This book flew right by. It was short and sweet. Cute characters with a fun career path. Interesting conflict of interest when the characters reconnected. Fun plotline with them posing as a couple for a week or two. It went by a little bit TOO fast for me, but I knew it was short going into it so I wasn't taken aback by this. Definitely a cute little feel-good story!!

My first read by Ruby Lang. I really enjoyed this book, it had all the elements I look for in a great read. I planned on reading a few chapters then stop, but I found myself unable to stop reading. Great job!!

2.5 stars
For the first few pages I was like “this is going to be awesome!” And then it started to lose me when there were no directives in the dialogues. And then everything started happening really quickly. Which is when I figured out that this is somewhere between a short story and a novella. Probably only about a hundred pages. And by then I was feeling like way too much time was being spent on the description of the houses they were visiting. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good HGTV remodeling show as much as the next person, but I don’t want to read about one.

I loved that the cast of characters was so diverse. You have asian leads, gay siblings, ethnic coworkers, it was great. A realistic mix of people. But that was kind of the shining moment for me. Unfortunately, at times it felt like this had been some sort of writing exercise.

I wanted so badly to enjoy this sweet little book, but I just couldn't get there. I understand that novellas have to move a bit quicker than full-blown novels, but everything just felt so rushed. I never got a chance to care about the characters before jumping into the romantic plotline. It was almost jarring. I also didn't care for the author's writing style, it just felt a bit too formal for my taste.

Some books feel like they were written for you, as if an author is eavesdropping on what you want in a book and what you like in books, and part of me wants to accuse Ruby Lang of bugging my house. Playing House is charming and almost breezily free of plot. It’s two messy people going through big changes in their lives and finding each other at the right time.

When I say it’s free of plot, that isn’t exactly true, but there is no driving external plot, so the story focuses on these two people who are trying to decide how to say what they want and also figure out what that is. Fay is coming off of a divorce that has left her a bit insecure in personal relationships, while Oliver is dealing with unemployment and freelancing (or really having his own consultancy) and the fear of being too like the father who abandoned him.

Here’s the secret to why Lang’s books work for me: the easy and playful conversations.* The rhythm is fun, comfortable, and welcoming. These two people know enough about each other to know how to joke and tease and be themselves. And in a way, Playing House is about two people figuring out how to be themselves again. It might also be just a very over-30 romance in that you’ve made choices in your life and some mistakes, and maybe you lost yourself for a few years because of expectations, and then you hit some magical age (35 for me) and you start realizing that what others see isn’t as important as being able to exist as yourself.

So, the biggest threat to their relationship is the fact that Oliver has applied for a job at Fay’s firm. And he spends a significant amount of time thinking about the fact that he hasn’t told her that he sent his resume to her firm before they met at the first house tour. Even though I kept screaming at him to just tell her and we’d all escape some hurt, I have to admit that this is something I would do because pretending that you didn’t try for something is harder than admitting you did try and failed. It’s that messy human thing where we make mistakes because of all the things that inform who we are.

My only complaint, as ever with novellas, is that I could have spent more time with these two. Except, I also sort of loved the abruptness of the ending.

One more note, this isn’t really a fake dating romance - it still is, just not in a typical way. The fake dating (or really marriage) is all done for the ease of viewing real estate and because people assume it of the characters.




*As a good editor, Suzanne will want me to say “banter,” but I refuse for reasons.

[Editor's Note: I have kept her original phrasing only because this is funny.]




Content Warnings: crappy father, divorce, unemployment




Margrethe received a digital copy of this book from the publisher for review via NetGalley.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.

Oliver and Fay are urban planners and are acquaintances who have known each other for about 10 years. She sees him at a tour of old property and pretends he’s her BF to shake off a creep who apparently doesn’t know what the word no means.

Even though Fay just got divorced, she’s honest about not wanting a fling and wanting something serious. That’s where Oliver comes in. They both have a lot in common including the same job.

Cute novella and I ultimately wish it was longer. But I definitely recommend this as a cozy romance and a lovely afternoon read.

The urban planning community is small, so Oliver isn't too terribly surprised to see Fay on a house tour in a historic New York neighborhood. What does surprise him? Her running up to him and kissing him. He plays along, pretending to be her boyfriend to get rid of a sketchy guy hitting on her. Fake-dating for the rest of the tour, Oliver can't help but realize how natural it feels, and how much he enjoys being around Fay.

Fay is getting her life back in order after her divorce, and finds herself enjoying her time with Oliver... even if they keep getting mistaken for being newlyweds. Passionate about her career and ready to get back into dating, she can't stop thinking about Oliver and how easy it is to spend time with him. Geeking out over architecture, chatting comfortably about anything and everything... and then, of course, there's the fact that he is really easy on the eyes.

A really short and sweet love story, "Playing House" is the first in a new series that is sure to delight with it's heart, passion, laughter, and finding happiness, love, and yourself.

I was really excited about this book because of the fauxmance aspect of it, but I didn't like the chemistry or the insta-lust between the two main characters. I also didn't like reading al the urban planning details, and found that boring. I love architecture and interiors, but this book read like a travel guidebook more than a contemporary romance. There was so tension, no swoons, no real romance. No development of the characters or their stories. As such, I DNFed at 60% and will not be posting an official review online.

this was so stinking cute!! i really enjoyed it. it was adorable. i love love love loved the characters. the only problem was that i had no idea it was so short and i wasn't prepared for that! i definitely feel like it could have been fleshed out a bit more and been a bit longer, i have nothing against novellas but it did feel like things were missing from this one sometimes. but, that's a small quibble, and overall i thought it was adorable and sexy and i would absolutely read more from this author!

Fay Liu and Oliver Huang are old acquaintances that have a chance encounter at an open house and pretend to be a couple, only to realize their feelings for each other are more real than they ever expected. The problem? City planner Oliver is out of work and trying to get a job at Fay's up and coming firm, although he can't seem to find the right time to tell Fay. I loved this premise (looking at you Hallmark Movie Channel!) and the characters were lovely: funny, vulnerable and I especially loved Fay's willingness to just say what she means and wants. Although a bit light on conflict, it was an enjoyable, quick read (more novella than novel) perfect for anyone who loves real estate, city planning, or just escaping for a few hours. Note: I read an advanced copy courtesy of NetGalley. Opinions are my own.

Playing House is told from both Fay and Oliver's perspectives - two urban planners/acquaintances who meet up again at a NYC house tour. Their romance develops quickly as they navigate life, work ambitions and family. Lang's writing is refreshing and fun. The only downside to Playing House was the fact it was too short. I wanted more of Fay and Oliver - more character development and more romance. Thankfully, it seems a sequel is in the future.

Playing House by Ruby Lang is a short novella about two Chinese American urban planners fake dating and yeah you can guess it falling for each other. I didn't know that this would be a novella and it definitely felt way too short and just breezing through a bunch of topics. Which can really go both ways. It reads fast and easy. I wasn't familiar with this author writing style but I have to say I like it. I liked side characters especially brother Nate and hopefully, the author will write about him in the future. I feel like with more detail and depth this could be much more of an amazing novel. Too light, short and underdeveloped for me to take it seriously.
Still worth the read. The perfect read for a beach.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Playing House is a novella about two urban planners who meet again at a house tour when Oliver helps Fay escape a jerk who refuses to hear the word no. I really appreciate that Oliver doesn't make light of her fear and keeps checking in with her later to make sure she's ok because she is shaken.

Oliver had applied for a job at Fay's company months ago (he is consulting on contract jobs since being laid off) and finally heard back from them just before running into Faye. He's not sure if she knows as she is one of the firm's partners, but it becomes apparent that her partners are looking after expanding the firm and she has no idea.

Oliver and Fay are both dealing with loss and re-calibrating their lives. For Oliver, losing his job has shook his self esteem and sense of place - he's working contracts, living with his brother to save money, and afraid of the parallels between him and his father who couldn't keep a job. Fay is divorced and more sad about the marriage being over than missing the man she was married to, which is its own cause of reflection. She has bought her own place but hasn't unpacked or done anything with it. I really liked the self-awareness and what they both do to move on for themselves and look at the potential of their relationship (once, you know, they finally discuss that potential job at her firm).

The housing details are also wonderful (going to have to find a tour next time I'm in NYC, for sure). It's really cute to have two characters in the same field nerding out together instead of competing in a romance, I didn't know how much I needed that until I read this novella.

Playing House is a delight. It's hard with novellas to walk away feeling like you actually got to know the characters but it accomplishes that and begins their HEA journey nicely.

I feel like there should be a warning that Playing House is a short novella instead of a full length book.

Here's the thing, I only read short stories by authors I already love and I know their writing is enough to leave me fully satisfied after a hundred pages. Authors I trust they'll leave me wanting more but in the best way possible.

Now, don't get me wrong, there was nothing bad or wrong about Lang's writing. Quite contrary, it was solid and lovely, the main characters were definitely refreshing and were amazing example of #ownvoices in romance and the story had enough meat around the bone. However, the length of this novella wasn't simply enough for me to create a connection with it. Sadly, the whole build up of the relationship was told and not shown. And also? there wasn't much of that fake relationship trope that was promised in the synopsis either.

So yeah, I'd definitely read a full length novella by Ruby Lang but this one was definitely not enough to satisfy me - and trust me, I am damn sad about that, because Oliver Huang? He was Book-Husband material.

My feelings about Playing House are kind of double. On the one hand, I loved the concept. The passion both Oliver and Fay show for their jobs is amazing. And of course, the insights we're offered in so much of the planning and the architecture of Manhattan? They just made me want to up and move there.
I wish, though, that the author had given the plot a little more narrative time. The love and the development of the characters felt a bit rushed, certainly towards the end. I mean, just three weekends of house visits? For love, and improving the relationship with your mother, and figuring out your entire life?
I feel like I could've liked this book more if I'd been given more of it *to* like, you know what I mean?
Nonetheless, though, this was a really enjoyable book, a perfect, quick, read for the summer!

This was.... fine? It was fine. There were no glaring issues, but also nothing to really grab and hold my attention. This book was, for me, a series of little annoyances that built up.
Fay and Oliver have known each other for years as acquitances, but since Fay is now divorced, she realizes that she now sees Oliver in a different (romantic) light. Forced to pretend to be a couple to get rid of a harrasser, a spark ignites between them, and they start to date while pretending to be a married couple while going from a house viewing to house viewing. There's only one problem: Oliver has applied for a job at Fay's firm few months ago and not too long ago he was told his CV is finally in the last round. There's no way this could go wrong, right??

So, pros:
* I liked that the characters were urban planners. That's a profession I have heard a lot about, but never really understood what it entails, so now I know. It's always cool to see protags with interesting jobs
* I liked that the story was about Oliver trying to figure out what he actually wants from his professional life, instead of going by what others expect from him
* Lang's writing is very good
* Oliver's brother Nate was great and I'd like to read about him
* That preview for the next book is great and inherently way more readable than this entire book
* The cover is... nice?

Now onto the cons, aka the nitpick theatre:
* First of all, the whole "I'm not going to tell Fay that I've applied for a job at her company" thing. This was supposed to be a sweet fluffy book, yet I spent the entire book in paralizing anxiety over this. These two people literally don't have a proper adult conversation until about 81% in
* This is probably a personal thing, but I always felt that someone masturbating over someone else without their consent is a gross boundary violation, even in romance novels
* The characters were bland. Oliver was bland and Fay was slightly interesting, but I just couldn't get into them. Nate overshadowed everyone
* The whole subplot with Oliver's mother was. Well. Are you trying to say that after taking out and paying mortgage for her (for several months at least) so she can have her dream house, she just goes "nah I wanna move back" and that's it?? Cancelling mortgage isn't such a simple issue?? I understand this was supposed to be a crowning moment of glory for Oliver because "yes I was right" but... jesus
* I'm sorry, but them pretending to be Olly and Darling, a rich couple perusing houses to buy and fooling the owners wasn't charming, it was a dick move. I was already uneasy about that plotline, but then we saw it from the other side from Magda's pov in her preview, her just desperate to sell the flat and those two just lying to her? Yes this is a personal pet peeve but
* SPEAKING OF DICK MOVES: you telling me those two were so horny that they were going to FUCK at a house viewing??? In a house that doesn't belong to them??? That's so gross <i>and</i> rude?????

Anyway. It's becoming clearer and clearer that contemporaries are just not for me. The list of annoyances grows and I have way less patience for it's bullshit, yet I still naively keep trying. I don't know why, at this point

This short romantic comedy was an easy read and a pleasant way to spend an afternoon. Oliver and Fay ("Darling") were a cute couple, although I would have enjoyed a little bit more development of their relationship in order to really feel vested in their HEA. The writing style was cute and I enjoyed all the vicarious apartment hunting. I'm curious about book 2 in the series.

Playing House by Ruby Lang is a relatively tame romance book, but it's a cute book if you are looking for something fun to read. The heat level on this is pretty tame, but there is a sex scene in this one. So be forewarned if you don't like romance books with that in there.

The plot of this novel was pretty cool. I don't know a lot about city planning before reading this book, and I still think it seems like a boring job! LOL! I was glad to see a woman who was really career-focused in this book. I felt sad for Fay with what she went through with her divorce. I liked Oliver a lot, I felt for him in his annoyance with feeling like he never lived up to his mother's demands. I feel like this doesn't really get resolved in this book and that was little disappointing to me.

I think one of the reasons this book wasn't a complete win for me was because I didn't really buy the chemistry between Fay and Oliver. When they were finally together it was fine, but it almost felt insta-lovey and it was too rushed. I wanted a little bit of a chase, a little bit of a build up of the feelings between them and I felt like I just didn't get that here.

I don't think this was a bad book at all, it just felt maybe the pacing was a little too fast? I'm not sure what it was, but there felt like something was missing here that made me not enjoy it as much as I wanted to.

I am so glad I got to read this book. The characters are realistic and they solve their problems in realistic ways. The book was a quick read, but I'm glad that the major issue the main characters deal with wasn't drawn out an extra hundred pages just to make it longer. I love that more stories about non white people are being written by non white authors and I have read other great Ruby Lang stories as well. The book was just the right length to keep me wanting more, so I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. Another great Ruby Lang story and I can't wait to have this book in our store.

cute, quick read. my first ruby lang book and i enjoyed it. there were things that made me laugh and smile. I just found how the two MCs reconnected to be so interesting as i've never read a romance with urban planner MCs. i didn't even know what that career entailed.

So it was interesting learning about it and watching these two connect. What i liked about it was that their courtship really felt suited to them as they both enjoyed the same things re: knowing details about the places they checked out together and their whole routine of pretending be Olly and Darling, a couple looking at places to live together.

I just overall really loved it. It was just so sweet and the potential black moment was resolved with frank discussion and apologies. Waiting patiently for the next in this series.