Library Journal
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Dolly Brick and Stewart Whitfield were never meant to be together, but when Stewart needs a reputation reset in order to get a job promotion, Dolly happens to be in the right place at the right time and agrees to a fake-dating arrangement—complete with a payment plan and a clause about no touching or PDA. Single mom Dolly is only in town for the summer, helping her family repair their house after a fire, and the money Stewart has agreed to pay her will provide a new roof. Galas and company dinners aside, Stewart starts inviting Dolly on sunset boat rides and to explore caves—among other, more personal get-togethers. The two become close, and before they know it, sparks begin to ignite. This slow burn is heartfelt, weaving a story of prior neglect and abandonment into one of acceptance and hope. VERDICT Monaghan (It's a Love Story) offers a beautiful read in which two unlikely characters come together and learn the meaning of love and acceptance in times of need.—Erin Holt

Publishers Weekly
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Bestseller Monaghan (It’s a Love Story) takes on the fake-dating trope in this heartening summer romance. Single mom Dolly Brick returns to Whitfield, R.I., for a few weeks each summer to help her father at their family’s business, the Brick Fish House. This year, after a fire breaks out in her childhood home, she agrees to stay longer to assist with cleanup. Hardworking Dolly reckons with her place in the family as she works with her father; cares for her brother, who has schizophrenia; and tries not to resent her more easygoing younger sister, Patsy. Meanwhile, Stewart Whitfield, the handsome but hapless heir to the famous, old-money family for whom the town is named, faces personal and professional challenges after a very public breakup with his fiancée. After Dolly helps Stewart with a flat tire, their photo is printed in the tabloids and he proposes a PR relationship to improve his public image, offering a hefty payout. Through fake-dating, the pair open up about their vulnerabilities and family struggles, strengthening their bond and boosting Dolly’s confidence. Monaghan’s sunny tale expertly balances the joy of falling in love with the realities of making difficult life decisions, dealing with anxieties, and managing stress. Throw this one in the beach bag. (May)

Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

A single mom winds up fake dating an incredibly wealthy man in her hometown. Dolly Brick is back in her hometown of Whitfield, Rhode Island, for the summer to help her dad and disabled brother manage their house and family business. As a 39-year-old single mother with multiple jobs—which now include working at the Brick Fish House—Dolly is always busy. When her mom left their family years ago, Dolly took over caring for her siblings and father and never really stopped. When she runs into Stewart Whitfield after making a shrimp delivery to his family’s mansion, she doesn’t think they could be more different. She’s had to figure out how to do everything by herself, and he can’t even change a tire. That’s why Stewart’s proposal that she pretend to be his girlfriend feels so unbelievable—but it comes with a hefty check that she desperately needs for home repairs. So she becomes the fake girlfriend of Stewart Whitfield (as in, the Whitfields her town is named after; his real fiancée just dumped him and it’s a bad time for him to be single) and experiences what it’s like to walk into fancy buildings through the front door instead of the service entrance. More than the boats and helicopter and expensive dinners, though, Dolly is impressed by what a kind man Stewart is—and how it feels to let someone else take care of her for a change. Soon, their relationship starts to feel more real than fake. Monaghan creates an impossibly winning story with a charming, lovable heroine. Dolly is capable, hardworking, and will do anything for the people she loves. She and Stewart both possess real flaws, and while their relationship begins with one of the most beloved rom-com tropes, their challenges feel like realistic adult obstacles rather than easily solved miscommunications. It’s also refreshing that, even though Dolly must learn to allow other people to help her, she never views her caretaking responsibilities as burdens. She deeply loves her family, and that love carries through the entire story. A charming love story that absolutely radiates warmth. Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.