REVIEW: Four Steps to the Perfect Fake Date by Lilian Monroe

Four Steps to the Perfect Fake Date by Lilian Monroe: Daphne has always been the ultimate rule follower..until recently. Jilted by her ex, kicked out of her apartment and fired from her job, she’s at an all time low point. Seeking refuge, she returns to her hometown, Fernley Island, but even there, she’s struggling to find her place. With nothing to lose she decides to skip her sister’s engagement party and throw caution to the wind and embrace her new “no more Ms. Perfect” attitude. What she doesn’t expect is to run straight into Calvin Flint, her high school nemesis. The scrawny troublemaker she used to know is now the town’s acting sheriff, filling out his uniform far too well for her peace of mind. And to make things even more complicated, Calvin is her new boss. When Daphne is roped into balancing the books after a scandal hits the sheriff’s department, she and Calvin find themselves thrown together more often than not. The chemistry between them is undeniable and sparks fly as they butt heads…and just maybe they start to care a little more than they should. But when a fake dating scheme and a search for a stolen heirloom come into play, they must decide if they’re willing to risk everything for something real.

Four Steps to the Perfect Fake Date was a charming and lighthearted romcom that expertly blends humour, misadventures and the enemies to lovers trope. As with all of her books Monroe has truly out done herself in crafting this silly cute, easy to get lost in small town romcom, that easily checks all of my good read boxes. Monroe masterfully blends witty banter with deeper themes of healing and self-acceptance, making this book a captivating read with love, laughs and a touch of mystery.

I really liked both of our main characters and how easy it was to relate to both of them. Starting with our leading lady, Daphne was intelligent, witty, and independent, but she carried a lot of emotional baggage and insecurity. She tends to overthink things and struggles with low self-esteem, which stems from her past and her strained relationships, especially with her family and ex. She tends to uses humour as a defence mechanism, often hiding her insecurities behind a veil of sharp wit. While she can be a total hoot, it is easy to see the pain behind her bravado. I really enjoyed getting to see her character grow as the book progressed, she learns to embrace her insecurities and use them as strengths and really just value herself more, not only in her relationships but also in her professional life. Now for our hero, well it was pretty hard not to love our dashing sheriff, well Calvin was your typical broody small town hero with a closed of heart and a messy past. Though despite his tough exterior he is a deeply complex character. He comes across as stoic sometimes even abrasive, but there’s much more to him than meets the eye. He has a deep sense of duty and responsibility, though he tends to keep his heart closed of to everyone. I really enjoyed getting to see him slow lower his guard and open up to Daphne, talk about his past mistakes and begin to trust again.

I loved the build up of this couple, while they start out as total rivals dishing out all the hate vibes, things slowly begin to shift with them and this is where the story really gets good. There’s an undeniable chemistry between them, which builds steadily throughout the book as they move from old enemies to fake dating and to real friends. Their growing attraction is tinged with emotional vulnerability, making their journey from fake couple to real lovers feel authentic and satisfying. Calvin and Daphne help each other work through their emotional struggles, and their relationship becomes a source of strength and growth for both of them.

Four Steps to the Perfect Fake Date is a heartwarming, funny, and emotional romance that has everything you will love about the fake dating trope, but with characters that feel real and relatable. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a cute, sassy, small town, fake-dating romance!

Book Info:

Publication: March 11, 2025 | Montlake |

A notorious rule follower, the old Daphne Davis could do no wrong. But lately she can’t get anything right.

Jilted by her ex, ousted from her home, and laid off from her job, Daphne retreats to her little hometown, Fernley Island. But even there, she feels out of sync. So, bailing on her own sister’s engagement party, she suddenly embraces a brand-new no more goody-two-shoes.

Unfortunately, Daphne’s new mantra lands her squarely in the headlights—literally—of her high school nemesis, Calvin Flint. No longer a scrawny jerk, he’s Fernley’s acting sheriff, filling out his uniform waaay better than he ought to.

He’s also Daphne’s new boss.

As Daphne balances the books after a department scandal, a series of mishaps throws her and Calvin together. The sparks that fly take them both by surprise. But will a fake dating scheme and quest for a stolen heirloom ruin their chance at something real?