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eliezrah's review
4.0
This was a really good fake boyfriend story. I've only read a few of Kate Hawthorne's books, enjoying them all, and this was no exception. Fake relationships is one of my favorite tropes, and this was done really well. Usually the falling in love part is rushed, but this time it didn't. I'm really excited for the next book!
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily gave my honest review.
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily gave my honest review.
aboulle's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book, a real 5 star read! Jace and Callahan truly brought out the best in each other after they let their walls down. Jace was the only character that frustrated me somewhat in this book because as much as he accused Callahan of having two sides, so did he, it was all just a defense mechanism to their environment. Also, was I the only one that got the impression that Remington tried to kiss Jace in the alley?
Overall I loved this book and would highly recommend it and I hope there is a book 2 for Sebastian and Remington
Overall I loved this book and would highly recommend it and I hope there is a book 2 for Sebastian and Remington
ofbooksandromance's review against another edition
5.0
5 “I want to know you [...] I want to deserve you. I want to earn you” stars
Every day Jace was treated to more and more of that man and hope bloomed in the deepest parts of him.
Maybe this time.
Maybe this person.
Maybe this once.
First I would like to start by mentioning that I am not giving this book 5 stars because it was perfect for me, because it wasn’t, some little details bothered me. But this book held my attention and I didn’t feel the need to take breaks while reading it and I was excited to pick it back up and continue reading and this has not happened to me in a couple of months, so I think that for that alone, this book deserves 5 stars. It captured my interest from the start and kept me enterested for the entire length of the book. Capturing my attention is really hard at the moment, so this book deserves all the congratulations in the world for doing so.
My absolute favourite type of books are the lower angst stories that still include a lot of conflict and people finding themselves and their place in the world. And this book gave me all of that. As I mentioned before, this book wasn’t perfect but it was exactly what I needed at this time in my life.
Brief summary: Callahan comes from a very rich and influencial family and he inherited the family business, which he doesn’t really want but he thinks he doesn’t have any other choice. He’s invited to a big cutting the ribbon ceremony organized by his ex and his best friend and ex’s brother sets him up with Jace, a photographer, and they go to the event as fake boyfriends. But turns out they already met in a club two weeks before and shared a kiss. So, their relationship slowing turns from fake to very real.
What I loved about the book
First, I absolutely adored how realistic this story felt. I loved how we got to see them form a little connection in the bar, before they started the fake dating. And I loved how we got to see them starting to want each other. I liked how at first they tried to convince themselves that they didn’t really want the other but then they couldn’t deny it any longer. That entire process, of them fake dating to them really dating, just felt so damn realistic. There wasn’t anything easy here and I really appreciated it. I liked how they didn’t just magically fit together and how it took them a bit to figure out how to make their relationship work. I really liked how it was awkward between them at first and how all the pieces didn’t just magically fit together, I liked how they had to work for it. I like how they didn’t really know how to be together and they had doubts about the other and it took them a bit to figure it out. I liked how they were two very different people and they had to work on themselves to make their relationship work. I liked how they both had fears and worries and that it coloured how they acted towards the relationship and how they saw the relationship. One of my favourite thing about this book was how they wanted each other but that it wasn’t easy and that there was pieces of the other that they didn’t like, I loved how they were both flawed and how they had to work and put in effort to make their relationship work. This part just felt so realistic and I absolutely adored it.
Second, I adored these two main characters. Jace, my dear Jace. He was such a good man. He was so charming and he wasn’t afraid to be himself and to take on every life challenges. He was very open and very giving, I absolutely adored him. But he also had a fear of abandoment because his parents left him when he was young. I really enjoyed how that changed how he took some decisions and how it coloured his actions, it felt so realistic. I also really loved Callahan. He was kind of an asshole sometimes but I understood why and it fit with his character so it was fine with me. He was such a giving man. I really enjoyed his character. Also his character growth was absolutely perfect. I loved how a good part of this book was him trying to find who he is and trying to be a better person. I loved it so much when we got to see him figure out who he is and want he wants, it was so good. I loved it so much when we got to see who he really is and not the pretend version to please others, it was so damn good to see.
Third, I loved these two together, so much. Their chemestry was really good and they fit together so well. Jace was so good to Callahan. I loved how affectionate with him he was and how he wanted to do things for him. I loved how he wanted to show Callahan that he’s a good man. And I absolutely adored how Callahan wanted to better himself, to be the man that Jace deserves, it was so good.
Fourth, I loved how this book was divided. Their two different point of views were done so we got to see how they both felt about everything that was happening and I really loved that, I loved being in both of their heads for the same scene, I loved seeing how they both reacted differently to what was happening.
Fifth, I would like to give a special mention to two things. I really loved how the relationship never felt one sided and how they both apologized for their wrong doings. And I also loved all of the photography aspects of this story. I loved how Jace would take pictures of Callahan, thats just so sweet.
Small niggles
As I mentioned before, I had some little problens with this book and clearly they didn’t bother me much but I would still like to mention them.
First, some of the sex scenes were really good and really hot but some of them felt a bit short for me, I would have liked a little bit more there.
Second, I would have liked a little more communication, the lack of communication made sense with the characters and their back stories but I still would have appreciated if they talked to each other more. Like damn, it isn’t that hard to speak to your partner.
I absolutely adored every second I spent reading this book, it was such a good experience. Also, I am really excited for the next book in this series, I am such a big fan of the set up for it.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange of my honest opinion
Every day Jace was treated to more and more of that man and hope bloomed in the deepest parts of him.
Maybe this time.
Maybe this person.
Maybe this once.
First I would like to start by mentioning that I am not giving this book 5 stars because it was perfect for me, because it wasn’t, some little details bothered me. But this book held my attention and I didn’t feel the need to take breaks while reading it and I was excited to pick it back up and continue reading and this has not happened to me in a couple of months, so I think that for that alone, this book deserves 5 stars. It captured my interest from the start and kept me enterested for the entire length of the book. Capturing my attention is really hard at the moment, so this book deserves all the congratulations in the world for doing so.
My absolute favourite type of books are the lower angst stories that still include a lot of conflict and people finding themselves and their place in the world. And this book gave me all of that. As I mentioned before, this book wasn’t perfect but it was exactly what I needed at this time in my life.
Brief summary: Callahan comes from a very rich and influencial family and he inherited the family business, which he doesn’t really want but he thinks he doesn’t have any other choice. He’s invited to a big cutting the ribbon ceremony organized by his ex and his best friend and ex’s brother sets him up with Jace, a photographer, and they go to the event as fake boyfriends. But turns out they already met in a club two weeks before and shared a kiss. So, their relationship slowing turns from fake to very real.
What I loved about the book
First, I absolutely adored how realistic this story felt. I loved how we got to see them form a little connection in the bar, before they started the fake dating. And I loved how we got to see them starting to want each other. I liked how at first they tried to convince themselves that they didn’t really want the other but then they couldn’t deny it any longer. That entire process, of them fake dating to them really dating, just felt so damn realistic. There wasn’t anything easy here and I really appreciated it. I liked how they didn’t just magically fit together and how it took them a bit to figure out how to make their relationship work. I really liked how it was awkward between them at first and how all the pieces didn’t just magically fit together, I liked how they had to work for it. I like how they didn’t really know how to be together and they had doubts about the other and it took them a bit to figure it out. I liked how they were two very different people and they had to work on themselves to make their relationship work. I liked how they both had fears and worries and that it coloured how they acted towards the relationship and how they saw the relationship. One of my favourite thing about this book was how they wanted each other but that it wasn’t easy and that there was pieces of the other that they didn’t like, I loved how they were both flawed and how they had to work and put in effort to make their relationship work. This part just felt so realistic and I absolutely adored it.
Second, I adored these two main characters. Jace, my dear Jace. He was such a good man. He was so charming and he wasn’t afraid to be himself and to take on every life challenges. He was very open and very giving, I absolutely adored him. But he also had a fear of abandoment because his parents left him when he was young. I really enjoyed how that changed how he took some decisions and how it coloured his actions, it felt so realistic. I also really loved Callahan. He was kind of an asshole sometimes but I understood why and it fit with his character so it was fine with me. He was such a giving man. I really enjoyed his character. Also his character growth was absolutely perfect. I loved how a good part of this book was him trying to find who he is and trying to be a better person. I loved it so much when we got to see him figure out who he is and want he wants, it was so good. I loved it so much when we got to see who he really is and not the pretend version to please others, it was so damn good to see.
Third, I loved these two together, so much. Their chemestry was really good and they fit together so well. Jace was so good to Callahan. I loved how affectionate with him he was and how he wanted to do things for him. I loved how he wanted to show Callahan that he’s a good man. And I absolutely adored how Callahan wanted to better himself, to be the man that Jace deserves, it was so good.
Fourth, I loved how this book was divided. Their two different point of views were done so we got to see how they both felt about everything that was happening and I really loved that, I loved being in both of their heads for the same scene, I loved seeing how they both reacted differently to what was happening.
Fifth, I would like to give a special mention to two things. I really loved how the relationship never felt one sided and how they both apologized for their wrong doings. And I also loved all of the photography aspects of this story. I loved how Jace would take pictures of Callahan, thats just so sweet.
Small niggles
As I mentioned before, I had some little problens with this book and clearly they didn’t bother me much but I would still like to mention them.
First, some of the sex scenes were really good and really hot but some of them felt a bit short for me, I would have liked a little bit more there.
Second, I would have liked a little more communication, the lack of communication made sense with the characters and their back stories but I still would have appreciated if they talked to each other more. Like damn, it isn’t that hard to speak to your partner.
I absolutely adored every second I spent reading this book, it was such a good experience. Also, I am really excited for the next book in this series, I am such a big fan of the set up for it.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange of my honest opinion
robazizo's review against another edition
2.0
2.75 stars. Meh. It started out OK, but went downhill along the way. Jace's reproaches about Callahan's behaviour were ridiculous and it was obvious he was full of prejudices about Callahan's life. His going back and forth about what he wanted was also very tiring. I was skimming by the end. Sebastian and Remington were nice side characters, so perhaps I'll try their book in the future.
stephreviewsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Fantastic chemistry
This was another fab book from kate Hawthorne. She really gives you depth, you know the characters so well you feel you are with them. The reason I couldn't give it a 5stars was because some of the back and forth of their emotions and thought processes was confusing but that was on me because I have a different thought process to these two MC's so I couldn'tquite relate. There is great sexual chemistry and the intimate scenes were really good. Can't wait to read the next book.
This was another fab book from kate Hawthorne. She really gives you depth, you know the characters so well you feel you are with them. The reason I couldn't give it a 5stars was because some of the back and forth of their emotions and thought processes was confusing but that was on me because I have a different thought process to these two MC's so I couldn'tquite relate. There is great sexual chemistry and the intimate scenes were really good. Can't wait to read the next book.
luellen1990's review against another edition
5.0
Title - A Real Good Lie
Author - Kate Hawthorne
Genre - MM Romance
Published - April 2021
Pages - 284 Pages
Summary - Callahan needs a fake boyfriend for the weekend to make his ex jealous. Jace agrees to help out when Callanhan's best friend Sebastian asks him. As the weekend goes on Jace and Callahan fake their way through the weekend. The only one's they're fooling is themselves by thinking it's fake.
What I thought about this book - As with Kate Hawthorne's every other book I loved this one. Callahan really did need someone like Jace to wake him up and see he needed to make changes and Jace really needed Callahan to make him realise he deserves something good in life. These two characters really compliment each other so well. The character development was really good. The plot was fantastic and I really enjoyed it. Another 5* for an amazing writer.
Would I Recommend - Yes
Would I Read Again/Continue The Series - Yes/Yes (Hoping this is a series as Sebastian need a story lol)
Rating - 5*
Reviewed by LucyLui
Author - Kate Hawthorne
Genre - MM Romance
Published - April 2021
Pages - 284 Pages
Summary - Callahan needs a fake boyfriend for the weekend to make his ex jealous. Jace agrees to help out when Callanhan's best friend Sebastian asks him. As the weekend goes on Jace and Callahan fake their way through the weekend. The only one's they're fooling is themselves by thinking it's fake.
What I thought about this book - As with Kate Hawthorne's every other book I loved this one. Callahan really did need someone like Jace to wake him up and see he needed to make changes and Jace really needed Callahan to make him realise he deserves something good in life. These two characters really compliment each other so well. The character development was really good. The plot was fantastic and I really enjoyed it. Another 5* for an amazing writer.
Would I Recommend - Yes
Would I Read Again/Continue The Series - Yes/Yes (Hoping this is a series as Sebastian need a story lol)
Rating - 5*
Reviewed by LucyLui
caiacassiopeia's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
cute contemporary fake-dating romance
mixed with "omg only one bed" "forced proximity" "insta lust"
some more tags: gay - make the ex jealous - money gap -
mixed with "omg only one bed" "forced proximity" "insta lust"
some more tags: gay - make the ex jealous - money gap -
enayqueerbooklover's review
3.0
3.5 stars. Started skimming a bit at around 70%. This is my second book in a row with emotionally stunted men who run away rather than share their feelings, causing unnecessary drama from poor communication, so I was a bit weary. Just didn’t really feel the spark with these two. Maybe it’s just me?…Didn’t enjoy it enough to bother with the next one to follow it.
kudo5795's review
5.0
I'm in love
*SPOILERS for side characters*
Kate Hawthorne has this habit of writing characters that I fall completely in love with, and she's done it again! Jace and Callahan could not fit better together. Their romance is hard fought and won and I can't wait to see where they go next. And Sebastian and Remington? Swoon! Remington seems like such a sweetheart and I can't wait to get to know him better. Sebastian is struggling so much and I want to see him get his happy ending!
*SPOILERS for side characters*
Kate Hawthorne has this habit of writing characters that I fall completely in love with, and she's done it again! Jace and Callahan could not fit better together. Their romance is hard fought and won and I can't wait to see where they go next. And Sebastian and Remington? Swoon! Remington seems like such a sweetheart and I can't wait to get to know him better. Sebastian is struggling so much and I want to see him get his happy ending!
cutdeeptalkshit's review
5.0
Ugh. So good. More please.
I loved Jace and a Callahan so much. It started rough and I really wasn’t sure how the two of them were going to get a happy ever after when they were so different in so many ways. A lot was stacked against them from the get go. Callahan worked hard though to earn Jace. And though Jace was unsure he came around without to much resistance. The HEA was satisfying.
I’m looking forward to Sebastian and Remington’s story. Even though Rhys was a grade A jerk I even want him to get a happy ever after.
I loved Jace and a Callahan so much. It started rough and I really wasn’t sure how the two of them were going to get a happy ever after when they were so different in so many ways. A lot was stacked against them from the get go. Callahan worked hard though to earn Jace. And though Jace was unsure he came around without to much resistance. The HEA was satisfying.
I’m looking forward to Sebastian and Remington’s story. Even though Rhys was a grade A jerk I even want him to get a happy ever after.