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Good Spin
Public Relations expert Emery Bates has exactly one problem she’s willing to admit, and it’s that she doesn’t have a girlfriend to take as her date to a wedding. Not because she needs a girlfriend, but because she needs an easier way to come out to college friends that she hasn’t seen in five years. Her job is about controlling the narrative, and as she sees it, there's no reason why that can't extend to her personal life. When her next door neighbor ends up single a few weeks before the wedding, problem solver Emery realizes inviting Jordan along and faking romance for a week in Hawaii could be perfect for both of them.
Jordan Davis doesn’t worry about much, especially what will happen tomorrow. Life’s too short to plan every second, and it usually doesn’t work out anyway. When Emery invites her on an all-expenses paid trip to Hawaii, it’s not a hard sell. She’ll get to enjoy a tropical vacation with one of her closest friends, and she’ll get to spend more time with Emery, away from Emery’s hectic work schedule back in Austin.
But, there’s more to the request than Emery’s letting on, and there’s more to Jordan’s willingness to help than she wants to admit. It’s only eight days, but time passes differently when there’s nowhere to be and nowhere to hide. Faking it is all about the spin, but when lines begin to blur, both women have to decide if falling in love for real is worth the jump.
Jordan Davis doesn’t worry about much, especially what will happen tomorrow. Life’s too short to plan every second, and it usually doesn’t work out anyway. When Emery invites her on an all-expenses paid trip to Hawaii, it’s not a hard sell. She’ll get to enjoy a tropical vacation with one of her closest friends, and she’ll get to spend more time with Emery, away from Emery’s hectic work schedule back in Austin.
But, there’s more to the request than Emery’s letting on, and there’s more to Jordan’s willingness to help than she wants to admit. It’s only eight days, but time passes differently when there’s nowhere to be and nowhere to hide. Faking it is all about the spin, but when lines begin to blur, both women have to decide if falling in love for real is worth the jump.
8 pages, Audible Audio
First published June 12, 2019
254 people are currently reading
646 people want to read
About the author
Monica McCallan
17 books1,461 followersMonica McCallan was an enthusiastic fan of romance novels before she began writing them.
Writing is her passion project, and she currently lives in Philadelphia, working at a startup which gives her lots of great inspiration for the settings and storylines of her contemporary romance novels.
She lives with her partner and two tiny dogs, cannot parallel park to save her life, enjoys playing pool a few times a week, and has enjoyed every second of the craft beer explosion these last few years.
Join her mailing list here: http://bit.ly/MonicaMcCallanLesfic
Writing is her passion project, and she currently lives in Philadelphia, working at a startup which gives her lots of great inspiration for the settings and storylines of her contemporary romance novels.
She lives with her partner and two tiny dogs, cannot parallel park to save her life, enjoys playing pool a few times a week, and has enjoyed every second of the craft beer explosion these last few years.
Join her mailing list here: http://bit.ly/MonicaMcCallanLesfic
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
February 22, 2020
Okay read!
How slow can the built-up get to them being romantic -- way way slow --- a bit frustrating at times. Think some parts needed omitting -- and i could not connect with either leading character. Chemistry, meh! but guess it's still readable to some readers.
How slow can the built-up get to them being romantic -- way way slow --- a bit frustrating at times. Think some parts needed omitting -- and i could not connect with either leading character. Chemistry, meh! but guess it's still readable to some readers.
June 15, 2019
A breezy fake romance.
Emery has a problem. She has to attend a wedding where all of her college buddies will be together for the first time in 5 years. She convinces her hot friend, Jordan, to accompany her to Hawaii and pretend that they are dating so that she can essentially come out by ripping the band-aid off rather than having to have individual conversations with all of them.
This was a very slow burn romance. The two of them dutifully met with friends as a faux couple in a plethora of different settings. The moments spent alone were filled with light touches, close proximity, and a lot of internal monologues about how they shouldn't be feeling this way and that they are just confused because of the fake girlfriend situation.
I definitely liked how tactile they were with each other. It was sweet how they would be automatically be drawn to each other and fought so hard against it.
At first I thought that the reasoning for needing a pretend girlfriend was weak. I was able to get beyond that and enjoy the book. But I later found out that all was not as entirely seems and it made more sense.
And that led to the 80% mark angst. No complaints from me as I love that! But just calling it out for those who don't.
McCallan writes in a unique way. I can't really pin it down. It isn't overly descriptive per say, but there will be a piece of dialogue that requires some kind of answer. Then there will be a tangent of writing before the answering dialogue appears. And I will have forgotten what the preceding sentence/question was and have to go back.
Overall this was a quick and easy read with one of my favorite tropes.
I recommend this to people who like fake romance, real romance, Hawaii, beaches, weddings, purple hair, and rompers.
Emery has a problem. She has to attend a wedding where all of her college buddies will be together for the first time in 5 years. She convinces her hot friend, Jordan, to accompany her to Hawaii and pretend that they are dating so that she can essentially come out by ripping the band-aid off rather than having to have individual conversations with all of them.
This was a very slow burn romance. The two of them dutifully met with friends as a faux couple in a plethora of different settings. The moments spent alone were filled with light touches, close proximity, and a lot of internal monologues about how they shouldn't be feeling this way and that they are just confused because of the fake girlfriend situation.
I definitely liked how tactile they were with each other. It was sweet how they would be automatically be drawn to each other and fought so hard against it.
At first I thought that the reasoning for needing a pretend girlfriend was weak. I was able to get beyond that and enjoy the book. But I later found out that all was not as entirely seems and it made more sense.
And that led to the 80% mark angst. No complaints from me as I love that! But just calling it out for those who don't.
McCallan writes in a unique way. I can't really pin it down. It isn't overly descriptive per say, but there will be a piece of dialogue that requires some kind of answer. Then there will be a tangent of writing before the answering dialogue appears. And I will have forgotten what the preceding sentence/question was and have to go back.
Overall this was a quick and easy read with one of my favorite tropes.
I recommend this to people who like fake romance, real romance, Hawaii, beaches, weddings, purple hair, and rompers.
February 3, 2021
What this book taught us: there is something that can be termed as ‘long hot’ burn rather than slow burn. More than half the book is all about the longing that the two MCs have for each other, but all those pesky, uncontrollable emotions are bursting across two or three days. The number of pages devoted to the growing feelings that need to be controlled are enough to make it seem like slow burn but it is more like ‘fast and hot’ burn in terms of the span of time in the book.
Read the review @ https://bestlesficreviews.blogspot.co...
Read the review @ https://bestlesficreviews.blogspot.co...
March 8, 2022
This was an ok read. Unfortunately I couldn't really connect with the main characters and as a character driven reader this made the book a bit less enjoyable for me.
I did like the writing and the fake romance though. The setting in Hawaii was also pretty nice.
I did like the writing and the fake romance though. The setting in Hawaii was also pretty nice.
July 21, 2019
If you like fake romance and friends-to-lover... then perhaps you may like and enjoy the book. Book was easy to read and I enjoyed reading it but I must admit that I skimmed through some of the pages, mainly the first half of the book - the pull and push factor at times just bored me. The second half of the book was more interesting. The first real kiss between Emery and Jordan at the bar was sensuous and aptly described! A little angst thrown in and all is well at the end; though I would have like the V in the story got a little more rebuked - seems like V got off lightly for being such a B@!$H
3.5 🌟
3.5 🌟
July 28, 2022
ETA: audiobook re-read:
just as much, if not more fun in audio form. lori prince with monica mccallan is one of my fav author/narrator combos, and this was lovely. the voices for everyone hit perfectly, and it only added to my enjoyment of the characters and their chemistry even more. def a good one to pick up!
~~~~~~~~~~
this was a fun fake romance story. fake romance is one of my favorite tropes and this puts it into a pretty believable setting and does a good job of telling the love story. i found both MCs likable and interesting, and watching them tip toe around each other and figure their feelings out was fun. i wavered a little between a 3 and a 4 rating for this one, because while i liked it i don't know that it's one of my favorites, but i had a good enough time reading it that i thought it would feel somewhat disingenuous to rate it lower. though, i would say i rounded up slightly and this hovers a little closer to a 3.75ish for me.
just as much, if not more fun in audio form. lori prince with monica mccallan is one of my fav author/narrator combos, and this was lovely. the voices for everyone hit perfectly, and it only added to my enjoyment of the characters and their chemistry even more. def a good one to pick up!
~~~~~~~~~~
this was a fun fake romance story. fake romance is one of my favorite tropes and this puts it into a pretty believable setting and does a good job of telling the love story. i found both MCs likable and interesting, and watching them tip toe around each other and figure their feelings out was fun. i wavered a little between a 3 and a 4 rating for this one, because while i liked it i don't know that it's one of my favorites, but i had a good enough time reading it that i thought it would feel somewhat disingenuous to rate it lower. though, i would say i rounded up slightly and this hovers a little closer to a 3.75ish for me.
July 4, 2019
3.5 stars. I'm more critical now and don't want to give a four-star rating just because I finished the story. I do think Ms. McCallan has skill in writing and I was engaged, especially in the beginning.
I liked this story in that it had a depth to it and the characters were real enough. I like flawed characters but this story had too much up and down with that lead character. I would have cut out some of that as she bordered at times on the unlikeable.
So one was was flawed, damaged emotionally and the other main was a little too perfect by comparison (and forgiving, to be honest) but overall this was a story I enjoyed reading, and a KU to boot. I have questions about some of the logic of elements of the story making it less "real" to me, but discussing that opinion would have too many spoilers. It's a romance. How much logic would make it a better story?
I liked this story in that it had a depth to it and the characters were real enough. I like flawed characters but this story had too much up and down with that lead character. I would have cut out some of that as she bordered at times on the unlikeable.
So one was was flawed, damaged emotionally and the other main was a little too perfect by comparison (and forgiving, to be honest) but overall this was a story I enjoyed reading, and a KU to boot. I have questions about some of the logic of elements of the story making it less "real" to me, but discussing that opinion would have too many spoilers. It's a romance. How much logic would make it a better story?
July 5, 2019
PR superstar Emery is going to Hawaii for her college friends wedding, but there are two problems with it. Firstly, she hasn’t seen them in five years and they don’t know she’s gay, and secondly, she’s single. The idea of showing up to this wedding alone and with her news is all too much for Emery. Jordan is Emery’s neighbour and close friend, and she’s also about to become Emery’s knight in shining armour. Jordan agrees to be her fake girlfriend, holding Emery’s hand while she comes out to her friends. This was all going to be fine until they realise that while faking a relationship, they are actually pretty perfect for one another. Are their feelings all because they are on holiday and away from their life???
The pace of the book was perfect. I really loved the fact I didn’t want to jump to the next chapter as it was so enjoyable. Jordan was definitely my favourite character and I was so excited every time she would just be upfront with Emery. By the end, I was excited about Emery and Jordan’s future and swooning so hard I was almost falling over.
The chemistry between Emery and Jordan is present even before they notice each other romantically. In fact, it was like a little fire that just got bigger and bigger until it combusted, resulting in them falling into bed together. Then it was blazin’! They definitely enjoyed each other between smouldering gazes and tactile caresses. As much as they tried to not fall for each other, it was inevitable. Hashtag Soulmates!
This book was great, and I can’t wait to reread it again soon. Monica McCallan is someone to watch in Lesbian Fiction and I can only see great things ahead.
The pace of the book was perfect. I really loved the fact I didn’t want to jump to the next chapter as it was so enjoyable. Jordan was definitely my favourite character and I was so excited every time she would just be upfront with Emery. By the end, I was excited about Emery and Jordan’s future and swooning so hard I was almost falling over.
The chemistry between Emery and Jordan is present even before they notice each other romantically. In fact, it was like a little fire that just got bigger and bigger until it combusted, resulting in them falling into bed together. Then it was blazin’! They definitely enjoyed each other between smouldering gazes and tactile caresses. As much as they tried to not fall for each other, it was inevitable. Hashtag Soulmates!
This book was great, and I can’t wait to reread it again soon. Monica McCallan is someone to watch in Lesbian Fiction and I can only see great things ahead.
June 17, 2019
Good Spin ticks off all the lesfic boxes, but it's done very stylishly.
Best friends. Check. Fake girlfriends. Check. Vacation romance. Check. Gorgeous women. Check. Hidden truths. Check. Workaholic. Check. Homophobic parents and ex-girlfriend. Check.
It was really good lesbian romance by one of my favourite writers. Check!
Best friends. Check. Fake girlfriends. Check. Vacation romance. Check. Gorgeous women. Check. Hidden truths. Check. Workaholic. Check. Homophobic parents and ex-girlfriend. Check.
It was really good lesbian romance by one of my favourite writers. Check!
March 29, 2022
This is the second book I've read by this author. The first book I read by them, Flaw in Our Design, I rated 5+ stars. Then . . . I took forever to read another book by them. Instead of gobbling up everything by them. Well, this was what I read next roughly 8 or 9 months after reading the other.
This is one of those fake relationship/pretend relationship type books. I thought I had a pretend relationship shelf, but apparently I don't. Relationship of convenience isn't the same thing. pfft.
Right, so, two point of view characters. Next door neighbors who got to know each other and develop a friendship, though it is surface deep (as both come to realize). One of them, Emery Bates, has an upcoming wedding to attend in Hawaii. Both a wedding event and a reunion of old college friends Emery hasn't seen in years. For . . . reasons. Not wanting to go to the wedding by herself, and figuring it'd be easier to "come out" as lesbian to her friends by going to the event with a girlfriend, she asks her friend Jordan Davis to come with her and pretend to be her girlfriend. So that's the set up.
The book had a few good moments. And some elements of both main characters that were interesting, but I kind of didn't like Emery. I think. It has been about 9 days since I read the book. Which is the same length of time it took me to read the book (9 days is super slow for me).
hmm. Not sure what all else to note. Vacation in Hawaii; pretend relationship; wedding event; friend reunion; etc. etc.
ETA: Hawaii: There are scenes by a pool that could have happened at any hotel that had a pool (well, more any resort with a pool); running on the beach that, again, could have happened on any beach; a hike to a secluded spot was better at conveying "this is Hawaii", though could have happened in Costa Rica and . . . for a book that mostly takes place in Hawaii, there was enough there to indicate "a vacation spot/resort type situation with a beach and a nearby jungle" but not a lot of much to scream "must be Hawaii".
Rating: 3
March 29 2022
This is one of those fake relationship/pretend relationship type books. I thought I had a pretend relationship shelf, but apparently I don't. Relationship of convenience isn't the same thing. pfft.
Right, so, two point of view characters. Next door neighbors who got to know each other and develop a friendship, though it is surface deep (as both come to realize). One of them, Emery Bates, has an upcoming wedding to attend in Hawaii. Both a wedding event and a reunion of old college friends Emery hasn't seen in years. For . . . reasons. Not wanting to go to the wedding by herself, and figuring it'd be easier to "come out" as lesbian to her friends by going to the event with a girlfriend, she asks her friend Jordan Davis to come with her and pretend to be her girlfriend. So that's the set up.
The book had a few good moments. And some elements of both main characters that were interesting, but I kind of didn't like Emery. I think. It has been about 9 days since I read the book. Which is the same length of time it took me to read the book (9 days is super slow for me).
hmm. Not sure what all else to note. Vacation in Hawaii; pretend relationship; wedding event; friend reunion; etc. etc.
ETA: Hawaii: There are scenes by a pool that could have happened at any hotel that had a pool (well, more any resort with a pool); running on the beach that, again, could have happened on any beach; a hike to a secluded spot was better at conveying "this is Hawaii", though could have happened in Costa Rica and . . . for a book that mostly takes place in Hawaii, there was enough there to indicate "a vacation spot/resort type situation with a beach and a nearby jungle" but not a lot of much to scream "must be Hawaii".
Rating: 3
March 29 2022
July 22, 2019
This is somewhere between 3 and 4 stars for me.
Workaholic Emery asks her best (only) friend and neighbour Jordan to go to Hawaii with her. Why? She is attending the wedding of one of her college friends and thinks that being accompanied by a girlfriend will make for an easy way to come out to her friends. Can’t argue with that logic.
Well, you might guess what’s going to happen... We travel with the pair to Hawaii and enjoy the sun, beaches, bikinis, booze and increasing attraction. They get more stunning and attractive as the days pass. Possibly because of their growing or no longer repressed feelings. And possibly for no reason that makes sense at all. In chapter 1 they sounded normal but by chapter 6 they were more supermodel than human and by the end we have reached full divinity. I guess love does that for you.
I love the fake relationship trope. And we get to see the story unfold from both their points of view. So that’s nice. And a bit confusing to read at times because we switch viewpoint so often.
All these pages spent inside Emery’s and Jordan’s heads as they lust after the other in various skimpy outfits is very entertaining. There is the amount of angst you’d expect when they can’t be sure what’s fake and what’s real. The setting is fun. They are hard to dislike. It’s an easy read that might not blow you away but it’s very... nice.
And free on KU. So, why not?
Workaholic Emery asks her best (only) friend and neighbour Jordan to go to Hawaii with her. Why? She is attending the wedding of one of her college friends and thinks that being accompanied by a girlfriend will make for an easy way to come out to her friends. Can’t argue with that logic.
Well, you might guess what’s going to happen... We travel with the pair to Hawaii and enjoy the sun, beaches, bikinis, booze and increasing attraction. They get more stunning and attractive as the days pass. Possibly because of their growing or no longer repressed feelings. And possibly for no reason that makes sense at all. In chapter 1 they sounded normal but by chapter 6 they were more supermodel than human and by the end we have reached full divinity. I guess love does that for you.
I love the fake relationship trope. And we get to see the story unfold from both their points of view. So that’s nice. And a bit confusing to read at times because we switch viewpoint so often.
All these pages spent inside Emery’s and Jordan’s heads as they lust after the other in various skimpy outfits is very entertaining. There is the amount of angst you’d expect when they can’t be sure what’s fake and what’s real. The setting is fun. They are hard to dislike. It’s an easy read that might not blow you away but it’s very... nice.
And free on KU. So, why not?
April 10, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed Lori Prince's beautiful narration of this book. It was a great friends-to-lovers, fake-dating story. I definitely recommend it.
Star rating. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice rating. 🔥🔥🔥
Star rating. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice rating. 🔥🔥🔥
March 22, 2021
This is a typical book that I would have loved to have half stars available for, 3 stars seem too low, but 4 too high. It's a solid 3.5 and I enjoyed this piece of escapism, I think it is the setting, who wouldn't want to go to Hawaii? I'd even pretend to be your girlfriend, no problem.
Emery is invited to the wedding of a college friend. She hasn't seen her college friends in 5 years, despite they made all the promises of not losing contact. She hasn't come out to them yet and she came up with the brilliant idea to bring a fake girlfriend to make it easier. Who better to fill the role of fake girlfriend than her best friend and neighbour Jordan. Jordan is a go-with-the-flow and seemingly carefree person. She's happy to help her good friend Emery even if it might make things harder for herself.
At some point I got so frustrated with these characters I just wanted to scream at them to get their shit together and just get together for real. But looking at it from a story perspective I understand why it took a little while, why we read about their inner doubts and feelings before one of them finally made a move. The story does have some holes here and there that could have been picked up by a sharp editor, but overall I enjoyed the story. I like both characters and how different they are. The supporting characters, Emery's friends, and the hotel bartender are a nice bit of comic relief. I also appreciate the charaters communicating throughout the story, unfortunately, this is still a rare sight. Their communication wasn't always the best, but they tried, just like in real life. I would categorise this as a friends to lovers romance, with fake girlfriend added to the mix to have an ephinay, it's a good trope ;)
Emery is invited to the wedding of a college friend. She hasn't seen her college friends in 5 years, despite they made all the promises of not losing contact. She hasn't come out to them yet and she came up with the brilliant idea to bring a fake girlfriend to make it easier. Who better to fill the role of fake girlfriend than her best friend and neighbour Jordan. Jordan is a go-with-the-flow and seemingly carefree person. She's happy to help her good friend Emery even if it might make things harder for herself.
At some point I got so frustrated with these characters I just wanted to scream at them to get their shit together and just get together for real. But looking at it from a story perspective I understand why it took a little while, why we read about their inner doubts and feelings before one of them finally made a move. The story does have some holes here and there that could have been picked up by a sharp editor, but overall I enjoyed the story. I like both characters and how different they are. The supporting characters, Emery's friends, and the hotel bartender are a nice bit of comic relief. I also appreciate the charaters communicating throughout the story, unfortunately, this is still a rare sight. Their communication wasn't always the best, but they tried, just like in real life. I would categorise this as a friends to lovers romance, with fake girlfriend added to the mix to have an ephinay, it's a good trope ;)
June 29, 2019
For all of you folks who like a slow burn, this read is for you. I have mentioned in previous reviews that slow burns are often too slow for me and on occasion I find one that I really love. I can not say that I really loved this one though because it was way too slow. I did find myself skimming some because I was a little bored when there wasn’t dialogue between characters. I do have to admit that I really liked MC Jordan. MC Emery was just okay for me. I did like the chemistry between them and found the overall story likable. If you have KU it’s worth the read. I give it 3.50 stars.
April 8, 2020
So cute!!!
Emery is heading off to her college friend’s wedding in Hawaii but she is worried about them finding out she is gay, and having to tell them so she enlists the help of best friend Jordan. Jordan agrees to go with her under the pretense of being her girlfriend but for Jordan it is torture trying to keep her real feelings for Emery in line. While away, Emery and Jordan discover that each of them had other motives for agreeing to their part of the arrangement they made and as it all starts to become a reality, the two of them are finally accepting they can be happy together.
This was such a sweet story that touched on unrequited love, which is a subject I adore, and Emery was pretty much oblivious to how much Jordan would do for her and why. Getting fake romance balance right can be difficult, especially in believability, but Monica really got this spot on. Jordan and Emery had a believable connection both as friends, and as lovers (even when faking it at first) and because of Jordan’s reasons for accompanying Emery that really was the icing on the cake that made this so realistic.
I adored how free and easy this story was. It was simple to read but had complication, drama, and all the elements of a really good romance which just made it so enjoyable. Plus it was set in Hawaii, so it had a lovely setting for two friends to fall in love. There was amazing twists and turns in the plot that added depth to the story, and helped to build tension and excitement between all the characters. I really enjoyed their story and hope we will see more from Jordan and Emery in the future, as I haven’t nearly had enough of them yet.
Emery is heading off to her college friend’s wedding in Hawaii but she is worried about them finding out she is gay, and having to tell them so she enlists the help of best friend Jordan. Jordan agrees to go with her under the pretense of being her girlfriend but for Jordan it is torture trying to keep her real feelings for Emery in line. While away, Emery and Jordan discover that each of them had other motives for agreeing to their part of the arrangement they made and as it all starts to become a reality, the two of them are finally accepting they can be happy together.
This was such a sweet story that touched on unrequited love, which is a subject I adore, and Emery was pretty much oblivious to how much Jordan would do for her and why. Getting fake romance balance right can be difficult, especially in believability, but Monica really got this spot on. Jordan and Emery had a believable connection both as friends, and as lovers (even when faking it at first) and because of Jordan’s reasons for accompanying Emery that really was the icing on the cake that made this so realistic.
I adored how free and easy this story was. It was simple to read but had complication, drama, and all the elements of a really good romance which just made it so enjoyable. Plus it was set in Hawaii, so it had a lovely setting for two friends to fall in love. There was amazing twists and turns in the plot that added depth to the story, and helped to build tension and excitement between all the characters. I really enjoyed their story and hope we will see more from Jordan and Emery in the future, as I haven’t nearly had enough of them yet.
December 27, 2022
3.5 ⭐ So I really liked this - friends-to-lovers and fake dating have always been 🔥 for me - buuuuut I felt like there was no build up, no significant rise or fall in the tension between Emery and Jordan. This one really differs from the usual trope norm of starting out slow and building up the yearning between the characters until it reaches a boiling point; instead, they start off hot to trot right away and it felt like they were just hovering at that boiling point the entire time. While I love sexual tension and attraction between two MCs, this got a bit boring for me because there was no where to go from there, like, can you ladies just f*cking kiss already, please? I get wanting to draw it out for plot purposes, but I'd rather they got together sooner and had more dramatic obstacles afterward than just drawing out the googly eyes part.
Otherwise, I liked it. Both MCs were likable and sweet, and their friendship gave me the warm and fuzzies - even though Emery had some serious self-reflection and improvements to do.
Looking for a steamy, tropical, fake dating FTL romance? This will definitely tick the boxes. And if audio is your thing, Lori Prince does a stellar job narrating, as always.
Otherwise, I liked it. Both MCs were likable and sweet, and their friendship gave me the warm and fuzzies - even though Emery had some serious self-reflection and improvements to do.
Looking for a steamy, tropical, fake dating FTL romance? This will definitely tick the boxes. And if audio is your thing, Lori Prince does a stellar job narrating, as always.
March 18, 2020
Enjoyed this but it is a bit "samey" - will they won't they and, well, you know the rest! Didn't quìte buy some of the characters - but, hey! It's was fine.
March 15, 2025
I’m super sad that this was the last Monica McCallan book I had left to read. 2019 was definitely a busy year for her books and this book certainly shows her growth as a writer. Since I read her most recent works first and have since gone back through her back catalog, I think this is the book where she really finds her groove and where I really start to bond with her style of storytelling.
Jordan and Emery start out with STRONG pining and attraction to each other. There were times when I just wanted to yell at them to just kiss already. Emery has a big secret and some shame that’s she’s brought into the fake dating relationship. Jordan is a complete sweetie and it was fun watching their relationship play out. Yes, there’s a third act “break up” that completely frustrated me.
I listened to this with Lori Prince narrating and I will definitely reread and relisten to this as one of my go to comfort books.
Jordan and Emery start out with STRONG pining and attraction to each other. There were times when I just wanted to yell at them to just kiss already. Emery has a big secret and some shame that’s she’s brought into the fake dating relationship. Jordan is a complete sweetie and it was fun watching their relationship play out. Yes, there’s a third act “break up” that completely frustrated me.
I listened to this with Lori Prince narrating and I will definitely reread and relisten to this as one of my go to comfort books.
March 19, 2022
This was a good read largely set in Hawaii. It made me want to go there.
June 19, 2019
Friends to lovers is one of my favorite tropes ever, especially with a lot of pining and longing amping up the tension, and Good Spin did not disappoint. Emery and Jordan have been friends for a while, but when Emery asks Jordan to pretend to be her girlfriend for a week and travel to Hawaii to attend an old friend's wedding, their relationship begins to change. At first, I clicked more with Emery's character than Jordan's, though Emery is the uptight type A personality and Jordan is the more artistic, take it as it is type that I'm normally more drawn too. But Emery's vulnerability is displayed at the very beginning, whereas Jordan seems far more confident and maybe a tad bit pretentious at the start. Once they get to Hawaii, we get to know Jordan a lot better and I really fell in love with her character. Plus the descriptions of Hawaii made me feel like I was there (Where do I get a friend like Emery? I need a free vacay STAT!) Also the mutual unrequited (as far as they knew) chemistry between the two of them started to drive me mad. I really felt it along with them. When they finally made a move in the right direction, I wanted to cheer. But there's a few more secrets that threaten to spoil what is just beginning between them.
Although this book was definitely highly focused on Jordan and Emery, Emery's friends from college were enjoyable too without making me just wish the scenes with them would hurry up so we could get back to the good stuff. No hugely standout scene stealing characters, but I did enjoy Kendall and Aiden the most. Rachel was...interesting. She could present a real challenge to write about and humanize in a future book, HINT HINT. The only thing that kept this book from being a 5 out of 5 for me is that I did think that the 'pinch point' near the end was a little glossed over and wrapped up too quickly. I have a thing for big emotion, the highs and the lows, and I wanted to ride those waves a little more. Excuse me while I high five myself for the beach metaphor :D. Still, this was a great vacation romance and I very much enjoyed it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Although this book was definitely highly focused on Jordan and Emery, Emery's friends from college were enjoyable too without making me just wish the scenes with them would hurry up so we could get back to the good stuff. No hugely standout scene stealing characters, but I did enjoy Kendall and Aiden the most. Rachel was...interesting. She could present a real challenge to write about and humanize in a future book, HINT HINT. The only thing that kept this book from being a 5 out of 5 for me is that I did think that the 'pinch point' near the end was a little glossed over and wrapped up too quickly. I have a thing for big emotion, the highs and the lows, and I wanted to ride those waves a little more. Excuse me while I high five myself for the beach metaphor :D. Still, this was a great vacation romance and I very much enjoyed it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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September 3, 2022DNF @ chapter 6
Ableist slur is an immediate DNF for me.
The word was not needed at all. You can say "racing mind" instead of "slur mind", you know.
I also counted via ebook this word being used SIX TIMES.
FFS do better.
Ableist slur is an immediate DNF for me.
The word was not needed at all. You can say "racing mind" instead of "slur mind", you know.
I also counted via ebook this word being used SIX TIMES.
FFS do better.
May 3, 2021
3.75 ⭐ - Enjoyable fake relationship with likable MCs set in beautiful Hawaii. What's not to love? Available on KU.
November 20, 2024
Nice and easy read for anyone who is looking for a palette cleanser or a quick romance read.
I liked the story and couple fine, thought the reaction to the conflict was too dramatic (I mean I completely understand why Em didn’t want to admit that to herself or others- even a good friend) but they didn’t break up or fight for long and the ending was nice so it’s alright.
I liked the story and couple fine, thought the reaction to the conflict was too dramatic (I mean I completely understand why Em didn’t want to admit that to herself or others- even a good friend) but they didn’t break up or fight for long and the ending was nice so it’s alright.
August 15, 2019
I really like McCallan's writing style. It's light and fun. I find it easy to be immersed in her books without fail.
I also like the opposites attract vibe between the MCs. The fact their differences were used to complement each other, rather than make them clash, was a breath of fresh air. But since this is friends-to-lovers and fake romance tropes combined, I believe I'm biased :D
The second half of the book seemed rushed to me. But as with all good books, you always wish they were longer.
I also like the opposites attract vibe between the MCs. The fact their differences were used to complement each other, rather than make them clash, was a breath of fresh air. But since this is friends-to-lovers and fake romance tropes combined, I believe I'm biased :D
The second half of the book seemed rushed to me. But as with all good books, you always wish they were longer.
November 2, 2019
Good spin
Although this is a familiar story line; fake girlfriend at a wedding, it has just enough angst, uncertainty and underlying character arcs that it is definitely one of the best I've read. Can highly recommend it.
Although this is a familiar story line; fake girlfriend at a wedding, it has just enough angst, uncertainty and underlying character arcs that it is definitely one of the best I've read. Can highly recommend it.
June 22, 2019
Far too often we live our lives just trying to not get hurt. Emery is the epitome of living a "safe" life. She may be protected, but she's lonely. Her only friend, Jordan, is absurdly gorgeous, funny, a free spirit, and lives next door. Enter the fauxmance and a week on a beautiful, tropical island. Their story is sweet, and frustrating, and sexy, and aggravating. But mostly it's a story about healing, self-acceptance, and love.
I absolutely adore these characters; not only Emery and Jordan, but the supporting cast is dynamic with fully individualized personalities. And Monica McCallan's descriptive writing had me right there with Jordan and Emery: seeing the vibrant tropical island, feeling the heat of the sun, hearing the ocean waves, even smelling suntan lotion.
Monica's stories can get super intense with painful lesbian-angst. And while there is a healthy amount of angst in this one to keep the tension front and center, it's not distracting or painful. It is exciting and captivating and addictive.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I absolutely adore these characters; not only Emery and Jordan, but the supporting cast is dynamic with fully individualized personalities. And Monica McCallan's descriptive writing had me right there with Jordan and Emery: seeing the vibrant tropical island, feeling the heat of the sun, hearing the ocean waves, even smelling suntan lotion.
Monica's stories can get super intense with painful lesbian-angst. And while there is a healthy amount of angst in this one to keep the tension front and center, it's not distracting or painful. It is exciting and captivating and addictive.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 24, 2019
I really loved this friends to lovers romance. The chemistry between the two leads Emery and Jordan is excellent - they go to a wedding in Hawaii with Jordan pretending to be Emery’s GF (as a favour) and this creates tension, sexy sparking between them and lots of opportunities for their bikini clad bodies to be in far too close proximity! They slowly admit and act on their feelings but then there’s the misunderstandings and barriers and horrible people getting in the way that you expect from a good slow burn romance. They smoulder for a long while but eventually ... well, you know ... ;) ... and it’s worth the wait. I recommend this one.
June 22, 2019
Loved it!
Loved,loved, loved this story. Jordyn was awesome. Emily was a bit of a flake but still very likeable. Haven't read this author before but I will definitely be reading more of her work!
Loved,loved, loved this story. Jordyn was awesome. Emily was a bit of a flake but still very likeable. Haven't read this author before but I will definitely be reading more of her work!
June 26, 2019
Well written story, crisp dialogue, balance of the story moving forward through the dialogue instead through the thoughts of the characters. I will recommend this book to those who enjoy reading this type of lesbian romance.
August 7, 2019
.
While reading this book I realised I prefer books with a lot of dialogue and this one was definitely more description heavy. At one point I started feeling like the characters barely talk to each other at all. It made the book difficult to read for me.
While reading this book I realised I prefer books with a lot of dialogue and this one was definitely more description heavy. At one point I started feeling like the characters barely talk to each other at all. It made the book difficult to read for me.
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