All For Show

The Boys of Oceanside #1

by Rachel Kane

Nat needs a fake boyfriend, fast! His house is going to be featured on a home renovation TV show, and finally his awful kitchen will be fixed. There’s just one problem: The show only features couples, and Nat is single! How can bashful Nat get a fake boyfriend quickly?

Owen's meddling ex won't leave him alone, constantly giving him advice after their breakup. All Owen wants to do is sit on the pier and people-watch with his Boston terrier, Mr. Thurgood, but when he hears that Nat needs a fake boyfriend for TV, he thinks the idea is just the ticket to get his ex off his back. It’ll look like he’s getting on with his life, the perfect revenge! And Mr. Thurgood really likes Nat--that's a good sign, right?

It should have been the perfect fake relationship...except Nat can’t stop thinking about Owen. He wishes he were brave enough to ask the sarcastic, confident guy out in real life. But Owen puts on this shallow, superficial act, and it’s hard to get underneath it to the real person. Meanwhile, Owen is scared of getting hurt again, and feels like Nat’s hesitation around him means Nat secretly hates him.

But there's no more hesitation when Owen accidentally walks in on Nat’s shower, and everything gets very real, very quickly.

Now things are tricky, because they’re falling for each other, but on camera they have to act like they’ve known each other forever! But between Owen’s meddling ex trying to pull them apart, and their own insecurities, can they keep it together, or will their fake relationship end in a real break up on national TV?

All For Show is a gay romantic comedy with a lot of steam and no angst (okay, a little bit of angst)! There's no cliffhanger and no cheating, but there is an on-camera HEA! (And Mr. Thurgood gets lots of snow peas because they are his favorite treat.)

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, LGBT, Disability, Dogs, Fiction, M M Contemporary

206 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 25, 2017

About the author

I like writing about boys with TERRIBLE PROBLEMS who nonetheless manage to find love. But seriously, terrible problems. Like, dude, get some therapy before you go on this date.

Reviews

[~✡~Dαni(ela) ♥ ♂♂ love & semicolons~✡~ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ridiculous and contrived. I started skimming at 30 percent. Extra star because the writing didn't totally suck, but the romance was embarrassingly dull and the MCs annoying.

[Manfred · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was definitely a positive surprise. The plot sounded like fun and it was on KU here in Germany, so I thought it might be a nice "in between" read, but I actually got more than that.
Nat is shy and... surprise: single, however when he gets a chance to have his kitchen remodeled by a TV show he needs a fake boyfriend fast because the show wants the "human factor" of a relationship!
Owen is smart, sexy and way out of Nat`s league, or so he thinks. At the end, it turns out that Owen has his own problems to deal with, where an obsessive and overprotective ex is just the beginning.
The way those two find their HEA, dealing with insecurities, obnoxious exes and the drama of reality TV, is sometimes cute, sometimes sad and sometimes hilarious but it never gets dull and I had a great time reading this story. If you are in the mood for something light and fluffy, I definitely recommend it and would rate it a solid 4 stars!

[Meep]

Frothy story, it goes direct to my curmudgeon shelf. Not rating as I quit at 30% for what I acknowledge was a personal trigger and therefore an out of proportion amount of grumpiness.

Saying that by 30% both had already entertained fantasies about the other and displayed copious insecurities, despite little sense of them being attracted to the other. Couldn't get either character clear in my head, their descriptions are different yet their povs seem to meld together. Neither feeling good enough. At one point they had a conversation and I was confused with the vocabulary as to who was saying what. Owen had potential to be amusing but Nat was tuning him out by the second meeting which doesn't bode well. I didn't feel any connection or chance for one, they seemed too different, but then I quit relatively early. The dog sounds cute though.

The idea seemed fun and silly which is what I was in the mood for and if that's what you're after then full steam ahead. Ignore me being a negative-nelly, this is frothy fun, most will enjoy this. Hyper character, cute dog with an endearing name.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked All For Show by Rachel Kane. The book was well written and nicely edited. It did, however, take me a little bit to like and believe that Nate and Owen had the potential to be a real couple let alone a fake couple. They were like oil and water when they first meet. So very awkward and it doesn't help that they are both introverts and have anxiety issues. Nate really didn't like Owen in the beginning, and the only thing they had in common is their insecurities. The story turned around for me when they go on their first real date, and they are finally getting comfortable with each other and finding out that they actually had something in common. However, they do still have some obstacles in their way like Owen's ex-boyfriend Harris and his manipulative ways and the added stress of the renovation. Will they be able to navigate the people that would stand in the way of their newfound happiness? I really did enjoy this story by the end, and I liked the ending. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.

[Nerea · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75*
I had a lot of feelings with this book. The story starts with a very superficial plot : A guy with a disastrous kitchen and no money to fix it is chosen by a tv program to renovate it BUT the show wants a couple so the guy needs a “fake boyfriend”.

But the story is deeper than expected! The two main characters have some personal problems that are revealed further in the story and I must recognize I was very hooked by the plot >_
Is NOT insta love, I liked that, it has good pace! :D

[Nevaeh Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book. Loved the humor. Kind of light and fluffy, with two very sweet, scarred, loveable MCs.

This book is a treasure chest of Laugh Out Loud moments. If you're looking for funny, I definitely recommend it. Here's a quote from the book, one of many gems:

«Work was exciting and vibrant, a real adventure, which I will now describe in detail.

Just kidding.

It was a dull blur, like if you accidentally dropped an earring into a vat of pudding at one of the buffet places the tourists go to, and then spent another six hours swirling your spoon around in there trying to find it.»

[Amanda Fields · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fake Romance or not?

I love the whole trope of convincing someone to be the fake significant other or fiancé to fix a situation. You know from the beginning they are going to end of falling for each other and living happily ever after. This book was very light and fluffy with just enough angst to twist your heartstrings just a bit. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a light hearted fluffy romance that you can read in one sitting

[iam · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.
Good concept, themes and characters, but the execution lacks depth and the writing is a bit bumpy at times.

[Marion · Rating 3 out of 5]

All For Show: A Fake Boyfriend Gay Romance
(Rachel Kane)

I was stumbling over this book when I actually had been searching for another one. But the cover caught me because I love romances where pets are included (if they are well treated and not harmed) and the plot sounded funny. So I decided to give it a try. I didn’t expect too much of it but I actually was in the mood for an easy going holiday-read with a simple HEA without hard feelings or problem dealing couples. And that’s exactly what the story was. The language is really easy and it’s not hard to follow the plot. You can easily read it on one afternoon or evening. There are also some laughs in the story and I have to admit that I actually liked the couple.

BUT there is a real huge BUT… I got somehow angry or frustrated already at the beginning… I know many of you would ask themselves now why I didn’t stop reading then… I simply liked the two main characters and although their sentences made me frustrated I developed negative feelings against the author who let the two men talk about a serious illness as if it were something disgusting or something you should be ashamed of. I too wouldn’t like anyone to tell about me that I’m suffering from a serious illness but not because I’d be afraid that people would laugh about it. I’d feel bad for all the people who really suffer from that disease and see me making it up just for being pitied or looking good in the show.

The second huge BUT is how the author describes a person who is obviously suffering from depressions. It’s like, I had them but I’m doing better now so don’t mind, everything is good now… The author obviously hasn’t done enough research on depression to realize that this is a very serious psychological condition that is unlikely to go away that easily.

So if you like easy going stories and don’t mind some statements which really could offend some people and give you the feeling that the author either doesn’t know which illnesses she talks about in the book or doesn’t give a shit about people who really suffer from these illnesses, then you should read this book. In my opinion you shouldn’t write about lupus or depression in such a flat, trivial way. (There is definitely no funny part about these illnesses and I don’t think that people would laugh about somebody suffering from them.)

-> If it wasn't for the BUTs I'd given 5 stars for a good easy summer read instead of 2,75 stars

[Tanja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nat gets the chance of a lifetime to have a kitchen makeover on a reality TV show. The only condition is that the contestants have to be a couple. He asks a friend of a friend, Owen, to be his fake boyfriend.
We have seen this kind of trope many times before but this story is different than others in the genre. First of all everyone around them knows they are in a fake relationship. Second, and the most important part, is the writing. To be honest I had a bit of trouble getting into the story because of the humor. I had to get used to the quirky and at times bizarre humor. But reading on I couldn’t put the book down and it really got to me. I loved the back-and-forth. Sometimes it was like watching a ping pong match so fast.
Nat is the shy guy who is happiest being part of the decor, not to be seen or heard, a real wallflower. Owen is outgoing, always joking and coming up with outlandish stories. What began as a fake relationship soon becomes very real. They see that there is more behind the facade they show the world. Both guys hide their insecurities and awkwardness in a completely different way.
I loved how they began opening up toward each other. They kept communicating and I felt the connection growing. The discussions with Mr. Thurgood are hilarious. I have no positive word for Owen’s ex, Harris, with all his manipulative tendencies. But Owen shows a huge amount of growth dealing with him. It is not all fun and laughter here. Rachel does a great job addressing some serious issues and how those affect someone's life.
All in all I liked this book very much. The humor might not be for everyone but if you like quirkiness with some gravity you will certainly appreciate this book.

[Ahiku · Rating 3 out of 5]

2,5 stars

First of all - the dog on this cover is super, super cute and probably reason No. 1 why I wanted to read the book.

The story was entertaining enough, but the Owen and Nat are both extremely odd and in the beginning, I thought they are never going to work together. Their conversations are weird and sometimes I didn't even understand what they were talking about.

Then there's this drama with Harris, Owen's super horrible, controlling ex... Not a fan of characters like him, because he didn't seem like a real person at all. My favorite character was probably the dog.

I was surprised by the sex scenes. They were really hot and plenty... buuuut they don't have safe sex which is a big pet peeve of mine. They know each other for a couple days... they haven't talked about it, so they don't know if the other one is healthy. This is irresponsible.
So...if an author chooses to skip safe sex, I expect that the characters talk this through or that they just use freaking condoms. It's not so hard to mention them during a sex scene, no need to make a big deal out of it...

So, all in all, the main idea of the story is funny, but there's a lot going on. The writing style is not bad, but the storytelling could use some more work.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nat and Owens story is the first in The Boys of Oceanside series by Rachel Kane.
Nat has chance to to get his kitchen redone by a reality TV show and it sorely needs it. But he needs a fake boyfriend to get the gig. His best friend talks to another friend and soon Nat meets Owen and Mr. Thurgood (Owens dog) who agrees to be the fake boyfriend.
As they get to know each other a connection starts to form that surprise both of them. Nat is usually a wallflower at most gatherings and a little insecure in his own abilities.
Owen has suffered many traumas and the attention of an ex boyfriend who was and remains manipulative. Owen has been making strides and trying to regain his trust in the world and the people around him. Owen seems to be making progress but can survive the 'help' of his ex. While maintaining the progress he has made.
Can these two men hold on to the connection and make it work?
A fun romp through reality TV and a dark path through the undercurrents of possessiveness and manipulation. This book is both entertaining and insightful.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to say that I loved Nat. He was a very original character, who, while being insecure, knew himself inside and out. When he first started the fake relationship with Owen, he first got to know him and realized that he shouldn't take Owen literally. Once he figured that out, his attraction for the other man came into play and I liked how they started to develop their relationship.

Although I liked how they got to know one another and realized their compatibility in bed and in their personalities, there was great promise for the relationship. But Harris not only irritated me, he obviously irritated Nat, who called him on it twice. I understand emotional dependence, but the man took it way too far and there was much more time spent on that aspect of the story than the actual developing of the relationship between Nat and Owen, which left little time for a truly satisfying ending. I gave it four stars for Nat and the well-written parts where Nat and Owen were together.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the author.

Two quirky guys just meant for each other? How far would you go in order to get a room make-over? When Owen and Nat are thrown together quickly they have to open up to each other in order to make a their relationship a reality...and not just in front of the cameras. Most of us have insecurities but we're able to cover them up pretty well. Owen and Nat still have some work to do in this area. But you'll love them because of it!

Nat's dad...no wonder Nat has trouble relating to others! Their phone conversation is hilarious!
Owen...so sweet and so strong in his own way.
Harris...why do some people have the ability to be so confident and exert such control over others?
Sergio...one lucky man! I wish I could see his statues.
Mr. Thurgood...has the perfect life.

This book was good because the characters aren't perfect and are trying so hard. This is so true of so many of us. I loved it!

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fake it 'til you make it

This was an enjoyable book. Paired together for the sake of a renovation reality show, Nat and Owen try to work out how to look real for TV and still be fake. The thing is neither man has been good at relationships lately, and as more of that comes out this fake relationship starts to look better and better. But with their insecurities still running and a meddling ex it may flop before it ever starts.

Reading through the build up of the relationship was enjoyable. Nat and Owen had to work a bit, but as they talked and spent more time together they matched in some fun ways, and brought out the best in each other at other times. When things went wrong they were actually often willing to talk about it. The only thing that felt off to me was the ending. Everything worked out in a way that made sense, but it felt like an abrupt shift from a start of something to something major. It was too disjointed for me, but up until then I quite liked it.

[mrs sarah frost · Rating 4 out of 5]

All for show - book 1
Nat is socially awkward and embarrassed of his living conditions and Owen is vulnerable due to a controlling ex! They come together after Nat wins the chance of a kitchen makeover. He needs a back story, to capture the audiences attention, like it would help his relationship if the kitchen was done. That's how Owen comes into the story. They have seen each other before at parties with Nat hiding in the background and Owen joking around to hide his insecurities!
Owens story becomes clearer when Harris his ex gets in touch. Harris controlled Owen and made Owen completely dependable on him. As Nat & Owen get closer can Nat get Owen to see what Harris is like!
On the kitchen reveal day Owen is nowehete to be seen. Will he arrive or will Nat lose his new kitchen? Can both of them overcome their insecurities and get their HEA?

[Lillian Francis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had issues with the first half of the story. Both MCs had rambling internal musings that dragged me from the story. I also didn't feel any chemistry between the MCs. Then the story turned, or maybe it was my understanding of the characters as more was revealed. Suddenly I was rooting for the MCs to make it.

For me it would have benefited from less introspection (especially when in the middle of a conversation), and more dialogue tags. I adored Owen. And the author had a deft hand with a lot of Owen's excellent amusing one liners.

Not quite the romantic comedy I was expecting (although it did have some funny moments). With topics of poor self esteem, depression, and manipulative relationships, this story had more substance than the light and fluffy tale I was expecting.

[Seth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting premise, likable characters, but a total mess in the telling. I wanted it to work, and it had its moments, but the story was jumpy, with some twists that seemed a bit much for a story of its length. With more time to tell the story, perhaps they would have been appropriate, but as it was, it made things seem rushed and too dramatic. Likewise, when they met a resolution rapidly, and we get an afterward-style final few chapters, the overall experience seems rushed and half-baked.

2.5/5 for premise and promise, if not execution, rounded down because being complex, charming, tragic, and interesting, the characters needed more time to be flushed out, so that their actions made sense, and the ending seem legitimately happy, rather than a tacked on afterward.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got ARC for an honest review.

Loved it. Nat and Owen make for a very interesting read. Fake boyfriends story, love fake relationships that turn into real ones. Love how they are total strangers. They go into the fake relationship for the show to change Nat’s broken down old kitchen into a new one.
Smiles, laughter of tears when Nat talks with his dad on the cell phone. Loved it. Priceless.
They start to have dreams or thoughts of each other. A hot shower turns into a very steamy bathroom, for Nat and Owen.
Thought the story was well written and the characters were very likable. Once I open the book up, I couldn’t stop reading it.
Thank you for letting me read your story.

[Amy (I'd Rather Be Sleeping) · Rating 3 out of 5]

If this was a movie, I would so watch it. The story is fluffy and cute and has two of the most anxiety riddle love interests I've ever seen. And it's funny that I love it even more for that. My only problem with it is the last two chapters plus epilogue. There's this big build-up with Owen's ex - who is seriously unpleasant and that is such an understatement - but then everything is resolved off-screen and the problems in the romance it caused are just brushed aside. Super disappointed in that. As for the epilogue...this is only a personal preference, but I don't like it when my romances end with an engagement or wedding. This was talk of an engagement announcement.

[Momma Says: To Read or Not to Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a good story. All For Show is well-written with some great characters. Kane gives us plenty of emotions in this one, dealing with everything from depression and low self-esteem to breaking away from a controlling ex. It's certainly not all serious though, and there were some hilarious, laugh out loud moments. The phone conversation between Nat and his dad was great! Overall, this a story of a fake romance that of course, turns real and it's filled with friendship, attraction, witty dialogue, a sweet dog, and just the right amount of drama to keep things rolling.

[Denise GremoryKohta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!! This is by far my most favorite Rachel Kane book. Nat and Owen are two guys with lots of issues and baggage. Between their fear of getting hurt, extremely low self esteem, and a total douche for an ex, it's no wonder they have to work hard at even faking being boyfriends much less actually be real. I enjoyed this story so much. I was given the privilege and opportunity to receive an advanced reader copy and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review. I highly recommend this book. I think it's depth and genuine characters will surprise you.

[Lori Morse · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy of this book. It was an okay read. I found the insecurities of BOTH characters a little tiring, but I did continue reading. I did enjoy that it was a fairly quick read (I tend to do about a book a day). I kept picturing the dog as a different breed!!! Couldn't get that picture out of my mind. The story is about Nat, who desperately wants a new kitchen. His friend, Rhody, sets him up with a makeover show that likes to have couples--and she connects Nat to Owen (who is still being coddled by his ex, Harris). I am glad that we get the HEA!!!!!

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely, cute reading.

And with one of my favourite tropes, yay! We have this two insecure men, whom we love them so much from the very beginning of the story. The author manages to get us into their heads, and we feel all their fears, and anxiety about letting themselves be vulnerable.

And the writing is so humorous and sweet. And then, we have Mr. Thurgood! Who doesn't love a story with a pet? And he is adorable *laughs*

This was a fantastic read, and I'm going to go looking for more books from this author.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has an interesting storyline, but weak characters. I liked Nat and Owen, but neither has any backbone. The minor characters are very manipulative and make Nat and Owen look even weaker than they are. I liked the story, I just felt really sorry for Nat and Owen. It could have been a much better story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. This is my voluntary and honest opinion of it.

[Sandrutza · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wow so when I've read the plot of this book I was like hmm this is an interesting story .. and then I started to read it .. and it's so boring everything happends so fast you don't have time to know the characters you don't know when they fall in love because there is no time to fell the love story between them.

[Kirbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fake to Real Love

This story was funny, insightful and beautiful Owen and Nat went through the ups and downs of a rocky to start to there relationship with Harris butting into Owen's relationship to Nat needing a new kitchen the fake relationship had a mind of its own but in the end Nat Owen found there way through the crazy into a beautiful relationship

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Both guys are a little weird and I loved it. Their weirdness complimented each other and they brought out the best in each other. They talked and didn't let the crazy manipulative ex get in the way of them finding their happy ending.
***I decided to review an ARC of this book.***

[Tamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took a while to get to like the characters because it took a while to get to know them. But to know them is to love them.

Recommended.

[Simera · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed Nat and Owen. Their relationship started out fake so that Nat could get new kitchen but soon turned oh so real.
I received a copy for an honest review.