Too Good to Be Real: A Novel

This was such a cute, fun read. I was smiling and laughing pretty much from the first page. I found it to be very entertaining, with characters that were easy to fall in love with. While I never really felt the chemistry between the hero and heroine, the storyline was engaging and the secondary characters were just as interesting as the main characters. With so many fun moments that included corgis and seagulls, I couldn’t help but fall in love with the world this author created. Despite the hero and heroine having some issues to work through that affected their ability to take a chance on a relationship, the angst level remained low.

Julia's got one last chance to save her journalism job. She's taking part in a week-long role-playing game at a resort where guests live out their romantic comedy fantasies. Convinced that true love is a lie, she expects to write a review about how the experience falls short of expectations. Then, she meets Luke. Unbeknownst to Julia, Luke isn't a guest. He's the software engineer who designed the game. And he's got a big bonus coming if the debut of the game is a success. The attraction between them is instantaneous, but they're both keeping secrets. What will happen when the truth comes out? This book was a pleasure to read right from the start. It's funny with a ton of heart, the friendships playing almost as large a role as the romantic relationship. If you like rom com with a bit of steam, don't miss this one. Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Like a cream filling hidden in a pastry, we have so many delicious layers to this story! I absolutely adore the premise of this book! Facing layoffs, Julia makes a last-ditch pitch to review a new resort that is hosting a Rom-Com LARP. Bringing along her two besties for the week, she's determined to get the inside scoop and have a little fun along the way. Luke is the Game Master, the one who's pulling all the strings to give the guests an unforgettable experience. Along with his best friend and his sister, his team has planned every rom-com trope imaginable into an event-filled week that is sure to fulfill more than a few fantasies. Set along Chicago's lakeshore, the laughs start immediately with Luke and Julia's first meeting that was crashed by a maniacal seagull. There is plenty of humor throughout the book but the author also does an amazing job of focusing on the deep, emotional issues involved. There are more rom-com references than you can shake a stick at. Johnny Castle? Check. Meg Ryan? Check. Secret identities? Check and double check. The way all these were worked into the story was simply brilliant, and really elevated this to so much more than a traditional rom-com. It's a beautiful tribute to the genre itself. As expected, there are plenty of romances happening here in addition to Luke and Julia's. Their HEA is perfectly life-changing, and theirs isn't the only one. I loved every character, even Zach, and I loved every single page of this vibrant, enthralling story. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.