Trick or Retreat: A Standalone Halloween Romance

by Clara Ashby

The rule was one fake backstory, one shared room, absolutely zero real feelings.

Molly Byrne only invented a boyfriend so her family would stop asking about her divorce. She didn't expect her sister to drag the entire family to a couples-only Halloween retreat just to cross-examine him.

Enter Patrick Sutter. He's grumpy, impossibly observant, and the innkeeper of a struggling New England inn that won't survive the winter. Molly has the marketing skills to save it; Patrick has the broad shoulders and pulse required to play the devoted lover.

It's an ironclad business transaction. Or it was, until the shared bedroom got too small, the local gossips bought the act completely, and her ex-husband walked through the lobby doors.

Patrick is the worst liar in New England, but as the lines between performance and reality blur, Molly realizes the real danger isn't her family catching them in a lie—it's what happens if she stops faking.

A warm, closed-door, witty and sharp Halloween romantic comedy packed with fake dating, forced proximity, small-town chaos, and one very opinionated cat.

Genres: Autumn

236 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 16, 2026

Reviews

[DLV · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story!!

The characters are Great!!

The plot was interesting and Fun!!

It is a Great book for Fall reading!!

[Elissa's Kindle Corner · Rating 4 out of 5]

It Comes Down To Speech

I dunno how I feel about this one. While it was a good story, I couldn't help but feel like I was on the outside of it.

The writing seemed a tad uppity. Like a smarmy New England (think Frazier without the humour) author trying to catch the Halloween crowd. I dunno.

There was a lot of "smart talk" which is how I describe people who speak in their vocation's vernacular instead of a universal pattern of speech. You know, where a physiologist would tell me I have lateral epicondylitis instead of telling me I have tennis elbow? That's sorta how this whole book went.

Patrick - a structural engineer, spoke of loads nd load bearing, etc.
Molly - a rebrander (dunno exactly what her job title is) spoke of equations nd briefs, etc. Kept using the word deck, which up until this book, I didn't realize was a term used in business nd not just a wooden platform or a pile of cards. I made me feel a bit dumb if I'm honest nd I'm hardly that. I simply just don't have a business background.

The town was quaint. The people were weird in a great way. The inn was easy to visualize. The cozy autumn Halloween vibe was there. I wanted more of the activities, more murder mystery stuff.

Just less stuffy, boardroom talk. In the end, it didn't matter to me what either of them did for a living.

[Polibooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lo amé, es la tercera historia que leo de Clara Ashby y siempre termino encantada con ellas. Son agradables, con buenos romances, buenos personajes, con buen drama (suave) y con su toque de comedia. Me encantó Truco o Retiro, la disfruté de principio a fin ❤️

[Anna Louise Kallas · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

A cute fake relationship romance fall book.

[Jennifer Scott · Rating 1.5 out of 5]

I had read two other books by Clara Ashby that I really liked, but I really disliked the writing in this one. I almost didn't finish it, but I was invested in the story. I have never had to go back and reread parts of a book more in my life.

[Sheri Jelinek · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4 Stars)

Trick or Retreat is an adorable fall rom-com packed with fake dating, forced proximity, small-town charm, and just the right amount of Halloween fun. If you're looking for a cozy autumn read that feels like a warm cider by the fireplace, this one delivers.

Molly Byrne immediately won me over. After a difficult divorce, she's simply trying to survive family gatherings without being interrogated about her love life. Her solution? Invent a boyfriend. Unfortunately, her plan spirals out of control when her family insists on a couples-only Halloween retreat, leaving her scrambling for someone to play the part.

Enter Patrick Sutter, the grumpy but lovable innkeeper who's desperately trying to save his struggling New England inn. What starts as a mutually beneficial arrangement quickly becomes far more complicated when they're forced to share a room, keep up appearances, and navigate increasingly blurry lines between what's fake and what's real.

I loved the chemistry between Molly and Patrick. Their banter was fun, their personalities balanced each other well, and watching Patrick slowly soften around Molly was incredibly satisfying. As a fake dating fan, I thoroughly enjoyed all the awkward, swoony, and laugh-out-loud moments that came from them trying to convince everyone they were a real couple.

The small-town setting was another highlight. The cozy inn, Halloween festivities, nosy townspeople, and family chaos created the perfect atmosphere for a seasonal romance. And honestly, the opinionated cat may have stolen a few scenes.

What I appreciated most was Molly's personal journey. Beyond the romance, this story explores moving on after heartbreak, rebuilding confidence, and finding the courage to open your heart again after being hurt.

The reason this wasn't quite a five-star read for me is that some of the plot developments felt a bit predictable, and I would have loved a little more emotional depth toward the end. That said, the charming characters, cozy setting, and sweet romance more than made up for it.

Overall, Trick or Retreat is a delightful closed-door romance full of autumn vibes, fake dating hijinks, family meddling, and heartfelt moments. If you love grumpy-sunshine dynamics, forced proximity, small-town romance, and cozy seasonal reads, this book is definitely worth adding to your fall TBR.

[Book witch · Rating 3 out of 5]

just a little to slow but still a cute read

🍂🎃 Trick or Retreat — Clara Ashby

⭐ 3.5/5 Stars

I really wanted to love this one more than I did! The cozy Halloween atmosphere was adorable, and overall, it was a cute, enjoyable read.

Unfortunately, the pacing was just a little too slow for me. I kept waiting for that moment when the story would completely pull me in, but it never quite happened. While I enjoyed parts of it, I found myself struggling to stay invested.

It wasn’t a bad book by any means! I just wish it had grabbed my attention a little sooner and kept me hooked.

A sweet, cozy fall read, just not quite the one I was hoping for. 🤎🍁

[Abbey Ludwig · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book so much more than I did. It had such potential—a delightful cast of characters, an old inn, and a ghost (or cat) named Beans, but the continuity and fluidity of the story was interrupted by terrible editing and it took away from what could potentially have been an entertaining read.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I LOVED the premise of the book. I was not a fan of the timeline. The timeline was very hard to get behind. Especially when the main character was so devastated by her marriage ending on page 1. The style of writing was very different, but I still found myself hitting some moments I did not want to put the book down.

[Jennifer · Rating 2.25 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book! The storyline was so cute and cozy and I liked the characters. However, the pacing was extremely slow, the writing style was very confusing and uppity. The characters used terms from their careers in everyday conversation way too much and expected everyone to know what they meant. The tone of the entire book just felt snobby.

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't even know how to describe the writing style of the book. It felt almost passive? Like I was reading about the story through an outside window?
I loved the premise and some parts in the beginning were actually really funny. I don't know that I could read another book in this writing style though.

[Jaime Ingerski · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

This book was overall okay, but it was a bit self indulgent with the writing at times. Also, I love Hallmark movies as much as the next person, but I have a hard time with books where the characters declare that they are in love after spending a week together.

[Shay Wilkins · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was interesting enough that I finished it, but the writing style just wasn’t for me.

The prose felt overly confusing at times to the point where I genuinely didn't know what was happening or what the author was trying to say.

The cat was easily the best part of the whole book.

[Jess Yurkin · Rating 2.75 out of 5]

The plot was cute but the writing itself was not well done.

[Brittanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got really lost in this book. Some of the writing was really poetic, which I liked, but sometimes the poetics made you lose the plot.

[Cathy Chianese · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the idea of the plot fake dating to real dating, but my characters just never really got developed to me. They were kind of boring.

[Amy Shero · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

This was a cute Halloween read! The writing was a little bit hard to follow sometimes but I’m a sucker for a fake dating trope.

[Heather]

I ended up not finishing it—it just wasn't for me, and I found myself getting pretty bored with it.

[Teresa Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was good but the language was hard to follow. Like two OCD people talking to themselves.