Review Post : Grumpy Fake Boyfriend by Jackie Lau (4 Stars)

Grumpy Fake Boyfriend by Kwan Sisters
Published by Jackie Lau Books on May 22 2018
Genres: Romantic Comedy
Pages: 167
Format: eARC
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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…

FTC : I recieved this book as an ARC from the author for a fair and honest review.

Trope Tags – #First-Person-present-tense-POV ##Own-voices #Introvert-protag #cute #series-book #best-friends-little-sister #awesome-heroine

Heat Level : 3/5 chilli’s. On scene sex – not graphic.

Content Warnings : None.

Quick Scores : –

• Heroine – 3.5/5. I have to say that Naomi conflicted me as a heroine. I loved her sexual agency, especially how she was unafraid to go for what she wanted, however she did appear childish at times. The first person-present-tense-POV seemed to make this childishness slightly more pronounced for me.
• Hero – 5/5. Will is hard to like but I did – he was so direct and to the point. He was very socially awkward but his constant commentary made me laugh.
• Romance – 4/5. Honestly, they worked so much better than I feared at the start. They were so different but ended up so damn cute.
• Plot – 5/5. Fake boyfriend with a side of forced proximity – perfection! I didn’t enjoy the ex-boyfriend/new-girlfriend jealousy trope but I put it aside.
• Cover – 5/5. Lovely!
• Re-Read? – Yes.

Favourite Part :

I enjoyed Will’s inner dialogue – it was hilarious! He is so dry and blunt that I giggled from start to finish – without doubt my favourite character.

Favourite Line :

“We need to figure out our story. How did we meet? How long have we been dating?”
“A month,” I say. “We met through your brother.”
“You’re a writer. I thought you had better imagination than that.”

What didn’t work for me?

First-person-present-tense POV is hard to read. I appreciate that it’s probably fucking awful to try to write in but it took a while for me to sink into the novel because of it.