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jcurry447's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
ashlina8's review against another edition
Cringey dialogue and I did not connect with any of the characters
iretorta's review against another edition
3.0
el fake relationship no es para mí .. aun así me lo he pasado bien
nathandre's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
herrityk's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
jennabeebs79's review against another edition
5.0
Jae’s writing and Angela Dawe’s narration made this one of my favorite books of the year. The fauxmance trope has been done endlessly, but this one was different. Both Lana and Claire, while total opposites, really worked well together. They’re both intelligent, strong, and capable women who needed one another without even realizing it. I loved being a part of their relationship development from strangers to friends to lovers. There wasn’t any unnecessary drama or angst, just a delightful slow burn. Thanks Jae and Angela Dawe for making this book truly special!
neurorobin's review against another edition
4.0
This hits on all my favourite tropes - fake dating, bad first impressions, “there’s only one bed”, slow burn, etc. No 3rd-act breakup due to poor communication skills. And characters with diverse body types!
queerafictionado's review against another edition
5.0
Is it all just an act? Or is it something more?
Just for Show is my first full novel by Jae and I will definitely be reading the rest of her books! It had fake dating, opposites attract, only one bed, and more. It wasn’t the tropes that really drew me into the story though. It was the depth of the characters. Their emotional complexity. Their struggles and past traumas. Their utter humanness.
Claire Renshaw is blindsided the day of her engagement party when her fiancée Abby breaks things off. The problem isn’t so much the broken engagement. It’s the fact that her pending book deal for her relationship self-help book hinges on the fact that she is in a happy, healthy relationship. Afraid of losing both her partner and her book deal, she lets her friend convince her into hiring an actress to play the role of her adoring fiancée.
Enter Lana Henderson. Lana is everything Claire is not. She is curvy and full-bodied. Tattooed and scarred. Free spirited and adventurous. She’s a bit messy. She prefers simple things over fancy things. She’s an actress struggling to find roles because she doesn’t fit the mold. And she absolutely does not trust therapists. But it’s hard to turn down the kind of money Claire is offering for this very unique role, even if it’s not one she can put on a resume.
This fake relationship feels like a disaster in the making. Especially since part of the deal means living together…as if just pretending to like each other wasn’t already hard enough.
It doesn’t take long for Claire and Lana to start to care for one another, though. And for desire to start sparking between them. But it takes a long time for those sparks to turn into something more, because how can you tell if something is actually real when your whole relationship is based on an act? But once these two finally give into their desires it is beautiful and HOT!
I loved this whole story and the way Jae developed these characters and their connection. And Angela Dawes narration was excellent - I especially loved Lana’s low, sultry voice! I highly recommend this book and I can’t wait to read more by Jae!
Just for Show is my first full novel by Jae and I will definitely be reading the rest of her books! It had fake dating, opposites attract, only one bed, and more. It wasn’t the tropes that really drew me into the story though. It was the depth of the characters. Their emotional complexity. Their struggles and past traumas. Their utter humanness.
Claire Renshaw is blindsided the day of her engagement party when her fiancée Abby breaks things off. The problem isn’t so much the broken engagement. It’s the fact that her pending book deal for her relationship self-help book hinges on the fact that she is in a happy, healthy relationship. Afraid of losing both her partner and her book deal, she lets her friend convince her into hiring an actress to play the role of her adoring fiancée.
Enter Lana Henderson. Lana is everything Claire is not. She is curvy and full-bodied. Tattooed and scarred. Free spirited and adventurous. She’s a bit messy. She prefers simple things over fancy things. She’s an actress struggling to find roles because she doesn’t fit the mold. And she absolutely does not trust therapists. But it’s hard to turn down the kind of money Claire is offering for this very unique role, even if it’s not one she can put on a resume.
This fake relationship feels like a disaster in the making. Especially since part of the deal means living together…as if just pretending to like each other wasn’t already hard enough.
It doesn’t take long for Claire and Lana to start to care for one another, though. And for desire to start sparking between them. But it takes a long time for those sparks to turn into something more, because how can you tell if something is actually real when your whole relationship is based on an act? But once these two finally give into their desires it is beautiful and HOT!
I loved this whole story and the way Jae developed these characters and their connection. And Angela Dawes narration was excellent - I especially loved Lana’s low, sultry voice! I highly recommend this book and I can’t wait to read more by Jae!
snowangel526's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It did not wow me, but it was a great reprieve from my angsty book. The fake relationship was believable, I liked the character growth from Claire the most and the chemistry between her and Lana was very believable. They complement each other well.
The only thing I don't like is how fast they fall for each other andthey're engage in 1 year and 2 months knowing each other
It's the case for most sapphic books I've read though, but it still irks me unfortunately.
That and so many usual cliche in a romance novel, the single bed have to sleep together, the trip and fall into each other arms, etc..
Those are ok, but what I find so bizarre is how often EVERYONE around them expect them to have a full makeout session in front of people, as if they're not shoving tongues down each other throat 24/7 means they're not in love.
I'm not couple expert, but I'd be very uncomfortable if my friends start making out in front of me.
Also in this universe, everyone is gay, which hey, escapism is nice, I want the gay to win for once, but I also want a little bit realism so I can see a chance of it can happy irl.
Overall I listened via Audiobook and still enjoy it very much. It's a fun light read that give you a good escapism
The only thing I don't like is how fast they fall for each other and
It's the case for most sapphic books I've read though, but it still irks me unfortunately.
That and so many usual cliche in a romance novel, the single bed have to sleep together, the trip and fall into each other arms, etc..
Those are ok, but what I find so bizarre is how often EVERYONE around them expect them to have a full makeout session in front of people, as if they're not shoving tongues down each other throat 24/7 means they're not in love.
I'm not couple expert, but I'd be very uncomfortable if my friends start making out in front of me.
Also in this universe, everyone is gay, which hey, escapism is nice, I want the gay to win for once, but I also want a little bit realism so I can see a chance of it can happy irl.
Overall I listened via Audiobook and still enjoy it very much. It's a fun light read that give you a good escapism