ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS. thank you netgalley for the arc, i was so happy to read before anyone else. i previously read lacey's stars collide and couldn't wait to read this follow up. lacey does contemporary sapphic romances better than most writers, getting the balance of relationships, sex and getting to know the characters as themselves perfectly. excited for whatever she does next.

yeah so I loved every minute of this. No real criticisms and I felt like the author navigated trauma very well and treated her characters with empathy. Thank god that there's no serious third act breakup.

This book was such a well written, slow-burn romance! I really enjoyed the character development and how the two main characters grew together. Their initial interactions were awkward, and it made for an enjoyable, hilarious read. I really felt for these characters because of the depth of emotions and expression of so many feelings throughout the book. I felt that these two women were perfect for each other. Their chemistry was incredible, and the spice was perfect.

As someone who struggles with mental health, I really enjoyed the PTSD representation depicted in this book. I was incredibly grateful to not see a single moment that instantly "cured" Natalie but instead a slow progression of working on her mental health. Because of this, I really appreciated her slowly opening up and accepting the romance between them.

I also really appreciated the enthusiastic consent throughout the spicy scenes of this book. The dialogue was realistic throughout the book, but especially around these scenes. Overall a very enjoyable read!

Fake dating tropes will get me every single time. Celebrity fake dating? Even better. I really enjoyed this story. It also had a surprising amount of depth and emotion. The characters had great backstories and flaws that made them very relatable. Slow-burns with satisfying conclusions are always going to get me. I really enjoy the authors writing style and character building.


Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have also read the audio version of this one and Quinn Riley’s narration is great per usual.

Here is a fake dating story that really worked. Natalie is on top of the world. She is one of the top actresses but fame comes at a price. When her stalker is about to be released from prison she needs to step up her security. When Taylor takes the role of new bodyguard/fake love interest there’s a whole lot more there. I loved these two and their relationship is one to root for!
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I Huge thank you to #montlake and @netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

3.75! This was such a cute and fun story. Loved the connection between Nat and Taylor. Who doesn't love a good ol bodyguard trope?

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

Cover Story is a sapphic romance about a Hollywood starlet and the bodyguard pretending to be her girlfriend. I absolutely loved the first 70% of this book. The ending just didn’t do it for me. I felt like certain things just didn’t fall into place in a way that was satisfying.

3.5 rounded up for goodreads.

Actress Natalie has suffered the dark side of fame after being stalked years ago. She hires bodyguard Taylor to pose as her girlfriend for added discretion. But as their bond deepens, the boundaries between fiction and reality blur.

This is Lacey’s best novel yet. The character development is brilliant and deeply explored. The story is mostly light-hearted but with tense moments. Natalie and Taylor are perfect for each other, and I loved seeing how their relationship evolved. The audiobook narration is superb.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

A Hollywood romance. Threats arise and the heroine's bodyguard must protect her. It's an exciting book. Loved it.

Cover Story by Rachel Lacey is beautiful opposites attract, fake relationship, romance, that made my heart happy.
I enjoyed this book so much that I read it and then immediately listened to the audio. The fabulous Quinn Riley narrated the audio, and I can't tell you how much I’m enjoying the Lacey/Riley team. Riley also narrated Lacey’s Stars Collide and I hope she will narrate many more. Quinn elevated an already amazing story and made me love it even more.
Natalie Keane is a famous Hollywood actress, but the fame that comes with doing what she loves makes her pay a steep price. Eight years ago, Natalie was stalked, and when the media got hold of the story, the frenzy that followed broke her as much as the stalker. Now there’s a new threat and Nat is ready to take all the precautions necessary. She just doesn’t want the press to get wind of it.
Taylor Vaughn is a bodyguard to the stars. She is recovering from an injury that has left her stuck in the office for the past three months, so when the opportunity to work with Natalie Keane comes along, there’s no way she is going to say no. Even if part of the deal is to pose as Natalie’s girlfriend so the press is kept in the dark.
It’s the perfect cover story, that is until it all starts to feel less like a story and more like reality.
Lacey writes with such warmth and depth. She creates characters that I can’t help but love and stories that I want to read again and again. Cover Story is no different, it has Tension, chemistry, a gorgeous steamy romance, and two exquisite main characters.
One of the things I love most about this story is that even though Nat and Taylor are very different, they are both dealing with something that makes them feel vulnerable. It’s those vulnerabilities that bring them closer together, but also throw obstacles in their way.
Taylor is an open, friendly, caring, generous person. She protects with her body and heart, however, because of her past she wants the same in return. She doesn’t need her partner to protect her physically, she is more than capable of doing that herself. But she does require them to protect her heart.
Nat, oh Nat. Natalie is broken, and this has caused her to be closed off. She has built walls around herself and at times can be downright frosty. She is a very private person and can’t bear letting anyone in yet, she has a public persona that ensures she looks strong, friendly, and put together. As usual with these frosty broken characters, she won my heart from the start, and I don’t want it back.
The romance in this book is gentle but steamy. There is a beautiful tension that builds slowly as the characters get to know each other and when it snaps it is explosive. It’s clear from the start how perfect these two are for each other and I absolutely loved watching them realise it.
There is also an important message throughout about self-care and mental wellbeing. Lacey does a brilliant job at conveying the importance of therapy and the fact that a person must be ready for that journey in order for it to work.
I loved both the book and the audio, and it is one I’ll revisit, this is going to be one of those comfort reads for me. It’s got a great balance of all those things I love. Rachel Lacey is one of those authors who is an instant yes for me. I adore her writing and can’t wait to see what’s next.
5 stars from me
Arc received from the author through NetGalley

Another great Sapphic romance from one of my favs, Rachel Lacey. This book sees celeb actress, Natalie falling for her bodyguard Taylor as she hires extra security when one of her stalkers gets released from jail. Initially posing as a couple, feelings eventually turn real quickly. I loved the mental health (PTSD) and disability rep (chronic pain/back injury) in this book and loved how the two leads learned to be there for one another. Highly recommended for fans of authors like Meryl Wilsner and great on audio! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

Steam level: open door

Rachel is a favorite of mine and Cover Story by Rachel Lacey is just as fun and exciting as her previous titles.
A wonderful and loving romance. I loved every second of it.
Natalie and Taylor were phenomenal. Their personalities and chemistry was just phenomenal and I loved reading their story.
I thought the writing was fantastic and very engaging. There are a lot of swoon worthy moments that certainly will have your heart skipping a beat. Throughly enjoyed this one!
Such a great story that I couldn't put down.
I’m ready for the next Rachel Lacey story! 🤗

Thank You NetGalley and Montlake for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

This was a fun, light and sapphic read. It was perfect for a rainy Sunday. Thank you Netgalley for the ArC!

I am a sucker for celebrity fauxmances and this is an absolute gem.

In Cover Story, we meet Hollywood A-lister Natalie Keane and her unconventional bodyguard, Taylor Vaughn. Tasked with protecting Natalie from a resurfaced stalker, Taylor's role extends beyond traditional security measures, posing as Natalie's girlfriend to deflect media attention. The premise doesn't disappoint, unraveling into a narrative that explores the burdens of fame and the sanctuary found in unexpected connections.

I was surprised with the amount of depth in this book - mainly in regard to the portrayal of Natalie's vulnerability and Taylor's steadfastness, weaving a narrative that's as much about finding safety as it is about romance. Lacey crafts a world where the lines between professional and personal blur, leading to a slow-burn romance that's satisfyingly complex.

A great novel and I can't wait to read Stars Collide.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Montlake for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this celebrity, fake dating romance from Rachel Lacey. This takes place in the same world as her previous novel Stars Collide (May 2023), but can easily be read on its own. Natalie Keane is 40, and a celebrated Hollywood actress. Eight years ago she was stalked, kidnapped and held for most of a day. The perpetrator is being paroled and she wants to increase her personal security. In order to keep it quiet it is suggested that her extra guard pose as a girlfriend and live with her for the next few months. Enter Taylor Vaughn who is 37. She has been working in personal security since leaving the Army. She worked security for the MC in the previous book. She is recovering from back surgery but is fit to work with Natalie.

Natalie still has residual fear and trauma from her past experience. She can work, but all but shuts herself off behind the secure walls of her home most of the time. It is an adjustment even allowing Taylor to stay in her home. I like their easy friendship growing slowly. Throw in a couple of dogs and a kitten and I’m smitten. I connected to Natalie’s fears and Taylor’s careful reassurances. I like that the fake dating was for a real purpose and not for some silly plot point. I can’t think of another romance that I’ve read that included the Met Gala as part of the story. And Natalie’s passion for astronomy was a fun side interest that allows for a spectacular surprise gesture on a date.

There is really so much to love in this story. And while I liked and gave four stars to the first book in the series, I enjoyed this story and characters even more. Is it too much to hope that fellow actress Noelle Dara may get her own story. Fingers crossed. Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the ARC and I am leaving a voluntary review. (4.5 Stars)

Another brilliant sapphic romance from Lacey - I loved it just as much as I loved Stars! There’s even a brief mention of crossover characters, which was fantastic (it’s fully a standalone but the mention of a character meeting previously was neat… I read Stars Collide last year and only vaguely recall that, so now I need to re-read it).

This is such a beautiful story where a famous Hollywood actress has a terrible incident in her past - she had a stalker who had actually broken in and kidnapped her and was certain that having her in his presence would turn her straight and make her love him… he’s about to be released from prison and she’s terrified. Her security company decides to step things up by having a female security guard posted by her side at all times, posing as her new girlfriend. Sounds like a perfect solution… until the fake relationship and forced proximity starts to get to them both. Natalie and Taylor have the perfect fake relationship, until it isn’t (and then it is perfectly steamy).

I loved every moment of this one, especially being my favourite fake dating trope - add in Lacey’s incredible writing and the sapphic romance aspect and it’s just so darn perfect! A definite recommendation from me, to all! If you haven’t dipped your toes into sapphic romance novels yet and are wanting to but not sure how or where to start, this is a perfect one to go with!

I received an advance copy from NetGalley and Montlake, and this is my honest feedback.

I love a celebrity romance, and while I'm typically not a fan of the bodyguard trope, it did work really well for me in a sapphic book. I enjoyed this for the most part, but I had two problems that affected my enjoyment. Firstly, there were too many suspenseful scenes in the book, which came on suddenly and felt anxiety-inducing. I read romance for cosy vibes and to relax, so this took me out of the story. Secondly, I wish the characters had just fucking TALKED to each other about the nature of their relationship sooner. It took sooo long for them to actually have that conversation, and I prefer to spend a little time with the couple after they've established themselves as such.

I'll say it, this book was so lovely! The fake dating premise had me swooning. A SAPPHIC BODYGUARD ROMANCE!

Natalie and Taylor are so cute! Self empowering and cute moments!!!!! I just want to live with these two!!!!

I got an e-arc of this book on NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I grabbed Cover Story up so fast because I’m trying to read more sapphic reads. This one for the bill. I was sold on the fake dating storyline too. Unfortunately, there was something missing for me. I can’t quite put my finger on it. This was a fast and easy read besides that.
I felt bad for Natalie because she wasn’t really able to love her life after what happened to her. I think she needed some more help to deal with it and wasn’t getting that support.
Taylor was a good character and I liked how caring she was for Natalie. Maybe what bugged me was the characters were one dimensional. Like there wasn’t much too them for me. And the insta love totally happened and it didn’t bother me too much but it was super quick. And there were sex sciences but they weren’t that spicy. I am glad that they got a happy ending.
I would recommend this book to those starting out in sapphic reads.

Thank you to Montlake and Netgalley for the complimentary copy.

It's been a minute since I read a sapphic book, and Cover Story hit the spot. Cover Story follows Natalie, an actress who is in search of extra protection as her stalker is being released from prison, and she's still grappling with PTSD from being kidnapped, and Taylor, who agrees to be her bodyguard. But, because Natalie doesn't want to draw any extra attention, and in fact wants to keep attention away from any stories about her stalker, she devises a fake dating scheme with Taylor to explain her presence. Seems foolproof!

This certainly isn't a light read by any means. Natalie's trauma impacts her daily life -- she's skittish and nervous and doesn't sleep well. But with Taylor, she starts to be able to feel comfortable. And it's not a linear journey. There are a few one step forward two steps back moments, but at each step, Taylor is there with her. Taylor, who is a bad-ass bodyguard, which we love to see.

What I also loved about this book was that there were a lot of side characters, and they were all good. They all wanted good things for Natalie. I feel like it's really common to have villains in Hollywood-style books who are fueled by jealousy or something similar. But in Cover Story, the other actors, as well as Natalie's friends, are genuinely happy for Natalie when good things happen and genuinely concerned for her when things are tough. There also isn't really a third act break-up (it's more of an I need some space moment). While Natalie and Taylor's communication isn't perfect, it's something that they talk about needing to work on. Taylor gently pushes Natalie to share more of her feelings, and sometimes it results in resistance, and other times it results in Natalie actually sharing how she's feeling (or getting out some cries and screams), but Taylor is always there for Natalie.

One more thing I loved -- Lune and Orion the dogs, and Cassie the kitten. I'm a sucker for a heartwarming rescue story.

Cover Story exists in the same universe as Stars Collide, which has been on my TBR for a while now, but I'm definitely bumping it up the list!

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for providing me with an eARC of Cover Story in exchange for my honest review.