⭐⭐⭐☆
Big points to the author for: age gap (15 years), pansexual MC (Hayden),
gender fluid supporting character (Luce) and an excellent relationship between
Hayden and her cat, Frank. A lot of family drama (on both sides) is also
included, fleshing out both the MCs a little better. Samantha actually seems to
be somewhere on the ASD spectrum with her lack of ability to read people, low
emotional involvement and expression, and very, very little touching. Hayden is
utterly engaging and charmingly funny.
⭐⭐⭐☆
Fake relationship…this time a marriage between a
neurosurgeon and a nurse for reasons not disclosed till rather late in the
novel.
Hayden Pérez is struggling financially. She comes across an
anonymous ad asking for a wife for a year. The word ‘compensated’ grabs her
attention and she answers the ad. At work, she has an intense-dislike-bordering-on-hate
feeling with the top neurosurgeon of the city, Samantha Thomson, who in turn
probably doesn’t even notice her. When she does meet the person who posted the ad,
it turns out to be Samantha. With a huge amount of money being offered, Hayden
grabs the offer and now the two have to convince the world that they are so
into each other that their marriage at the end of one month doesn’t seem too
far-fetched.
The author builds up the growing attraction between Hayden
and Samantha (the book is narrated from Hayden’s point of view, so we don’t get
to know what Samantha is thinking or feeling at all) realistically,
intelligently avoiding the cannot-keep-hands-to-ourselves-despite-dislike
attraction.
⭐⭐⭐☆
