes more from the small-town setting and the characters than the season itself.
Jo Lovett's writing was so easy to read, and I flew through this in no time. It had me laughing one chapter, smiling the next, and then quietly hoping Frankie and Marcus would stop pretending and finally admit how they felt.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC!
Frankie and Marcus were so easy to root for. I loved how their relationship didn't jump straight into romance, but instead took the time to build through friendship, trust, and getting to know each other. Their chemistry felt really natural, and I couldn't help but smile watching them slowly realise that maybe their fake relationship wasn't so fake after all.
One of my favourite parts of the book was Marcus’s role as a single dad. I really liked that the story didn't shy away from the realities of dating when children are involved, and it made the romance feel even more genuine. The whole cast of side characters added so much warmth to the story, and Milbury Bay felt like the kind of place I'd happily keep coming back to.
I was expecting lots of cosy autumn vibes because of the cover, and while there are definitely some lovely seasonal moments throughout, it's not one of those books that has to be read in autumn. The cosy atmosphere comes more from the small-town setting and the characters than the season itself.
Jo Lovett's writing was so easy to read, and I flew through this in no time. It had me laughing one chapter, smiling the next, and then quietly hoping Frankie and Marcus would stop pretending and finally admit how they felt.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC!
August 16, 2026
I am so torn about this book.
Let’s start with the good: overall, I had a good time reading it. It’s very easy to read, the writing is accessible, and I genuinely enjoyed spending time with the story. It’s the kind of book you can fly through, and sometimes that is exactly what you want from a romance.
But… there were quite a few things that didn’t work for me.
First: this is NOT an autumnal romance.
I know seasonal romance sells. I know publishers want to jump on trends, and I know autumnal romances can make big bucks. But that shouldn’t be an excuse for mismarketing a book.
Mentioning Halloween a couple of times, telling us that it’s windy and having someone order a gingerbread latte does not make a book autumnal. 😂
Autumnal romance needs atmosphere. I want to feel the crisp autumn air, hear the leaves crunching underfoot, see dark evenings and cosy houses. I want rain against windows, oversized sweaters, candles, cinnamon, pumpkins and a bakery filled with actual autumnal recipes. And please, for the love of everything, give me something other than lemon cake and carrot cake! 😂
If you want to write an autumnal romance, make the season part of the story. Make me feel autumn. Don’t just sprinkle a few seasonal references throughout the book because autumn romance is currently trending.
Second: the beginning.
This is supposed to be a fake-dating romance, but the lead-up to the fake dating is absolutely bonkers. Frankie, our main character, acts like a complete looney for the first 30% of the book. Her behaviour is erratic, impulsive and sometimes just plain bizarre.
And unfortunately, she never became particularly likeable for me. I really struggled to connect with her throughout the entire book.
Third: the romance.
The romance is a slow burn… until suddenly it isn’t.
We go from “we’re just friends” to “you are the greatest love of my life” practically overnight. We’re talking two pages. After such a slow build-up, the sudden explosion of feelings felt completely unearned to me.
It was like the book suddenly went: Oh, right! Romance! Better make them madly in love now. 😂
And then there’s the third-act breakup.
Just… horrible.
I hated it. It felt unnecessarily dramatic and frustrating, and by that point I was already struggling to fully buy into the relationship.
But what did I love? Marcus.
I absolutely adored Marcus.
And what a wonderful dad he was. I don't usually enjoy single-dad storylines because they can sometimes feel like a convenient romance trope, but Marcus’s relationship with his child felt genuinely realistic. That part of the story worked incredibly well for me, and he was easily my favourite character.
So, ultimately, I’m torn.
I had fun reading Just for the Season. It was easy, enjoyable and never felt like a chore to get through. But there were simply too many things that didn’t work for me: the questionable autumnal marketing, Frankie’s behaviour, the rushed romantic development and that truly awful third-act breakup.
It wasn’t a bad book. I just wish it had been the book I thought I was getting.
Let’s start with the good: overall, I had a good time reading it. It’s very easy to read, the writing is accessible, and I genuinely enjoyed spending time with the story. It’s the kind of book you can fly through, and sometimes that is exactly what you want from a romance.
But… there were quite a few things that didn’t work for me.
First: this is NOT an autumnal romance.
I know seasonal romance sells. I know publishers want to jump on trends, and I know autumnal romances can make big bucks. But that shouldn’t be an excuse for mismarketing a book.
Mentioning Halloween a couple of times, telling us that it’s windy and having someone order a gingerbread latte does not make a book autumnal. 😂
Autumnal romance needs atmosphere. I want to feel the crisp autumn air, hear the leaves crunching underfoot, see dark evenings and cosy houses. I want rain against windows, oversized sweaters, candles, cinnamon, pumpkins and a bakery filled with actual autumnal recipes. And please, for the love of everything, give me something other than lemon cake and carrot cake! 😂
If you want to write an autumnal romance, make the season part of the story. Make me feel autumn. Don’t just sprinkle a few seasonal references throughout the book because autumn romance is currently trending.
Second: the beginning.
This is supposed to be a fake-dating romance, but the lead-up to the fake dating is absolutely bonkers. Frankie, our main character, acts like a complete looney for the first 30% of the book. Her behaviour is erratic, impulsive and sometimes just plain bizarre.
And unfortunately, she never became particularly likeable for me. I really struggled to connect with her throughout the entire book.
Third: the romance.
The romance is a slow burn… until suddenly it isn’t.
We go from “we’re just friends” to “you are the greatest love of my life” practically overnight. We’re talking two pages. After such a slow build-up, the sudden explosion of feelings felt completely unearned to me.
It was like the book suddenly went: Oh, right! Romance! Better make them madly in love now. 😂
And then there’s the third-act breakup.
Just… horrible.
I hated it. It felt unnecessarily dramatic and frustrating, and by that point I was already struggling to fully buy into the relationship.
But what did I love? Marcus.
I absolutely adored Marcus.
And what a wonderful dad he was. I don't usually enjoy single-dad storylines because they can sometimes feel like a convenient romance trope, but Marcus’s relationship with his child felt genuinely realistic. That part of the story worked incredibly well for me, and he was easily my favourite character.
So, ultimately, I’m torn.
I had fun reading Just for the Season. It was easy, enjoyable and never felt like a chore to get through. But there were simply too many things that didn’t work for me: the questionable autumnal marketing, Frankie’s behaviour, the rushed romantic development and that truly awful third-act breakup.
It wasn’t a bad book. I just wish it had been the book I thought I was getting.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
🧡 Blurb -
Frankie Winters' life has fallen apart spectacularly, with her becoming single, jobless AND homeless all in the same day. Fleeing to the sea – more specifically to her gran and cousin’s hometown of Milbury Bay – feels like the right answer.
Marcus Brooks swore off women the moment his ex-wife walked out on him and his children. And after a tumultuous encounter with a certain stubborn stranger in the local café, he’s only more convinced he made the right decision.
But when Frankie decides she needs a fake boyfriend to reassure her eighty-five-year-old gran she’s doing just fine (even if she isn’t!), her gaze lands on the last man she should ask: the grumpy, unruly one she argued with over the last carrot cake.
Saying yes to Frankie’s insane plan might be Marcus’s biggest mistake yet… or the best decision he’s ever made. Because sometimes, the last thing you’re looking for is exactly what you need.
💚 Review -
This was such a cute and cosy Autumn read. I have enjoyed other books by the author and Just For The Season certainly didn't disappoint. From the very first page I was hooked and I kept reading until the end as I wanted to know what happened. I loved the small town place setting in the story and the background characters that come with it. I also loved Frankie and Marcus's chemistry and I wanted them to have their happy ending. I enjoyed the author's writing style and the pacing was just right.
Overall a brilliant novel that I highly recommend to other readers. I look forward to reading more by the author.
💖 Thank you to Netgalley, Boldwood Books and the author Jo Lovett for my arc ebook copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Frankie Winters' life has fallen apart spectacularly, with her becoming single, jobless AND homeless all in the same day. Fleeing to the sea – more specifically to her gran and cousin’s hometown of Milbury Bay – feels like the right answer.
Marcus Brooks swore off women the moment his ex-wife walked out on him and his children. And after a tumultuous encounter with a certain stubborn stranger in the local café, he’s only more convinced he made the right decision.
But when Frankie decides she needs a fake boyfriend to reassure her eighty-five-year-old gran she’s doing just fine (even if she isn’t!), her gaze lands on the last man she should ask: the grumpy, unruly one she argued with over the last carrot cake.
Saying yes to Frankie’s insane plan might be Marcus’s biggest mistake yet… or the best decision he’s ever made. Because sometimes, the last thing you’re looking for is exactly what you need.
💚 Review -
This was such a cute and cosy Autumn read. I have enjoyed other books by the author and Just For The Season certainly didn't disappoint. From the very first page I was hooked and I kept reading until the end as I wanted to know what happened. I loved the small town place setting in the story and the background characters that come with it. I also loved Frankie and Marcus's chemistry and I wanted them to have their happy ending. I enjoyed the author's writing style and the pacing was just right.
Overall a brilliant novel that I highly recommend to other readers. I look forward to reading more by the author.
💖 Thank you to Netgalley, Boldwood Books and the author Jo Lovett for my arc ebook copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The faking dating trope is over done in my opinion, but Jo Lovett freshened it up for me and made it very enjoyable! I liked that Just for the Season involved a divorced dad whose kids (primarily his 14 year old daughter) were well utilized. Both Marcus and Frankie were burned by past relationships, but enter into a fake dating situation so Frankie's grandma will stop worrying about her. I won't spoil how this plan is hatched, but I can say it involves cake and the small town gossip mill!
Was this book predictable? Of course and yet it held my interest and even had me shed a few tears because I was so invested in Frankie and Marcus. Before the expected Happily Ever After, I liked how Jo Lovett introduced conflict that was also fresh compared to other fake dating stories. Thankfully it didn't drag out, but it did add to the story in a fluid way and believable given the characters involved. Normally these conflicts have me rolling my eyes and I most definitely was not!
The secondary characters were enjoyable, especially Simon. He could bake me cake any day! What a great friend! I also appreciated how the more serious themes explored (parent abandonment for instance) was experienced by multiple characters. It made the story more believable, but also solidified relationships. Pacing was great and it was truly a page-turner as you experience this beautiful and sweet love story develop. This book is sure to help rom-com lovers usher in fall with humorous and heartwarming story that has a few little surprises in store. Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Was this book predictable? Of course and yet it held my interest and even had me shed a few tears because I was so invested in Frankie and Marcus. Before the expected Happily Ever After, I liked how Jo Lovett introduced conflict that was also fresh compared to other fake dating stories. Thankfully it didn't drag out, but it did add to the story in a fluid way and believable given the characters involved. Normally these conflicts have me rolling my eyes and I most definitely was not!
The secondary characters were enjoyable, especially Simon. He could bake me cake any day! What a great friend! I also appreciated how the more serious themes explored (parent abandonment for instance) was experienced by multiple characters. It made the story more believable, but also solidified relationships. Pacing was great and it was truly a page-turner as you experience this beautiful and sweet love story develop. This book is sure to help rom-com lovers usher in fall with humorous and heartwarming story that has a few little surprises in store. Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was such a cozy, fun read! I’m definitely in my romance era, and this book hit several of my favorite tropes: fake dating, single dad, found family, and small town vibes!
This isn’t a love at first sight story, which I really enjoyed. Frankie, our FMC, has been through the wringer. She’s been dumped by her fiancé, lost her job, and is suddenly without a home. She heads to the small town where her grandmother lives, hoping to reset.
Then there’s Marcus, a single dad doing his best to raise his two amazing kids after their mom walked out. He’s especially struggling with his teenage daughter, who desperately wants her mom back.
Frankie and Marcus meet in the most perfect way possible, fighting over a cake! They both need it, and somehow their little cake battle leads to fake dating in order to make Frankie’s elderly grandmother happy.
I had plenty of laughs while reading this, and it somehow left me craving cake and fall! I loved watching Frankie and Marcus’s relationship develop naturally and seeing their romance grow throughout the story. But honestly, the side characters deserve a standing ovation too! They added so much heart and humor to the story.
If you’re looking for a cozy small town romance filled with humor, family, romance, and all the fall vibes, this is definitely one to pick up! Thank you, Boldwood Books and Jo Lovett for this eARC!
This isn’t a love at first sight story, which I really enjoyed. Frankie, our FMC, has been through the wringer. She’s been dumped by her fiancé, lost her job, and is suddenly without a home. She heads to the small town where her grandmother lives, hoping to reset.
Then there’s Marcus, a single dad doing his best to raise his two amazing kids after their mom walked out. He’s especially struggling with his teenage daughter, who desperately wants her mom back.
Frankie and Marcus meet in the most perfect way possible, fighting over a cake! They both need it, and somehow their little cake battle leads to fake dating in order to make Frankie’s elderly grandmother happy.
I had plenty of laughs while reading this, and it somehow left me craving cake and fall! I loved watching Frankie and Marcus’s relationship develop naturally and seeing their romance grow throughout the story. But honestly, the side characters deserve a standing ovation too! They added so much heart and humor to the story.
If you’re looking for a cozy small town romance filled with humor, family, romance, and all the fall vibes, this is definitely one to pick up! Thank you, Boldwood Books and Jo Lovett for this eARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Just for the Season is a humorous and fun read. The first few chapters for Frankie is really just a mess. The text dump, firing, and then being kicked out of the apartment. The cake exchange in the meet cute with Marcus, and then her drunken plot of fake dating Marcus. However, once Frankie and Marcus start spending time together, watching their relationship grow is so sweet! The found family and Marcus's kids are a great addition to this sweet small town.
Marcus is a single dad, and the affects of his ex-wife leaving him and the kids are still very present. It's very illusive on what Marcus does for a living for the majority of the book, but both Marcus and Frankie are verging on wanting more but scared to pursue anything other than friendship. The town however has other plans! However, if they said "method acting" one more time, I might have lost it. The emotion and insight into the situations with Ruby and how Marcus and Frankie handled it had me in tears. The way the author balanced deep emotions and humor was amazing and how adults should handle these delicate situations.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an ARC of Just for the Season in exchange for an honest review. This novel is a great read that I highly recommend!
Marcus is a single dad, and the affects of his ex-wife leaving him and the kids are still very present. It's very illusive on what Marcus does for a living for the majority of the book, but both Marcus and Frankie are verging on wanting more but scared to pursue anything other than friendship. The town however has other plans! However, if they said "method acting" one more time, I might have lost it. The emotion and insight into the situations with Ruby and how Marcus and Frankie handled it had me in tears. The way the author balanced deep emotions and humor was amazing and how adults should handle these delicate situations.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an ARC of Just for the Season in exchange for an honest review. This novel is a great read that I highly recommend!
July 31, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, Jo Lovett and Boldwood Books for allowing me to ARC read ‘Just for the Season.’
I liked this, I just didn’t love it, and the main reason for that is, the ending felt so rushed.
I will say that first, as an English person, the many references to Tea and how incredible it is after any life event, or day (good or bad) are spot-on.
I initially loved the story, the characters are well developed and I loved the ‘small village’ vibes.
My problem arose at about 60-70% into this book, when a plot twist occurred (that results in a sort-of-but-not third act ‘break up’) that just felt ‘off,’ and seemed really pointless. It kind of jerked me out of the story. After this point, the rest of the story felt really rushed, and I think another 40-50 pages could have prevented this from being the case.
This is supposed to be a seasonal (autumn) read, but I didn’t really get that impression from reading. Aside from some seasonal drinks being sold in the cafe, there was barely any mention of anything autumnal going on.
Apart from the above, I liked this clean-romance story. I just think if this was a little longer, the pacing at the end could have been improved. And the overall story would have (for me) benefitted from not having a third act ‘break up’ that didn’t really have any pay off.
I liked this, I just didn’t love it, and the main reason for that is, the ending felt so rushed.
I will say that first, as an English person, the many references to Tea and how incredible it is after any life event, or day (good or bad) are spot-on.
I initially loved the story, the characters are well developed and I loved the ‘small village’ vibes.
My problem arose at about 60-70% into this book, when a plot twist occurred (that results in a sort-of-but-not third act ‘break up’) that just felt ‘off,’ and seemed really pointless. It kind of jerked me out of the story. After this point, the rest of the story felt really rushed, and I think another 40-50 pages could have prevented this from being the case.
This is supposed to be a seasonal (autumn) read, but I didn’t really get that impression from reading. Aside from some seasonal drinks being sold in the cafe, there was barely any mention of anything autumnal going on.
Apart from the above, I liked this clean-romance story. I just think if this was a little longer, the pacing at the end could have been improved. And the overall story would have (for me) benefitted from not having a third act ‘break up’ that didn’t really have any pay off.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to netgalley and boldwood books for the opportunity to read my first Jo Lovett Book!
I thoroughly enjoyed this read. One of my favourite tropes is fake dating so an autumnal read with fake dating and a slow burn is right up my street!
Frankie and Marcus were such a fun dynamic, their friendship was a great aspect to the story and I loved that this is how their story started, through friendship before becoming more. I liked the ‘dislike’ beginning and it really was an enjoyable slow burn. There was some great character back stories too, single dad, life falling apart, returning to a small town, it really made for a more interesting read with the two of them trying to figure everything out.
There were so autumn vibes in relation to drinks and some mentions but overall I feel like there definitely could have been some more autumn set ups in my opinion. I would have loved more outdoor weather descriptions or scenes I just felt there wasn’t enough to get my headspace into the autumn vibe for this type of read.
Overall I found this super easy to read, it was a closed door book which a great friends to lovers storyline and I would definitely be reading some more of Jo’s books!
I thoroughly enjoyed this read. One of my favourite tropes is fake dating so an autumnal read with fake dating and a slow burn is right up my street!
Frankie and Marcus were such a fun dynamic, their friendship was a great aspect to the story and I loved that this is how their story started, through friendship before becoming more. I liked the ‘dislike’ beginning and it really was an enjoyable slow burn. There was some great character back stories too, single dad, life falling apart, returning to a small town, it really made for a more interesting read with the two of them trying to figure everything out.
There were so autumn vibes in relation to drinks and some mentions but overall I feel like there definitely could have been some more autumn set ups in my opinion. I would have loved more outdoor weather descriptions or scenes I just felt there wasn’t enough to get my headspace into the autumn vibe for this type of read.
Overall I found this super easy to read, it was a closed door book which a great friends to lovers storyline and I would definitely be reading some more of Jo’s books!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read Just for the Season.
This was my first book by Jo Lovett, and I really enjoyed it! I’m a huge fan of the single dad trope, so this was right up my street. Add in a cosy small-town setting, fake dating, a slow-burn romance and ALL the autumnal vibes, and I was sold.
Frankie heads to Milbury Bay after her life falls apart, hoping for a fresh start with her cousin and beloved gran. Then she has a hilarious first encounter with Marcus after an argument over the last piece of carrot cake. Marcus is a divorced dad of two with no interest in dating again, but after a little too much wine, Frankie announces that he’s her boyfriend so her gran won’t worry about her. Naturally, the small-town gossip takes it from there!
But honestly, the cosy atmosphere was what really made this book for me. It gives off the ultimate autumn vibes and is the perfect book to curl up with on a chilly afternoon and a hot drink. Not quite the heat wave reading that we're all currently experiencing in England!
If you love small-town romances, fake dating, single dads and cosy autumnal reads, definitely add this to your TBR! This was a lovely first read from Jo Lovett, and I’ll definitely be picking up more from her.
This was my first book by Jo Lovett, and I really enjoyed it! I’m a huge fan of the single dad trope, so this was right up my street. Add in a cosy small-town setting, fake dating, a slow-burn romance and ALL the autumnal vibes, and I was sold.
Frankie heads to Milbury Bay after her life falls apart, hoping for a fresh start with her cousin and beloved gran. Then she has a hilarious first encounter with Marcus after an argument over the last piece of carrot cake. Marcus is a divorced dad of two with no interest in dating again, but after a little too much wine, Frankie announces that he’s her boyfriend so her gran won’t worry about her. Naturally, the small-town gossip takes it from there!
But honestly, the cosy atmosphere was what really made this book for me. It gives off the ultimate autumn vibes and is the perfect book to curl up with on a chilly afternoon and a hot drink. Not quite the heat wave reading that we're all currently experiencing in England!
If you love small-town romances, fake dating, single dads and cosy autumnal reads, definitely add this to your TBR! This was a lovely first read from Jo Lovett, and I’ll definitely be picking up more from her.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
All the great tropes!
Cozy rom-com
Divorced father of two
FMC dumped via text (no more fiancé, job, home)
Fake relationship
A wonderfully cozy autumnal rom-com! The characters are well-developed, loveable and believable, especially the father/teen daughter duo of Marcus and Ruby which was "spot on". Frankie (FMC) cries a lot, but not in an annoying "oh woe is me" way. She's actually quite adorable. The story line is fun (and funny) with many scenes taking place in a cafe with delicious sounding cakes - so many cakes - and the Frankie also loves to cook, so don't be surprised if you get hungry while reading.
When one partner has children, the story needs to be realistic with the characters treading carefully - Lovett nailed it! Marcus is darned near a perfect and realistic father and Frankie is a considerate fake girlfriend who has her own Mommy issues which make her understanding.
And the twist towards the end? Totally page-turning and ending with all the good feels! I binge-read this in less than 6 hours (ebook, not audio).
Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood books for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest reivew.
Cozy rom-com
Divorced father of two
FMC dumped via text (no more fiancé, job, home)
Fake relationship
A wonderfully cozy autumnal rom-com! The characters are well-developed, loveable and believable, especially the father/teen daughter duo of Marcus and Ruby which was "spot on". Frankie (FMC) cries a lot, but not in an annoying "oh woe is me" way. She's actually quite adorable. The story line is fun (and funny) with many scenes taking place in a cafe with delicious sounding cakes - so many cakes - and the Frankie also loves to cook, so don't be surprised if you get hungry while reading.
When one partner has children, the story needs to be realistic with the characters treading carefully - Lovett nailed it! Marcus is darned near a perfect and realistic father and Frankie is a considerate fake girlfriend who has her own Mommy issues which make her understanding.
And the twist towards the end? Totally page-turning and ending with all the good feels! I binge-read this in less than 6 hours (ebook, not audio).
Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood books for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest reivew.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 19, 2026
Is anyone looking for a cozy read? This is the book for you.
I adore Jo Lovett’s books; her characters are always a breath of fresh air. I always find myself completely drawn into her plots—I’m still thinking about the twists in her other books I've read.
I don’t know how she does it; I just know that if she writes a book, I’m going to read it, and I won’t regret it.
Frankie is like Kate Winslet in *The Holiday*, but she returns to the small town where her family lives and crosses paths with a grumpy, weary man. That she ends up dragging him into a lie that starts bringing them closer in ways neither of them expected.
you had the quirky and positive main character and a single dad, teenagers with big personalities, cozy and Halloween vibes, but above all, a beautiful love story that brought a few tears to my eyes.
So yes, it’s cute, but those unexpected twists won’t let you put the book down until you reach the very end and then you will be thinking *what an amazing good time I just had*
Thanks to Jo Lovett and her team for give me a copy of this beautiful book in exchange for my honest and voluntary opinion
I adore Jo Lovett’s books; her characters are always a breath of fresh air. I always find myself completely drawn into her plots—I’m still thinking about the twists in her other books I've read.
I don’t know how she does it; I just know that if she writes a book, I’m going to read it, and I won’t regret it.
Frankie is like Kate Winslet in *The Holiday*, but she returns to the small town where her family lives and crosses paths with a grumpy, weary man. That she ends up dragging him into a lie that starts bringing them closer in ways neither of them expected.
you had the quirky and positive main character and a single dad, teenagers with big personalities, cozy and Halloween vibes, but above all, a beautiful love story that brought a few tears to my eyes.
So yes, it’s cute, but those unexpected twists won’t let you put the book down until you reach the very end and then you will be thinking *what an amazing good time I just had*
Thanks to Jo Lovett and her team for give me a copy of this beautiful book in exchange for my honest and voluntary opinion
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