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No More Pretending
Alluring screen actress Lauren Langham excels at the roles she plays both on- and off-camera. She’s so good at pretending, in fact, that no one watching her popular rom-coms or dazzling red carpet appearances would assume she was anything but charming, outgoing…and straight.
While preparing to shoot a new film in a small Texas town, Lauren wonders what she would be like if her own life had followed a different script. Then she meets Harper Ward, a waitress at the local diner, whose natural beauty leaves her speechless. Harper mistakes Lauren’s reaction for being stuck up and takes an instant dislike to her.
Like Lauren, Harper isn’t exactly what she seems—and also wonders what her life would be like if family obligations hadn’t turned her world upside down. When the film’s lecherous director hires Harper to work as his assistant, she and Lauren find themselves fighting a powerful attraction that quickly escalates into an overwhelming passion. But where can they go from here?
While preparing to shoot a new film in a small Texas town, Lauren wonders what she would be like if her own life had followed a different script. Then she meets Harper Ward, a waitress at the local diner, whose natural beauty leaves her speechless. Harper mistakes Lauren’s reaction for being stuck up and takes an instant dislike to her.
Like Lauren, Harper isn’t exactly what she seems—and also wonders what her life would be like if family obligations hadn’t turned her world upside down. When the film’s lecherous director hires Harper to work as his assistant, she and Lauren find themselves fighting a powerful attraction that quickly escalates into an overwhelming passion. But where can they go from here?
176 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 5, 2017
9 people are currently reading
127 people want to read
About the author
Bette Hawkins
7 books17 followersBette Hawkins is a social worker who hails from Melbourne Australia. She lives with her long-term girlfriend and their very spoiled dog. In addition to writing, Bette’s favorite pastimes include playing the guitar, watching films, cooking, and reading.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 20, 2017
I must be honest, this book was not on my radar at all. Therefore, it was such a pleasant surprise how much I really enjoyed this. Then to find out this is a debut novel, I'm even more impressed. The book is not perfect, the storyline is not a brand new idea, but boy for a traditional girl meets girl romance, this book really worked for me.
I don't know what it is, but something about romances that involve a movie star falling in love with a girl next door type, are some of my favorites. I normally prefer my romances to involve a mystery plot or take place on another world, but for a traditional type of romance, I enjoy this storyline. This story is about Lauren, a mostly closeted actress, filming on location in a small Texas town. She meets and is instantly attracted to a waitress named Harper. Harper mistakes Lauren's shyness, believing she is stuck up and conceited. It is not a good first impression or second or even third. The more time they spend together, the more feelings develop. Can a relationship between two different people actually work out, or were they doomed from the beginning?
What really surprised me about this book, was how emotionally invested I became in the characters. I mean to the point that they have a fight, and it literally made me choke up. I just really responded well to how Hawkins writes. I absolutely believed in the romantic connection these two characters had.
As I said before this is not a perfect book. I wish the intimate scenes would have been a little more steamy. Some were even the fade to black kind. I personally like more explicit sex scenes because I believe the intimacy shows a stronger connection. The difference in this book, I already believed the connection, so I actually didn't mind as much as I normally would. I think Hawkins has room to grow as a new writer, but honestly I am pretty impressed were she is already. They way she writes is believable and I thought contained good dialog. For me, she successfully "showed" the romantic connection, and that's what I look for in a romance author.
For me personally, this book really worked. I am hopefully readers will be pleasantly surprised at how good this debut novel is. Without a doubt, I will read the next book Hawkins writes.
An ARC was given to me by Bella, for a honest review.
I don't know what it is, but something about romances that involve a movie star falling in love with a girl next door type, are some of my favorites. I normally prefer my romances to involve a mystery plot or take place on another world, but for a traditional type of romance, I enjoy this storyline. This story is about Lauren, a mostly closeted actress, filming on location in a small Texas town. She meets and is instantly attracted to a waitress named Harper. Harper mistakes Lauren's shyness, believing she is stuck up and conceited. It is not a good first impression or second or even third. The more time they spend together, the more feelings develop. Can a relationship between two different people actually work out, or were they doomed from the beginning?
What really surprised me about this book, was how emotionally invested I became in the characters. I mean to the point that they have a fight, and it literally made me choke up. I just really responded well to how Hawkins writes. I absolutely believed in the romantic connection these two characters had.
As I said before this is not a perfect book. I wish the intimate scenes would have been a little more steamy. Some were even the fade to black kind. I personally like more explicit sex scenes because I believe the intimacy shows a stronger connection. The difference in this book, I already believed the connection, so I actually didn't mind as much as I normally would. I think Hawkins has room to grow as a new writer, but honestly I am pretty impressed were she is already. They way she writes is believable and I thought contained good dialog. For me, she successfully "showed" the romantic connection, and that's what I look for in a romance author.
For me personally, this book really worked. I am hopefully readers will be pleasantly surprised at how good this debut novel is. Without a doubt, I will read the next book Hawkins writes.
An ARC was given to me by Bella, for a honest review.
February 25, 2020
“Nobody teaches us or tells us whom to love. It just finds you.”
The romance was very sweet. Nothing earth-shattering but adorable nonetheless. The leads were likable and authentic especially Lauren was quite a refreshing character because usually actors in fiction are shown to be self assured and cocky, so, her awkward and shy personality was very endearing and fit really well with Harper's girl-next-door character. Although the tell not show bothered me a few times, it was still an enjoyable read.
The romance was very sweet. Nothing earth-shattering but adorable nonetheless. The leads were likable and authentic especially Lauren was quite a refreshing character because usually actors in fiction are shown to be self assured and cocky, so, her awkward and shy personality was very endearing and fit really well with Harper's girl-next-door character. Although the tell not show bothered me a few times, it was still an enjoyable read.
July 22, 2017
Nicely done for a debut novel. Solid writing with good dialogue, a nice bunch of secondary characters (including Chester the dog), a well-described setting.
But I had some issues with conflicts between the main characters, as well as their reasons for certain behaviors. The author has created conflicts in a way that make her protagonist actress Lauren Langham quite neurotic and fickle, which are not likable characteristics. On the other side her other protagonist waitress Harper Ward is a bit unnaturally selfless person who is practically destroying her life and career by not at all trying to change the situation in which she found herself. Again, not very likable characteristic in my book, although I believe that the author wanted to achieve just the opposite. I understand that this was done to justify some plot developments and to inject a little bit of needed drama, but it could have been done better and been more convincing. Lack of experience, I believe.
Regardless of my objections, this is a good first novel, I liked it and will certainly read the author's next book.
3.25 stars
July 22, 2017
*A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher.*
But I had some issues with conflicts between the main characters, as well as their reasons for certain behaviors. The author has created conflicts in a way that make her protagonist actress Lauren Langham quite neurotic and fickle, which are not likable characteristics. On the other side her other protagonist waitress Harper Ward is a bit unnaturally selfless person who is practically destroying her life and career by not at all trying to change the situation in which she found herself. Again, not very likable characteristic in my book, although I believe that the author wanted to achieve just the opposite. I understand that this was done to justify some plot developments and to inject a little bit of needed drama, but it could have been done better and been more convincing. Lack of experience, I believe.
Regardless of my objections, this is a good first novel, I liked it and will certainly read the author's next book.
3.25 stars
July 22, 2017
*A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher.*
November 17, 2018
I'm extremely sorry but this didn't work for me at all. If you're interested to read it then please ignore this review and go read the ones with higher ratings.. And if you enjoyed it, let's not rain on each others' parade/agree to disagree.
Lauren Langham - an established actress, earning 6 figures salary, closeted and portrayed as socially awkward.
Harper Ward - a lawyer from NYC turned diner waitress then P.A. returned home to look after her dad and brother after the death of her mum. The dad turned into a whiskey lover but not an alcoholic while the brother only appeared almost at the end of the book.
A lot of things didn't make sense, yeah, it's fiction but sense still matter + the lengthy inner monologues were a total killjoy. I would have been satisfied if they remained as friends instead of a couple as the built-up to the romance was non-existent and the romance itself felt forced..
The 2 stars awarded to Chester the dog, the only character worth reading about. Please correct me if I'm wrong but I think Lauren was still closeted till the end... If I'm right, that's not a HEA.
Lauren Langham - an established actress, earning 6 figures salary, closeted and portrayed as socially awkward.
Harper Ward - a lawyer from NYC turned diner waitress then P.A. returned home to look after her dad and brother after the death of her mum. The dad turned into a whiskey lover but not an alcoholic while the brother only appeared almost at the end of the book.
A lot of things didn't make sense, yeah, it's fiction but sense still matter + the lengthy inner monologues were a total killjoy. I would have been satisfied if they remained as friends instead of a couple as the built-up to the romance was non-existent and the romance itself felt forced..
The 2 stars awarded to Chester the dog, the only character worth reading about. Please correct me if I'm wrong but I think Lauren was still closeted till the end... If I'm right, that's not a HEA.
February 22, 2020
It's the typical closeted actress falls for someone she's not supposed to. It was written beautifully although really predictable. I liked that the conflict was dragged out however because most of what I've read are photo finish love stories with a depth of a spoon. It frustrated me, which is a new and welcomed feeling. Good, quick read.
August 19, 2017
I really enjoyed this very sweet romance between two likable characters. I am rating this 4.5 stars but rounded up for the debut author. I may be being generous but it was just the read I needed at the time and couldn't complain about any aspect. Just hit the mark for me.
March 12, 2018
Okay this is a good book, i guess. I think i really enjoyed the first half of the book. I could see the chemistry between them. But after that, like 60% onward, i felt like, i dont know, they dont really communicate anymore. All they mostly do were going to work, sneaking around than have sex. Seem like it kept dragging until another conflict pop up and things seem awkward for awhile than back to okay again. I feel like it didnt really convincing me much. So i dont know. But well, I like both main characters. I can understand Lauren shyness and got misunderstand on her behavior as a stuck up actress. I am a shy person myself, people tend to think that i am a quiet person, but i actually kind of being playful and tease them to no end, if i know that person well enough. 😅 well, i enjoyed the book.
August 29, 2017
As predicted. DNF. Once the page flipping happened it was doomed. It started off a 5 in the beginning, then the middle of it devolved to a 3... Then. Nope. Sorry. Try again.
January 6, 2022
I picked this up because I’ve enjoyed a couple of Bette Hawkins novels, and I definitely wanted to read more. This is her debut novel and I can say from the outset that she has grown leaps and bounds as an author since this book was published. So if this is your first Hawkins book, she does get better.
No More Pretending revolves around Lauren Langham, a successful actress who’s a little uninspired by her career and also deeply hiding in the closet. She’s awkward and shy and that means in social situations she can come across as rude. And this is the impression Harper, a waitress at the small-town diner where Lauren’s new film is shooting, gets when she first meets Lauren. By contrast, Harper makes no apologies about who she is, even if it does mean she’s a barred NYC lawyer working as a waitress in a diner in her hometown so that she can support her alcoholic father and teenage brother after the premature death of her mother. So she doesn’t take any of Lauren’s shit. But when Harper is hired as the film director’s movie assistant, Harper gets the chance to know the real Lauren and they become inseparable, even if Lauren’s time in town is finite.
I’m giving this two stars because I thought it was, by Goodread’s definition, just “okay.” There’s a lot of potential to this story that just wasn’t quite executed well enough. Lauren and Harper are both likable characters and I was rooting for their love story, but I didn’t feel emotionally connected to them. I thought Hawkins told us they were great loves rather than showing that connection. It felt like a lot of important moments happened between written scenes. The characters also read like very young adults instead of established women around 30 years old that they’re supposed to be here. So there was a very New Adult quality about this book that felt really odd. That’s not a knock on NA as a genre, which I love, but this isn’t a NA novel.
In a half-star world, I would give this 2.5 stars, but I can’t quite justify a full 3 stars, even for a debut novel.
No More Pretending revolves around Lauren Langham, a successful actress who’s a little uninspired by her career and also deeply hiding in the closet. She’s awkward and shy and that means in social situations she can come across as rude. And this is the impression Harper, a waitress at the small-town diner where Lauren’s new film is shooting, gets when she first meets Lauren. By contrast, Harper makes no apologies about who she is, even if it does mean she’s a barred NYC lawyer working as a waitress in a diner in her hometown so that she can support her alcoholic father and teenage brother after the premature death of her mother. So she doesn’t take any of Lauren’s shit. But when Harper is hired as the film director’s movie assistant, Harper gets the chance to know the real Lauren and they become inseparable, even if Lauren’s time in town is finite.
I’m giving this two stars because I thought it was, by Goodread’s definition, just “okay.” There’s a lot of potential to this story that just wasn’t quite executed well enough. Lauren and Harper are both likable characters and I was rooting for their love story, but I didn’t feel emotionally connected to them. I thought Hawkins told us they were great loves rather than showing that connection. It felt like a lot of important moments happened between written scenes. The characters also read like very young adults instead of established women around 30 years old that they’re supposed to be here. So there was a very New Adult quality about this book that felt really odd. That’s not a knock on NA as a genre, which I love, but this isn’t a NA novel.
In a half-star world, I would give this 2.5 stars, but I can’t quite justify a full 3 stars, even for a debut novel.
November 27, 2023
I didn’t know the author Bette Hawkins is Australian until this book. I read her Leading Lady book and I liked it so I proceeded to read the rest of her books.
BH knows how to make the story angsty but good. I appreciate that about her writing style. I love storylines that have mild misunderstandings, hurts, confusion and longing because it makes me physically ill but in a good way. It’s weird but I like the feeling. I’m just so happy there’s another Australian sapphic author out there that’s producing good sapphic content. #supportlocal
August 30, 2017
Boring. Oh, and too much telling not showing!
October 24, 2019
The first one I've read of Bette Hawkins - the style is simplistic and a straight run though the story, so no real levels of complexity - but kept me engrossed. I'll look out for more of hers.
May 16, 2018
Honestly, this story was okay. I liked both main characters, I found most of it believable enough, the writing is not the worst. But I cannot decently rate 2 stars a book that sets such a low bar for men, and makes the women in their lives like/love them despite it, never complain about it, and not even see a real problem with it to the point of not even thinking that there is anything to be forgiven.
First, one of the MCs has a father and almost-adult younger brother who do nothing in the way of housekeeping, despite the father not working and the daughter working full-time to support them. Sure, he's grieving, sure he's an alcoholic, but there is never any tension or comment about any of it, even the highschooler not being able to do his own laundry.
Add on top of that the film director harassing each and every one of his assistants to the point of quitting after a few months, and the book heavily implying that they just needed to stand up to him to earn his respect and have him stop his harassment (like the MC) was nauseating.
First, one of the MCs has a father and almost-adult younger brother who do nothing in the way of housekeeping, despite the father not working and the daughter working full-time to support them. Sure, he's grieving, sure he's an alcoholic, but there is never any tension or comment about any of it, even the highschooler not being able to do his own laundry.
Add on top of that the film director harassing each and every one of his assistants to the point of quitting after a few months, and the book heavily implying that they just needed to stand up to him to earn his respect and have him stop his harassment (like the MC) was nauseating.
October 27, 2017
i liked the dialogue with the main characters. the supporting characters was also great. i enjoyed the developmentof the two main characters was great to be a part of. Enjoyed the consistency of the author with the issue had by Lauren, that it did not disappear magically. And that Harper, brought her own set into the mix.
dnf
January 2, 2021At 31%
October 22, 2021
Good book
I had read this book when it first came out. I read about it on the internet the other day and bought a kindle copy. Forgot how much I enjoyed it.
I had read this book when it first came out. I read about it on the internet the other day and bought a kindle copy. Forgot how much I enjoyed it.
December 14, 2023
Underwhelming.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews