REVIEW: Grumpy Fake Boyfriend by Jackie Lau

Grumpy Fake Boyfriend by Jackie Lau is a sexy and fun romantic comedy with a best friend’s sibling trope, a fake relationship, and a weekend away that turns into something more.

Will Stafford is an introvert. A science fiction writer who prefers a quiet night in to the party scene, he’s not keen on social gatherings, even finding his family, whom he gets along with well, agreeable in small doses. When his best friend Jeremy Kwan, the one guy he trusts to give him honest feedback on his manuscripts and his former university roommate, asks for a favor he can’t say no. The favor? Be Jeremy’s little sister Naomi’s fake boyfriend for Canada Day weekend at a swanky beach cottage. Oh boy.

When Naomi finds out that her ex-boyfriend Jordan is going to be at a mutual friend’s weekend gathering with his new girlfriend she’s desperate for someone to go with her. She’s had a crush on Will for years, and she knows that if she tells Jeremy of her plight, he’s likely to go to Will for help – and he does. While Naomi might be doing a happy dance inside, she can’t let on to her brother that she’s also hoping she can convince Will that they could test out the chemistry between them, if he’s willing.

Will and Naomi are opposites in temperament and ideas for fun, yet somehow they just click. While Will had every intention of keeping his hands off of Naomi other than playing an adoring fake boyfriend in public, in private things get a little more complicated. Suddenly a weekend of fun, sexy times with no strings attached (and a promise not to tell Jeremy!) sounds like an excellent plan. But Will is clear that it can’t go any further. He’s not interested in a relationship, no matter how well they are getting along and when the weekend is over, he plans to call it quits. But will letting Naomi go be so easy?

What a delightful romance! I enjoyed everything about this story, and really found the voices of Will and Naomi to be authentic and believable. As an introvert, Will finds being with people all the time rather overwhelming and prefers to take them in small doses. He worries that this will cause problems for him and Naomi at the weekend away when he prefers to spend some time on his own, but to his relief Naomi is perfectly content to let him enjoy his peace and quiet when he needs it. It’s the first sign that she’s not like the other women he’s dated who have tried to change him into someone he’s not. Naomi is an extrovert who likes the people and the parties and the social atmosphere but still understands him. He can’t deny that adds an extra attraction to what he’s already feeling for her.

Though Naomi and Will have known each other peripherally for years, their time together is when they really get to know each other. This is an insta-love romance, the kind where a sizzling sexual attraction leads to some steamy scenes and quick emotional attachment. When the weekend is over, Will thinks he’ll be able to put Naomi out of his mind, but she’s already firmly found a place in his heart. Still, he screws things up (they always do!) and must make amends to fix things so they get their happy ending. If you want a lighthearted and fun summer read, I highly recommend this romance and can’t wait to read more by this author!

Book Info:

Publication: May 22, 2018 | Jackie Lau Books | Kwan Sisters #1

I’m a pretty simple guy. When I’m not writing a science fiction novel, I’m watching a good movie or reading a book. Alone. I like my reclusive life. That is, until my only friend asks for a favor—pretend to be his baby sister’s boyfriend on a couples’ getaway. Her ex is going to be there and she needs me as a buffer.

I should have said no, but Naomi is bubbly, energetic, and beautiful. She also means everything to her brother. But now, our fake romance is starting to feel all too real, and I find myself stuck between the promise I made to my friend and risking my heart to the one woman who might actually get me…