Published by Avon on March 10, 2026
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Rating:
Goodreads
Childhood friends turned high school rivals fall into a small-town fake dating scheme in this sweet, spicy, and utterly irresistible romance from the author of Give Me Butterflies.
Fable Oaks never planned to return to Fern River. But after a string of failures, here she is, living in her parents’ backyard, watching her beloved late grandfather’s A-frame crumble around her. She can't seem to find her direction, and to make matters worse, Theo Nikolaou, her ex-best friend, has also resurfaced, distracting dimples and charming grin in tow.
Theo knew it was only a matter of time before he came back. The demons of his past once drove him to leave, but Fern River always seemed meant to be. So, when Theo’s boss, Arthur, announces he is selling his veterinary practice, it feels like the perfect opportunity. He just needs to show Arthur he’s sticking around for good. And when Fable—Fable, with her smart mouth and sexy curls—quite literally falls into Theo's lap, an idea forms.
If they can convince the town that they're madly in love, it could solve all their problems. Theo can prove to Arthur he's settling down, and Fable can get some much-needed help fixing up the A-frame, a task she is determined to see through.
The only problem is, the more time they spend together, the blurrier the line gets between fake dating and falling hard.
She’s lost her way. He’s finding his path. Together, they might discover there's no place like home.
If you asked Fable, she would tell you that she peaked in high school. Back then, she was an honor student and star of the soccer team. She was also highly motivated by her rival, Theo. Once best friends, they grew apart, but now they were both back in Fern River with a fake dating scheme that stirs up some long dormant feelings.
This is my third Jillian Meadows book, and it's another hit. I absolutely LOVED being back with the Oaks family, and it was a thrill to see this world expanding.
My heart broke for both Theo and Fable. Fable seemed to have a bright future ahead of her, but when she left for college, she found she was just a small fish in a big pond. She meandered from job to job, and then suffered the loss of her beloved grandfather which left a huge hole in her life. She had been adrift until she literally fell in Theo's lap.
Theo still bore the scars of his abusive parent, and as a result, struggled with relationships. He worried he would be a monster like his father, but he was actually one of the kindest and most loving people around. He was a vet whom the animals loved - that is the proof! Kids also adored him, and I adored him too. I am so glad he was there to catch Fable that day because it was the start of them building a bridge back to each other.
Theo and Fable together was a thing of beauty. There was just some sort of synergy they had together. I loved the idea of them, I loved their long history, and I loved them together. They were able to find comfort and peace in each other which is an incredible thing. Everything they did together brought a smile to my face, but those soccer practices! My heart exploded.
I recently cited the Oaks as one of my favorite fictional families, and it was so wonderful to get to spend a lot more time with them in this book. The dinners and chores were fun, and the family chats were perfection. It wasn't just how they were with each other either. Mom and Pop Oaks had a few moving moments with Theo as well. I especially loved the friendship that developed between Theo and Pop Oaks which was very meaningful given Theo's lack of a good father figure growing up.
Overall, this was another charming and touching book from Meadows! It was a such a pleasure to spend time in the cozy town of Fern River and get to witness Theo and Fable's love story which left me with a severe case of the warm-fuzzies.
Published by St. Martin's Griffin on February 10, 2026
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Rating:
Goodreads
Two people end up with more feelings than they bargained for after pursuing a summer fling, in this small-town, opposites-attract romance from Sophie Sullivan.
Charlotte “Charlie” Ashford has worked hard to become her own person. Tired of living in the shadow of her famous parents, she gladly left behind a life of glitz and glamour to pursue her true passion: becoming a counselor. However, when a viral video upends Charlie’s plans, she wonders if the real key to discovering herself is through her late father.
Grayson Keller has finally found his footing. He’s settled in one place, surrounded by family, and secure in his business. By his third summer as owner, Get Lost Lodge is showing a steady profit and seeing its fair share of repeat visitors. Whatever happens, Grayson is perfectly content with his quiet life and careful heart. That is, until he meets Charlie, who he can’t seem to get out of his head.
On the surface, Charlie and Grayson seem to have nothing in common more than a growing attraction that neither of them can fight. Trusting each other isn’t easy. They’ve both been hurt before, and they’re not looking for anything serious. The solution is easy: they’ll date, have some fun, and walk away unscathed. Right? Or, maybe this once, they can see past the hurt to what, or who, is on the other side waiting for them.
After a doctored video of her meltdown goes viral, Charlie loses her job and was looking for some distance and a refuge where she could lie low. What better place than Get Lost where Grayson also found refuge. There, Gray and Charlie slowly heal and learn to open their hearts again.
I was so happy to be back in the world of the Kellers. Once again, Sullivan did a beautiful job pulling me into their world. I adore all the warm-cozy vibes this family gives off. I think Gray said something like his siblings were also his friends, and that strong bond showed in all their actions and interactions.
It was a thrill to revisit past couples as they prepared for the next big thing in their lives, and I was also happy to see the lodge thriving. What a change in Grayson from the first book! I liked learning more about his past, and it was great to see him finally opening up. He and Charlie really had a nice rapport and good chemistry. They both carried pain from their pasts, but they were able to find comfort in each other.
Though I did get a bit of a jump-ahead with the final chapter, I wanted a little more with this being the final book. Though I must admit, I hope Sullivan will hop on the wagon, age Ollie up, and write her story for us. You know Ollie is a star.
I am sad to say goodbye, but it was such a pleasure seeing all the Kellers find their HEA.
*ARCS PROVIDED BY THE PUBLISHER
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