Official: An ABCs of Love Novel

by Georgia Coffman

Agreeing to a fake relationship with my brother’s best friend was supposed to fix a stupid mistake and save my career. I wasn’t supposed to fall for him in the process…

My relationship with Xander is nothing more than a way to ease some of the fallout we’re both experiencing in our careers.
The lie is intended to be as harmless as the spontaneous trip we’ve decided to take—an adventure of a lifetime to a tropical island.
It’s the perfect escape to nurse our wounded egos. How can we be stressed with nothing but sunshine and palm trees surrounding us?
At first, our conversations are innocent. Our touches casual. Our glances fleeting.
We aren’t supposed to grow closer.
Or kiss—we definitely aren’t supposed to kiss.
And before I realize it, what I thought would be a regular summer turns into so much more. Right up until our blissful bubble bursts from a dose of reality much stronger than our umbrella cocktails.
Which begs the question… are we a vacation fling, or can we finally make our relationship official?

**Official is a standalone laugh-out-loud romantic comedy with swoony moments, troublemaking animals, and a guaranteed happily ever after.

Genres: Romance, Rom Com, Fake Dating, Contemporary

210 pages, Paperback

Published July 6, 2022

About the author

Georgia Coffman is a USA Today bestselling author of steamy rom-coms. She's loved being creative and writing stories since she was a teenager, which is why she went on to earn a Master's in English: Professional Writing. She has since published over ten romances. Outside of this field, she enjoys the TV show Friends, online shopping, and traveling with her husband and their two dogs.

Georgia loves to connect on social media or through email, so feel free to reach out with any questions, your fave book recommendations, or even a funny joke!

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Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a few thoughts on the book. First, the tourist culture of Hawaii described in the book. It makes me uncomfortable because the place and people are treated as an attraction. I wish the author had spent less time describing scenery and flowers and stuff, and focused more on the relationship between the two people. Second, food was mentioned an odd amount. The preferences of what people eat was judged. I didn’t get how they didn’t understand that they could eat different things. They didn’t have to eat the same thing. Overall, those were just details that I could’ve gotten over. My main complaint is the pacing of the book. It started with a bang and I really enjoyed the writing. Then, after 2 or 3 chapters, it reached a lull until the 40% mark. That’s unnecessary. There wasn’t huge world-building here so why is it taking so long for the story to happen? By about 60% of the way through, the pace picked up exponentially and things started happening very quickly. It ended pretty decently. 3/5 stars since the quicker paced parts brought the book to life.

[Michele McMullen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved Sam and Xander! Friends for years, a fake relationship and a beautiful getaway to a tropical island! A sweet, funny summer read that will have you cheering for these two friends to finally become so much more.
~~Michele McMullen~~

[Amy [Book Addict Reviews] · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored these two. After some things happened in Sam’s life and she admits she needs break. Xander whisks her away to Maui. A place were they can just lay low and relax on a beach. What they didn’t expect is each other.

Sam and Xander have known each other for years. Xander is best friends with her older brother. Them hanging out isn’t weird. However, being in a tropical paradise leads to them noticing each other in a different light. The chemistry between these two is absolutely fantastic! I couldn’t get enough of them. I loved everything about their relationship and how drawn they were to each other.

The random animals that pop up throughout this story is absolutely hilarious and come at the worst times for Sam and Xander, especially a wild pig.

If you’re looking for a brother’s best friend, fake relationship, rom com this is one to read.

[Carli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore everything Georgia writes but this was a cute story that has one of my favorite tropes which is Brothers Best Friend. Sam and Xander are steamy, adorable and they balance each other. Another great one from Georgia!

[E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a great but sweet story. I just loved the charaters and their lovestory. What a great start for at long weekend.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Sam & Xander from the very beginning. Now we need Teddy’s story. This book should be used by the Maui tourism board because I so want to go there right now!!

[Erin Molta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet yet sexy

I loved these two together—their banter, even innocent interactions zinged with chemistry. And I felt like I could see the Hawaiian scenery.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

After an unflattering video goes viral and makes her the laughingstock of the internet, fitness influencer Samantha Ray must come up with a new plan in order to save her business. Meanwhile, her brother Teddy's best friend, Xander Logan, has just been fired from his job as a writing assistant on a TV show. He has a new (and better) job lined up for the fall, but there's still an entire summer of unemployment ahead of him. When he learns of Samantha's misfortune while out for drinks with her and Teddy one night, Xander impulsively invites her to join him on a trip to Maui and offers to play her fake boyfriend to mitigate the fallout from her viral video. Their impromptu tropical getaway brings them closer than they've ever been before, and they quickly begin to develop feelings for each other that go beyond friendship. However, both are concerned about Samantha's brother's reaction if he finds out that they're no longer faking for the cameras. Is their relationship destined to be nothing more than a vacation fling or can they find a way to be together when they return home?

I very much enjoyed this fun and flirty summer escape read, which featured likeable, three-dimensional characters and an engaging plot. Samantha and Xander's time together in Hawaii allowed them to see each other in a whole new light, and their chemistry just kept getting stronger as they got to know each other better. I really admired Samantha's dedication to wellness/nutrition as well as the creativity and drive she demonstrated in building her business. I wish I had even a fraction of her willpower, but the truth is that I am far more likely to take a nap than go for a run!

I recommend "Official" for all contemporary romance and romantic comedy fans and look forward to Georgia Coffman's next release.

*Review copy provided by the author. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Amy Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where to start with this one... Sam is an influencer. Xander is a script writer. Their connection? Sam is Xander's best friend's sister. What could possibly go wrong?!?! Well, an embarrassing accidental post to Insta by Sam timed with a "daddy we're in love" proclamation by Xander's most recent romp creates the perfect storm for an impromptu trip to Maui. A wild baby pig, an arch nemesis sea turtle, a hair raising dolphin encounter and many questionable fashion choices will make you laugh while the images Georgia creates will make your imagination go wild with possibilities. I am a sucker for a strong lead female and swoony, slightly goofy lead male character so this one was a perfect fit for me. This is the kind of book I can see myself reading again just because it was that fun and that well written.

[Heather Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book a lot!! It has one of my favorite tropes, brother's best friend!

If you like, rom coms, friends to lovers, brother's best friend, fake relationship, tropical vacation, and troublemaking animals then this book is for you!

Xander is Sam's brother's best friend and they've known each other for 3 years. They both needed a break from everything, especially their jobs. Xander and Sam go to Maui for a tropical vacation!

While on Maui, these two discover so much about themselves and their friendship blossoms into something fabulous!

I loved the characters, the banter, and passion! I felt like I could feel all the emotions and i could definitely imagine Maui in my mind. So beautiful!

I definitely recommend!

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm giving this book 3.5/5 stars. I loved the main characters. I thought they had amazing chemistry and I loved their banter. Their relationship developed so easily for them and I loved it. I do wish the fake dating aspect was more focused on and a bigger plot point. I feel like it kind of fell flat and it needed to be flushed out more and have more issues with it. I really wanted to see more of a reaction from the family and friends when they see them dating, but we didn't really get any reactions from them. Overall, it was a cute romance read and I enjoyed it.

[Anij · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I’m definitely not going to live to see my thirties.”

Enjoyable brother’s best friend romance between Sam, a social media fitness influencer and her brother’s best friend, Xander, an aspiring screenwriter and son of a famous actress. I liked that Sam and Xander were friends themselves and already had a good relationship. It seemed totally believable when he suggests they both escape their recent personal difficulties and take some time off in Maui, away from the public eye. I loved how naturally their relationship grew, the attraction they both felt, as their friendship turned to love. They seemed to bring out the best in each other and wanted what was best for the other. I laughed more than once and Xander was pure charm. Every time he described his wardrobe I could just see it. The scene with the pig and the jokes about the turtle were very amusing. They really showed just how easy and comfortable they were together.

It was pretty much a perfect book until they returned to LA. The last third of the book didn’t seem to match the rest. Both Sam and Xander started acting like different people and the resolution of their conflict was a little inconsistent, confusing and ultimately anti-climactic. Xander especially seemed to loose his sparkling charm, which was actually one of his best qualities. There’s no way the man we fell in love with would act the way he did near the end.

Despite not hitting a home run, this is still a great summer beach read and it will leave you smiling at the end. Fans of Georgia’s prior books will see occasional cameos as apparently all her books exist in the same universe. This is a fun little plus I always enjoy. No worries if you haven’t read anything else, though. There is zero need to know anything about them. This absolutely is very much a stand alone book.

[Kelchickbooklover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fake relationship, brother's best friend and forced proximity make great storylines and this is exactly what Official gives us. Ms. Coffman had me laughing throughout Sam and Xander's story as these two had a getaway that was one in a million. Sam is an influencer that due to an embarrassing post and a jerk of a boyfriend, needs to get away. Her brother's best friend, Xander the scriptwriter, has a situation that he needs to get away from because he cannot keep it in his pants, also needs to get away well why not go away together. A flight to Maui for sun suffer and fun turns into something that crosses that not touching best friend' sister line. Between the island's animals, having to share a room and the sexual tension lines are crossed and sparks ignite. Will it last? What happens when her brother finds out? When they return to reality, will the sparks still be there?

Official is a book that is a great read and one that you can sit back on a deck or a beach and just enjoy. Add Official to your summer TBR list and enjoy.

[KristieReadsBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great summer read.

Xander and Sam are a fabulous couple - Georgia does a great job writing these two characters filled with banter, friendship, and passion.

Both Sam and Xander need to get away from their jobs for a bit and decide to take vacation to the fabulous location of Maui. The beautiful scenery gives this story a wonderfully romantic setting .

Although Sam and Xander go through some ups and downs, they help one another realize what’s important in life.

I received a complimentary copy and I am leaving my honest review.

[Carmela Dimattia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book by Georgia Coffman. Loved the interactions between all the characters and Sam and Xander were perfect together. I loved everything about this book which had a lighthearted feel and it was a beautiful, fun story of two friends falling in love after pretending to be in a fake relationship. A great read by a new author to me which has left me wanting more.

I received an arc copy from the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Alison Gilbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing! This story is one you need to read. The characters are so amazing and hilarious that you want to get to know them. I hope Teddy gets his own story though. I can’t wait to read more from this series!

[Emma Manning · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fake relationships is a favourite genre of mine and Sam and Xander's story is such a good read. Angsty, sexy and with a positive message of loving yourself throughout the journey this book was a one sitting read. Loved it!!!

[Cassy · Rating 4 out of 5]

My romance reveal box coming in with another strong pick.

Honestly, Samantha’s brother was probably my favorite character in this. He was so ridiculous sometimes, and his constant cougar chasing and he was such a good brother without being over bearing and a good friend to Xander but also still calling him out when needed.

And when Teddy asks if Xander is in love with Sam because “there’s a reason you never get in front of the camera. It’s because you can’t act worth a shit.” Like I just really loved all of his interactions.

And I loved that Xander and Sam’s relationship was so organic. He was her brother’s best friend. They’d been around each other for years. They had an easy, comfortable friendship even before their relationship.

I will say, the fight at the end of their trip did seem a little forced and weird and kinda out of the blue.

Over all though, I really enjoyed the book.

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first book from my Romance Reveal Book Box that I read.

3 stars.

The writing was well done and I appreciated the story of a fake dating relationship taking place on beautiful Maui. Perhaps the story felt a bit undercooked since it was less than 200 pages and there wasn't a lot of room for full story development. I liked Xander just fine, but Sam wasn't my fave heroine ever. The idea of a person's reputation being completely ruined because she accidentally wore see-through leggings to the gym seemed completely absurd to me. Perhaps it's because I really dislike the social media influencer storyline in books that I couldn't really buy into this one. The fact that being a social media influencer can be considered a job is completely baffling to me and I can't help but roll my eyes.

Probably wouldn't recommend this one first to my friends, but it was okay and a quick read.

[Booked on Lattes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a fun, steamy, perfect summer read! I always love a book with an influencer as the main character because it’s like having a BTS look into that world, and not only do we have Sam who is a fitness influencer, but there also is a little Hollywood as well because Xander is a screen writer and the son of a an actress.

While the main trope is brother’s best friend, I loved how Sam and Xander were also friends to lovers. The way everything ended with Sam’s brother was perfect, and although this is a quick read and everything happens over a short period of time, Sam and Xander really grow through out the story!

Reader beware, this book will make you want to hop on the first flight to Maui! If you can’t do that though, reading Official will make you feel like you are there!

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute friends to lovers book. What rated it lovers for me was Samantha. I just could not connect with her, she kind of bothered me. However, I enjoyed Xander and his playfulness. Samantha did change a lot in the end, I liked seeing the change in her character. The other characters and setting were good. Her brother was a bit over the top, but I liked how he redeemed himself and helped Xander later on. The setting was fun and I enjoyed the people they met on their journey. My favorite part was the sea turtle, you have to read it. Once again the only reason I rated this lower is because I did struggle to read it, because I truly didn’t like one of the main characters. I do recommend you give it a try, overall it was a good story.

[Vanessa Ramirez · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ ARC Review ✨
***
Thank you to George Coffman for the ARC to review.
***
Official was such a great summer read. I loved the writing and the characters. Sam was amazing and I loved her personality and ability to accept when she was wrong. Xander was funny and so sweet. I loved those tow together. They seemed totally wrong for each other but in the end they were perfect together. The story had me smiling and laughing and wishing I was on the beach as well. I am a sucker for the best friend's sister trope and Georgia quickly hooked me with Sam's and Xanders relationship. This was a very quick and sweet read.
***
⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Tesh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fake relationship that comes real. Sam and Xander get together and go on vacation together as they both need to escape the stress of the job and all that comes with that.
This is steamy, romantic eventually with lots of intensity and action. The connection between the two was strong from the start and and becomes full on but it's was about looking after themselves and taking care of what they need to.
This was a great story that I read through in one sitting and thoroughly enjoyed. Great book!
This was an ARC and this is my honest review.

[Kasey Rafter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, the joys of social media. Samantha has devoted her career to her social media outlets. Her following is until one post threatens to "Ruin Her."

Which leads Samantha to a Nighy of drinking with her brothers best friend. She wakes the next morning with an adventure to Maui already planned. What she finds in Maui is more than the peace and break she has been seeking.

She finds a friendship with Xander. How comfortable they can be, and also how he plans to help her stop avoiding her phone.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶 🌶🌶

[Jennifer Healey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute and quick friends to lovers. Very basic spice so more of a romcom. I could not relate to Sam at all and didn’t really like her but Xander made the book. Sarcastic and playful and passionate. A little immature and afraid to love but he redeemed himself. I read it because it came in my Romance Reveal and I was in between books but I wouldn’t have picked it up otherwise.

[Keely · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️.75 This one just didn’t do it for me. I never felt like I got super into it. The idea of the storyline was good, but I feel like their could have been more development and then they went from not really knowing each other, to fake dating, to sleeping together, to hating each other, and like 5 pages later to being in love and together again.

[Alishia Pinon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the banter between Sam and Xander. After a leggings mishap that shows off way to much of Sam, Xander as a friend talks her into a trip to Maui. This is a bit of a slow burn, but when they finally come together it’s fire. I really enjoyed this book I couldn’t put it down.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an easy, enjoyable read. There was so much I loved. The characters were fun, the setting was romantic, and the drama was cute. Sam and Xander have great chemistry and I liked how their story came together.

[Kelsey Staffelbach · Rating 2 out of 5]

Barely worth the read. I thought it was short when I picked it up, but I realized it’s actually too long and I didn’t want to read any of it. The main character Sam seemed fake and cringy, and I just couldn’t get into the story. Pass on this one.

[Katie Jakala · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book as part of a monthly subscription box. My feelings for it are just... meh. Not good, not bad. It just is. I feel like I've read the story a hundred times before, and there was nothing really lovable about the characters to make me think about them again after finishing.