let_therebebooks 's review for:

Pretend You're Mine by Lucy Score

4.0

emotional funny 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

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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

“What am I supposed to do, be all ‘woe is me’ for the rest of my life? I still get access to the same sunrises everyone else does, the same twenty-four hours in a day. And if I don’t take advantage of those things, it’s my own fault.” 

This was my first book by Lucy Score and I know see what the hype is all about. Score has a talent for writing a swoon worthy and steamy romance. My only complaint is that it was too long and could have been 100 pages shorter if some random details were taken out. Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t think a romance should be over 400 pages. 

I loved Luke and Harper together! I could feel their chemistry in my soul. They were so good together and balanced each other out well. Harper is such a good character, even if she’s a little headstrong at times, but she never gives up. Luke is a sweetheart and I love a male character who has the “touch her and you’ll die” protective trope. I think it was good for Harper because she’s always been on her own so she learned that it’s okay to lean on others, which was a hard lesson for her. 

Luke is also in the National Guard and I enjoyed the side plot of his deployment. It gave me a look into the lives of military wives, including my sister, and that was a nice touch. I also am a sucker for a man in uniform! 

All the side characters were great except for Glenn and Clive. I LOVED the small town aspect and everyone knowing everything about everyone, while also being there for one another with no questions asked. It was charming and provided a great scenery for the story. I don’t think anything could have fit the story better than the small town environment. 

And I very much appreciated the foster care/adoption rep in the story!

I am excited to read Aldo and Gloria’s story next!