REVIEW: Stranger Things Have Happened by Kasie West

In Stranger Things Have Happened by Kasie West,  Sutton’s life seems to be filled with nothing but worry right now. She’s concerned about her mother’s health since a bad car wreck left her unable to care for herself, meaning she had to move back into her childhood bedroom for a while. Sutton is also worried about her year-old LA restaurant she had to leave in the hands of her business partner until her mom can fend for herself again. And she’s worried she’ll never be able to find The One. Not that she has much time for–or even interest in–romance since her long-time boyfriend just broke things off. It leaves Sutton wondering if all the toxic things her mother has said about her over the years could be true.

‘It turned out that couples therapy with someone you weren’t really a couple with did very little for your mental health.’

Sutton reconnects with a former close friend, Tara, while at home in Clovis. And she somehow gets talked into a stupid bet Tara’s fiancé Michael dares her to do: go to couples therapy with his brother Elijah and see if the therapist can figure out they aren’t an actual couple. Sutton has to admit Elijah is hot. But he seems like the kind of guy who is all talk and no substance. As they go to their weekly therapy sessions and tidbits of their lives and backgrounds come out, Sutton realizes she might have misjudged her fake boyfriend. While they dance around a real relationship, she finds herself working towards also setting boundaries with her mother, in her career, and her personal life. Hopefully that will help carve out some time and calm the chaos enough so that Sutton and Elijah can get the chance at happiness they both deserve.

“It’s okay if you’re not {okay},” he said. “Your life is kind of overwhelming right now… Sutton,” he said softly. “Come here.”
He tugged on my hand and pulled me to his chest, where I held on like the world depended on it.

Kasie West’s newest adult romance, STRANGER THINGS HAVE HAPPENED, was the slowest of slow burns, although it was the angst-filled family drama–for both main characters–that kept the storyline moving right along. Complete opposites on paper, Sutton and Elijah had more in common than they first thought. Loneliness being one such commonality. So, when they got roped into a bet, posing as a couple to trick a therapist into seeing if she could discern their fake relationship, the sparks began to fly immediately. But boy didn’t Elijah and Sutton fight that attraction for quite some time.

Sutton, honestly, was the biggest hold up on giving a real romance with Elijah a try. Given her track record with people in her life either abandoning her or treating her poorly, I didn’t blame her one bit. Told from her POV, over time it was easy to see why Sutton held back. I did love watching Elijah’s playfulness begin to break down some of the guards around her heart as well as seeing her finally have fun.

West included every emotion you can imagine. And it was a realistic view of the funny, awkward moments of getting to know someone while falling in love, just as much as the longing and wistfulness of hoping it will all work out somehow. Because Elijah and Sutton had some major obstacles to overcome. Something they thankfully managed to do successfully in their own way.

TROPES/VIBES:
*Fake dating turns real
*Forced proximity
*A bet with humiliating consequences
*Opposites attract
*Slow burn
*Family drama

If you’re looking for a romance that showcases personal growth and gives major love for seeking out therapy while setting healthy personal boundaries, STRANGER THINGS HAVE HAPPENED will be a great add on to your TBR.

QOTD: Have you ever had a bet with a friend where the non-winner had to do something extreme (like shave their head or sing karaoke in a fancy restaurant)?

Book Info:

Publication: Published: April 14th, 2026 |  Saturday Books |

Can fake dating lead to real love? In Kasie West’s next sexy adult romcom two people must decide where the lie ends and the chemistry begins.

Sutton knows she needs therapy. After all, she’s managing her newly opened restaurant remotely while taking care of her ungrateful sick mother. Plus, her boyfriend of two years just dumped her over the phone. But does therapy with a handsome stranger, who she has to pretend to be engaged to, in order to help her friend’s struggling relationship count? Probably not. Then why did she just agree to go? Because she’s had a few too many drinks? Because this stranger, Elijah, is smug and annoying and really, really handsome? Because she feels guilty that she abandoned her best friend, Tara, after high school and this might just make up for it? Whatever the reason, she has committed to this unhinged plan.

What the hell is Sutton doing?

Helping Tara prove a good therapist can tell the difference between real love and fake love. That’s what she’s doing. But as they attend their sessions, Sutton and Elijah only seem to be proving one thing—the lines between pretend desire and real desire are very blurry. This true connection forming between them is threatening to unravel everything Sutton thought she knew about family, friendship, and her own heart.