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By Mutual Consent
Dr. Joss McNab needs a wife. As if juggling surgery and being an instructor isn t enough, she s recently taken on a more demanding administrative role at the medical school that was named after her legendary father. To make things worse, she s now required to attend a growing number of galas, fundraisers and conventions. Wouldn t having a wifea wife of conveniencehelp ease the burden that s threatening to overtake her world? Sarah Young s heart belongs to painting. Much as she d like to dismiss Joss s ridiculous proposal, the art world isn t paying well and she s running short on cash. Playing a trophy wife a few hours a week would cover her bills and still leave plenty of time to devote to her artwork. The deal is struck. But will the convenient pairing turn into disaster or prove to be a stroke of genius? With feelings deepening and attraction undeniable, can two women who have agreed to settle discover that they could actually have it all?"
Audiobook
First published January 26, 2016
39 people are currently reading
483 people want to read
About the author
Tracey Richardson
34 books264 followersI'm the author of several lesbian romance novels published by Bella Books, including the Lambda Literary Award finalists "Last Salute" and "No Rules of Engagement". I'm a voracious reader, even more so now that I've retired from a 27-year career as a daily newspaper journalist.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
February 12, 2020
A slowburn fauxmance with a few LOL moments and lots of angst. I tried but this book wasn't for me.
July 4, 2016
I'm surprised how much I really enjoyed this. While the story-line is not anything new, I liked the way the author approached it.
The story is about a busy heart surgeon Joss, whose mother comes up with the idea for her to rent a wife for all her many work functions. Sarah, is a struggling artist who is living off her fathers money as he constantly disparages her. As Sarah's step mother and Joss' mother set up the fake wife deal, we find out if this arrangement will actually work for them or will they cross the lines and fall in love?
I found myself really enjoying both characters, especially Sarah.
The romance was good. The chemistry between the two MC's was wonderful. And boy talk about angst. There is enough that I started to wonder would this book have a happy ending. Now, I'm not always a fan of too much angst, but to me it helped drive this story and was well done.
If you are a fan of a good angst filled romance, don't pass this one up.
The story is about a busy heart surgeon Joss, whose mother comes up with the idea for her to rent a wife for all her many work functions. Sarah, is a struggling artist who is living off her fathers money as he constantly disparages her. As Sarah's step mother and Joss' mother set up the fake wife deal, we find out if this arrangement will actually work for them or will they cross the lines and fall in love?
I found myself really enjoying both characters, especially Sarah.
The romance was good. The chemistry between the two MC's was wonderful. And boy talk about angst. There is enough that I started to wonder would this book have a happy ending. Now, I'm not always a fan of too much angst, but to me it helped drive this story and was well done.
If you are a fan of a good angst filled romance, don't pass this one up.
February 13, 2022
Review of By Mutual Consent by Tracey Richardson, narrated by Lori Prince
3.5 stars.
I've read most of Tracey Richardson's books but I missed this one along the way. As Lori Prince is the narrator, I decided to listen to it. It's not my favourite by this author but it was still a good listen.
Joss McNab is a cardiac surgeon who is too busy to have a relationship but needs someone by her side to help her navigate the social demands of her professional commitments. Sarah Young is the typical struggling artist, so when Joss proposes Sarah to act as her fake date for her social functions in exchange of a good pay, Sarah cannot say no. But a short time into their arrangement, both women discover a mutual attraction that will be hard to ignore.
This is a typical example of the fake relationship trope but with a heavy side of family conflict. Both characters have serious daddy issues and the novel goes beyond their development as a couple to focus also on their each separate journeys to make peace with their own family history.
To be honest, it took me some time to get into the story, at the beginning I wasn't invested in the mains relationship, fake or not. Their arrangement didn't sound credible enough and their initial chemistry didn't feel strong either. As the book progresses and the characters spend more time together, their attraction is more palpable but still, not strong enough for me. Their push-pull didn't help me root for them either.
Lori Prince narrated the audiobook and did a great job as usual. Her performance definitely made this book more enjoyable but still not the best by Ms. Richardson. If you are new to this author, I suggest Thursday Afternoons, Last Salute or Delay of Game.
Length: 8 hours, 46 minutes
Available in Scribd
3.5 stars.
I've read most of Tracey Richardson's books but I missed this one along the way. As Lori Prince is the narrator, I decided to listen to it. It's not my favourite by this author but it was still a good listen.
Joss McNab is a cardiac surgeon who is too busy to have a relationship but needs someone by her side to help her navigate the social demands of her professional commitments. Sarah Young is the typical struggling artist, so when Joss proposes Sarah to act as her fake date for her social functions in exchange of a good pay, Sarah cannot say no. But a short time into their arrangement, both women discover a mutual attraction that will be hard to ignore.
This is a typical example of the fake relationship trope but with a heavy side of family conflict. Both characters have serious daddy issues and the novel goes beyond their development as a couple to focus also on their each separate journeys to make peace with their own family history.
To be honest, it took me some time to get into the story, at the beginning I wasn't invested in the mains relationship, fake or not. Their arrangement didn't sound credible enough and their initial chemistry didn't feel strong either. As the book progresses and the characters spend more time together, their attraction is more palpable but still, not strong enough for me. Their push-pull didn't help me root for them either.
Lori Prince narrated the audiobook and did a great job as usual. Her performance definitely made this book more enjoyable but still not the best by Ms. Richardson. If you are new to this author, I suggest Thursday Afternoons, Last Salute or Delay of Game.
Length: 8 hours, 46 minutes
Available in Scribd
April 17, 2023
3,5 - 4 ⭐️
I listened to the audiobook and whereas the voice for Sarah was perfect and smooth, I found the voice used for Joss and her mother a little bit annoying.
I’ve liked the story more if there wasn’t so much back and forth between the two MCs near the end of the story.
But I did love their chemistry together and that they could push each others bottoms. That made both MCs more rounded and interesting as a person.
I listened to the audiobook and whereas the voice for Sarah was perfect and smooth, I found the voice used for Joss and her mother a little bit annoying.
I’ve liked the story more if there wasn’t so much back and forth between the two MCs near the end of the story.
But I did love their chemistry together and that they could push each others bottoms. That made both MCs more rounded and interesting as a person.
July 14, 2022
4.5
Based on the reviews I was unsure if I should try By Mutual Consent.
I am so glad I did, once again Lori Prince and Tracey Richardson didn’t disappoint me. I often found myself smiling or chuckling as I listened to audiobook. The banter, the connection and the romance all made a wonderful story.
Based on the reviews I was unsure if I should try By Mutual Consent.
I am so glad I did, once again Lori Prince and Tracey Richardson didn’t disappoint me. I often found myself smiling or chuckling as I listened to audiobook. The banter, the connection and the romance all made a wonderful story.
January 6, 2023
I always enjoy the fake dating trope. Bonus points for really good character development throughout and lots of steamy bits.
As always, Lori Prince gets ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ for narration.
As always, Lori Prince gets ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ for narration.
May 22, 2018
This is a somewhat uneven romance. There were things to like, but they were held back by too much drama. The main characters are both nice enough, and I bought into their chemistry with each other, but the parental issues dragged the book down.
There's also an unnecessary pseudo cameo by Erika and Dess (Song in my Heart) complete with an overly long, and incredibly clunky recap of their story.
I was going to give the book kudos for ensuring that the obligatory breakup seemed somewhat organic, but then it veered off into unnecessary misunderstandings, and got bogged down with the resolutions of the parental issues, losing most of its charm. I did thoroughly enjoy Joss and Sarah's relationship and the deepening of it to begin with, but the story went off the rails at about the two thirds mark and then had a somewhat rushed ending.
It's an ok read, still better than a lot of what's out there, but not my favourite Richardson novel.
Spoilers below for those interested in my main grievances.
There's also an unnecessary pseudo cameo by Erika and Dess (Song in my Heart) complete with an overly long, and incredibly clunky recap of their story.
I was going to give the book kudos for ensuring that the obligatory breakup seemed somewhat organic, but then it veered off into unnecessary misunderstandings, and got bogged down with the resolutions of the parental issues, losing most of its charm. I did thoroughly enjoy Joss and Sarah's relationship and the deepening of it to begin with, but the story went off the rails at about the two thirds mark and then had a somewhat rushed ending.
It's an ok read, still better than a lot of what's out there, but not my favourite Richardson novel.
Spoilers below for those interested in my main grievances.
November 29, 2017
For such a predictable story, this book was such a nice surprise! I enjoyed it a lot because it has its own twists in a plot that we are so used to :) both characters are so like-able and the connection is incredible between them.. it's a smooth and fun read :)
September 18, 2020
3.5 stars. I enjoyed this fauxmance. It is not a surprising storyline, but it is solid, well written and the characters were very likeable with good chemistry.
December 28, 2020
High 3+ ⭐️
I wasn’t sure whether I’ll like the book when I first read it. But as I read it, story grew on me. Story is about commitment-shy Joss and vivacious-artsy Sarah; personality-wise, they are opposite and yet complements each other. Both got into a fake-relationship cos Joss needed someone by her side when out attending conferences, entertaining (and the likes) while Sarah needed the money. Some angst along the way and a HEA at the end of it (duh!)
Overall.... I liked it 😊
I wasn’t sure whether I’ll like the book when I first read it. But as I read it, story grew on me. Story is about commitment-shy Joss and vivacious-artsy Sarah; personality-wise, they are opposite and yet complements each other. Both got into a fake-relationship cos Joss needed someone by her side when out attending conferences, entertaining (and the likes) while Sarah needed the money. Some angst along the way and a HEA at the end of it (duh!)
Overall.... I liked it 😊
did-not-finish
December 31, 2020It just felt uninspired to me. The couples entire dynamic seem to be "OMG You're hot!" and each fantasizing about having sex. Especially from Joss' perspective. The amount of times she's just looking at Sarah and internally monologuing the ways she wants to take her sexually had me eye-rolling so hard. It wasn't charming or romantic to me. It was desperate and kinda seedy actually! If her character had been a man doing that, we would be feeling far more uncomfortable about it.
The characters themselves weren't likable. Sarah herself is being funded by her rich Daddy until he decides to cut her off (which I don't blame him one bit) and she refuses to look for other work because it won't give her time for painting. Sorry love, that's the breaks. I know artists with real talent, and unfortunately most indeed do have to suck it up and have jobs to pay the bills.
Each character came off as incredibly spoiled rich girls playing at life and having no real issues and making drama for themselves with this fauxmance relationship.
I didn't feel good about it, so I didn't finish.
The characters themselves weren't likable. Sarah herself is being funded by her rich Daddy until he decides to cut her off (which I don't blame him one bit) and she refuses to look for other work because it won't give her time for painting. Sorry love, that's the breaks. I know artists with real talent, and unfortunately most indeed do have to suck it up and have jobs to pay the bills.
Each character came off as incredibly spoiled rich girls playing at life and having no real issues and making drama for themselves with this fauxmance relationship.
I didn't feel good about it, so I didn't finish.
November 9, 2017
Pretty standard, good enough for passing some time.
October 12, 2022
Joss McNab and Sarah Young both have issues with their fathers stemming from childhood. Joss's dad chose his career over his family and Joss did everything she could to get his attention. Sarah's father has never taken her love of art seriously. She always feels like she doesn't measure up. Sarah makes the perfect fake girlfriend because she knows how to minge and make small talk at functions. Joss hates to go and taking Sarah makes them enjoyable. The push/pull between them goes on through most of the story. I got so involved a yelled at both of them to stop being so stupid. I loved it and the narrator Lori Prince is the best.
February 11, 2017
A good romance worth reading. I enjoyed it and liked the main characters.
January 28, 2016
I liked this book a whole lot. I don't think I've seen a relationship of convenience in lesfic before. I also really liked the idea of a poor girl from a rich background.
Full review here: http://www.thelesbianreview.com/by-mu...
Full review here: http://www.thelesbianreview.com/by-mu...
December 29, 2018
I really wanted to like this one, but there was too much drama for my tastes. It's definitely not bad, but I don't know would I recommend it.
October 11, 2016
I liked the characters very much. It felt like a book I've read before, but I haven't read it before. So I guess maybe the fact that there was no surprises is why I give it 3 stars. The content was well written, but I think if the story didn't go the expected way it would have been more exciting. The more intimate scenes (sex) were well done and fit I with the story, not just there to have sex scenes.
February 9, 2016
You will like this book if you enjoyed Pretty Woman (the movie)
February 26, 2016
Nice. No more and no less than a very nice story. I liked specially the 'poor rich girl'.
June 16, 2025
3.75⭐
I wanted to give this 4 stars so badly but it just isn't that great.
I really adored a big portion of this book, even considered a 5 star after I got into the audiobook, but in the latter half there were just too many things I didn't enjoy.
Towards the end it really dragged - I just wanted to see them together, doing cute couple things or something.
Instead I got family drama and constant back and forth.
The ending was also disappointing.
Throughout the book they mostly had sex and it took SO long until they finally became a couple.
I would have just liked to see them as a couple, going on dates or just doing something else besides fucking, arguing and their angsty conversations.
I did like the characters, individually and together.
They argued a little too much for my liking.
I liked most of the side characters too.
The narrator was a bit annoying at times, especially at the beginning - I was actually close to DNFing then.
I'll buy the physical copy and reread it eventually, maybe I'll enjoy it even more.
If you're looking for a good fake dating plot - this isn't it.
The fake dating isn't really developed and not a big part of this.
You don't see them actually trying to convince people that they're dating or anything.
I wanted to give this 4 stars so badly but it just isn't that great.
I really adored a big portion of this book, even considered a 5 star after I got into the audiobook, but in the latter half there were just too many things I didn't enjoy.
Towards the end it really dragged - I just wanted to see them together, doing cute couple things or something.
Instead I got family drama and constant back and forth.
The ending was also disappointing.
Throughout the book they mostly had sex and it took SO long until they finally became a couple.
I would have just liked to see them as a couple, going on dates or just doing something else besides fucking, arguing and their angsty conversations.
I did like the characters, individually and together.
They argued a little too much for my liking.
I liked most of the side characters too.
The narrator was a bit annoying at times, especially at the beginning - I was actually close to DNFing then.
I'll buy the physical copy and reread it eventually, maybe I'll enjoy it even more.
If you're looking for a good fake dating plot - this isn't it.
The fake dating isn't really developed and not a big part of this.
You don't see them actually trying to convince people that they're dating or anything.
July 21, 2020
3.75 Stars. Lori Prince did this and I pretty much enjoyed it. Her voice of main Joss did irk me some.
October 24, 2023
Some parts of this book I really really liked; some parts of it I feel deeply ambivalent about. The rating that I've landed on still feels a bit low, because the writing quality and everything was pretty good, but I just didn't connect with the characters or plot as much as I wanted to.
Like so many other fake dating books, the premise for this one left me kinda like... okay. Joss is a talented, introverted doctor who hates all the schmoozing and socialising that she's expected to do at parties and events. Her mother convinces her to get a sort of escort/fake girlfriend; a woman to have on her arm who can take some of that social pressure off. Sarah, a struggling artist, ends up being that woman, and the fake dating of course turns into a real romance. Both characters had their good points, but I struggled with them both. It feels silly/churlish to be annoyed by this, but every time a character in a book gets mad about possibly being perceived as a sex worker, or insults sex work in some way, I just get really annoyed. Both Sarah and Joss were kind of irritating in their views about this, with their insistence that Sarah DEFINITELY wasn't an escort or whatever. Like, who cares? They both had latent issues with their father that they need to work out, and that was well-written for the most part, but at a certain point it felt like there was no barrier to the relationship, except Joss being all 'I can't be in a relationship because I know I won't be good at it because something something my parents something reasons.' It wasn't compelling. The writing was mostly pretty good, except several times there would be certain passages of dialogue or internal monologue that REALLY did not fit, and would have worked better as prose. The one I keep thinking of is Sarah thinking to herself, 'I can't last much longer, dammit. Not in this state of heightened arousal.' Haha what? Who thinks like that? No really, when was the last you described yourself in your own head as being in a 'state of heightened arousal'??? Huh???
Okay, now I'm just nit-picking; someone better vaudeville hook me off the stage.
The writing otherwise was good, other than a few quirks here and here that made me tilt my head. I really liked the subplot with Roxie, and how they bonded with and through her. They had really good chemistry, and if I'm being honest, the sex scenes are where the writing shone the most? For me, at least. Very visceral; did a good job of showing their connection without going overboard. In general, the book was a fun time, and did get me emotional a couple times, but the deep intensity that I wanted wasn't there. And again, I just didn't like the characters all that much.
Listened to the audiobook as read by Lori Prince, who was fantastic as always. Her voice for Sarah made her soooooo swoony. This was my first read from this author, and I'm intrigued enough to want to try some more. All of her books seem pretty different, so maybe a different sub-genre will work for me.
Like so many other fake dating books, the premise for this one left me kinda like... okay. Joss is a talented, introverted doctor who hates all the schmoozing and socialising that she's expected to do at parties and events. Her mother convinces her to get a sort of escort/fake girlfriend; a woman to have on her arm who can take some of that social pressure off. Sarah, a struggling artist, ends up being that woman, and the fake dating of course turns into a real romance. Both characters had their good points, but I struggled with them both. It feels silly/churlish to be annoyed by this, but every time a character in a book gets mad about possibly being perceived as a sex worker, or insults sex work in some way, I just get really annoyed. Both Sarah and Joss were kind of irritating in their views about this, with their insistence that Sarah DEFINITELY wasn't an escort or whatever. Like, who cares? They both had latent issues with their father that they need to work out, and that was well-written for the most part, but at a certain point it felt like there was no barrier to the relationship, except Joss being all 'I can't be in a relationship because I know I won't be good at it because something something my parents something reasons.' It wasn't compelling. The writing was mostly pretty good, except several times there would be certain passages of dialogue or internal monologue that REALLY did not fit, and would have worked better as prose. The one I keep thinking of is Sarah thinking to herself, 'I can't last much longer, dammit. Not in this state of heightened arousal.' Haha what? Who thinks like that? No really, when was the last you described yourself in your own head as being in a 'state of heightened arousal'??? Huh???
Okay, now I'm just nit-picking; someone better vaudeville hook me off the stage.
The writing otherwise was good, other than a few quirks here and here that made me tilt my head. I really liked the subplot with Roxie, and how they bonded with and through her. They had really good chemistry, and if I'm being honest, the sex scenes are where the writing shone the most? For me, at least. Very visceral; did a good job of showing their connection without going overboard. In general, the book was a fun time, and did get me emotional a couple times, but the deep intensity that I wanted wasn't there. And again, I just didn't like the characters all that much.
Listened to the audiobook as read by Lori Prince, who was fantastic as always. Her voice for Sarah made her soooooo swoony. This was my first read from this author, and I'm intrigued enough to want to try some more. All of her books seem pretty different, so maybe a different sub-genre will work for me.
March 2, 2021
For me this book was insta-lust, that just never made it past that. I didn't feel any emotional connection just physical. They were in the room of a dying 9 year old and the book delves into their lusting for each other...The characters themselves were fine, unless they were around each other and then neither one could have any honest conversation with the other and anytime they did talk about their lives and ask questions, Sarah had raging angry fits both in her head and verbally at Joss when nothing Joss said was mean, hateful, or deserved those responses. And then comes the back maybe half or third of the book where they refuse to talk to one another. There was just this back & forth between them and their families that threw me into a YA or tellanovella, which other people may enjoy but just didn't work for me. I just found their relationship very shallow.
January 31, 2021
2/5 stars
I am devastated that I didn't like this book as much as I wanted to. I love fauxmance in romance books, so on paper this book seems to be everything that I wanted. There was nothing in this book that I didn't like per say, but I was completely uninterested in the book from the beginning. I didn't feel connected to the characters at all, I was not convinced of their romance and I found the plot to be largely unmemorable. Maybe this one was just not for me, considering this book seems to be well-loved in the lesfic community. This is my first book by Richardson, but I have a couple of others by her on my TBR. Considering the writing style was good, I am hoping that my dislike of this one was just an unfortunate one-off and I enjoy the other books by this author.
I am devastated that I didn't like this book as much as I wanted to. I love fauxmance in romance books, so on paper this book seems to be everything that I wanted. There was nothing in this book that I didn't like per say, but I was completely uninterested in the book from the beginning. I didn't feel connected to the characters at all, I was not convinced of their romance and I found the plot to be largely unmemorable. Maybe this one was just not for me, considering this book seems to be well-loved in the lesfic community. This is my first book by Richardson, but I have a couple of others by her on my TBR. Considering the writing style was good, I am hoping that my dislike of this one was just an unfortunate one-off and I enjoy the other books by this author.
July 13, 2016
This book was ok. I liked the character of Sarah. I did not like Joss, however. I thought Sarah should have run for her life from Joss.
February 13, 2024
A good book, brokered love with lots of Daddy issues. She writes very well, recommended.
February 15, 2024
This was a light read. It started out great, but eventually all the internal angst and monologuing got too much, I started to skip parts just to get to the dialogues.
June 12, 2022
3.7 star rating
An intitial convenient relationship turns amorous and infuriating is what this story is about. The whole ' I can't be distracted or dependent ' persona is at play here and obviously the character's reading had me wishing I can go knock her head a bit to put some sense....gladly the story had the ending romantic hopeful like me anticipate.
An intitial convenient relationship turns amorous and infuriating is what this story is about. The whole ' I can't be distracted or dependent ' persona is at play here and obviously the character's reading had me wishing I can go knock her head a bit to put some sense....gladly the story had the ending romantic hopeful like me anticipate.
June 16, 2020
3.75 Stars (audible version)- Started really strong, but angst dragged on too long - excellent narrator
Hot surgeon needs a "wife" to help with all the personal appearances required by a promotion. Personable and gorgeous artist needs income after her father decides to cut her off.
I really liked the first half of the book. Both characters are interesting and the chemistry was believable. I am a big fan of "fauxmance" so I was all-in. I would have liked a few more fauxmance scenes, about half the angst and an epilogue (if you have been reading my reviews you know I love me a good epilogue). I think the angst was believable, but again just to long. I kept wishing for Joss to pull her head outta her behind and surprise Sarah some grand romantic gesture. When she does finally figure it out the ending is very satisfying.
I did like the book and the characters and will probably listen again at some point. Lori Prince does a great job narrating, as usual.
Hot surgeon needs a "wife" to help with all the personal appearances required by a promotion. Personable and gorgeous artist needs income after her father decides to cut her off.
I really liked the first half of the book. Both characters are interesting and the chemistry was believable. I am a big fan of "fauxmance" so I was all-in. I would have liked a few more fauxmance scenes, about half the angst and an epilogue (if you have been reading my reviews you know I love me a good epilogue). I think the angst was believable, but again just to long. I kept wishing for Joss to pull her head outta her behind and surprise Sarah some grand romantic gesture. When she does finally figure it out the ending is very satisfying.
I did like the book and the characters and will probably listen again at some point. Lori Prince does a great job narrating, as usual.
January 31, 2016
Detailed score: 3.5
Quick review:
A true 3.5 star book. Much more pwoarrr than I expected given the blurb and the awful front cover. Also more instalove than I expected.
A real guilty pleasure - I kinda hated myself for liking it as much as I did. The thin basis for angst is stretched out for a few chapters too long though.
Quick review:
A true 3.5 star book. Much more pwoarrr than I expected given the blurb and the awful front cover. Also more instalove than I expected.
A real guilty pleasure - I kinda hated myself for liking it as much as I did. The thin basis for angst is stretched out for a few chapters too long though.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews