Hello

Apologies for the late notice, but I have decided not to review this title.

While I am certain it's obvious by now, I wanted to also clear this off NetGalley, so it's not showing as open for either of us.

I look forward to continuing to work with you in 2023 and beyond.

Laura

A small town hires a new male librarian and all isn't well. To try and save his job, Molly decides to pose as his fake girlfriend. As the couple navigates through the deception, can they remain friends or will more develop?

This is the fourth book in the Sutton Place series by Shannon Stacey. This book is your typical HEA but it was laugh out loud funny.

Molly is pretty out there and Callan is the new librarian looking to be seen seriously. When Molly offers the idea of being a fake couple so people can see that he's here to stay he takes her up on it. Thing is the more they are around eachother the more they want this fake relationship to turn into a real one.

This was such a sweet read. With all the dramas I've been reading lately this book was a pretty refreshing change of pace. I really enjoyed both characters but love how much I felt seen when it came Molly's character who has ADD. I love how accepting and accommodating Callan was and it was interesting seeing how they interacted with each others quirks and how they ultimately fell for eachother. Overall I really enjoyed seeing how this book played out and highly recommend you lovely readers to check this book out.

Good opposites attract story. Callen is the new librarian in Stonefield - the young, attractive, and single MALE librarian. Some older, more conservative residents aren't sure they are comfortable with that difference. Molly, a lifetime resident of the town, suggests that she and Callen pretend to be a couple to calm their fears and give them a chance to get to know him. Callen is skeptical but goes along. Neither expected the genuine feelings that resulted from their fake relationship.

I loved Callen and Molly. Callen is a self-proclaimed book nerd, a little shy and buttoned-up. He came to Stonefield looking for a place to make a home and future. He doesn't know what to make of the bubbly, mermaid-sweater-wearing, conversation-challenging Molly. Molly is a bit of a wild child, thanks to her ADHD. She wasn't diagnosed until she was an adult, which made her childhood challenging. Friends and family often despaired of her over-the-top personality.

I loved watching the relationship between Molly and Callen develop. Poor Callen was bewildered by his first conversation with her, but her empathy over his concerns about his job made him feel better. Surprisingly, her wild idea of a fake relationship proved not to be so off-the-wall. With Molly holding his hand and introducing him around at Sutton's Pub, he already saw a difference in attitudes.

Watching Molly and Callen together was great. Molly's outgoing personality helped Callen settle in at Stonefield faster than he would have been able to do so on his own. She understands his worry about not making it through his probationary period after he's committed himself to settle there and is determined to ease his way. I enjoyed how it didn't take long for Callen to adjust to Molly's quirks and that he thought about her constantly. Not only did they quickly become true friends, but the fake part of their relationship also didn't last long.

I adored how Callen used his book-nerd research skills to read up on ADHD so that he could be the kind of boyfriend Molly needed. She spent her whole life with no one else, friends or family, making that effort. I ached for Molly when her mom would make thoughtless, hurtful remarks about Molly being "too much," and her friends would shake their heads at her impulses. Callen's accepting Molly just as she is greatly impacted her. I smiled at their movie-night scene and Callen's understanding. I loved seeing how intent both were on helping each other. Callen and Molly found themselves thinking about what it would be like to make their relationship real.

Then Callen's comment about what he sees as his future runs up against Molly's greatest fear, and their dreams of a life together fall apart. I hurt for Callen, whose dreams of a family with Molly turned to ashes. He wants Molly in his life but fears growing to resent her over this one issue. Meanwhile, Molly's fear of her ADHD creating problems in a family setting keep her from seeing a positive outcome. I liked how both of them got a wake-up call from comments by friends. Callen realizes that he has gained family through his relationship with Molly. And a statement from her friend Chelsea reminds Molly that things are far different than they were when she was a child. The depth of emotion as they confessed their fears and feelings for each other warmed my heart and made me believe in their future success. The epilogue was great, confirming my belief, and providing a few laughs, too.

It's instant attraction for Molly and Callan when they first meet in this book, and I'm here for it.

Molly is all about the quirky small time life, and when Callan has a tougher time becoming a friend versus foe as the town's male librarian, she befriends him and offers to be his fake girlfriend to get people off his back.

Callan really wants the settled with family life. Molly thinks she is too much for most people (which she attributes to her ADHD - a really big focus in this book. Maybe a little too much.) Of course they're going to come to have stronger feelings, but they've given themselves a deadline of when to break-up.

You see where this is going, right?

This is a very sweet story and I have loved all of the characters from the series. Shannon Stacey is one of my favorite authors, and doesn't disappoint with this book.

Cute short romance about a man who comes to a small town to be their new librarian and a small-town girl with ADHD who decide to enter a fake relationship after the MMC overhears comments that indicate his new town is not comfortable with having a librarian who is a single man (with which I have problems, but I guess that's not the point). This was the first book I had read in this series, and I was able to jump in without issue.

Stonefield New Hampshire doesn’t appear ready for Callan, the small town’s first male librarian. Molly, a fixture in the town, suggests she and Callan fake date. That way he’ll skate through his probationary period, and she’ll have a date for her friend Gwen’s wedding. Win win. The fake dating soon starts feeling like the real thing, but a philosophical deal breaker may make force their breakup despite their connection.

Molly makes a wonderful heroine. She’s quirky, likable, and relatable. Her ADHD is well portrayed as is her complicated relationship with her parents and her strong friendships with the Sutton sisters and Chelsea, the owner of the local coffee shop. Callan’s BFF Rome provides wonderful remote support though video chats. I’m hoping Chelsea finds a happy ever after in the next installment of the Sutton’s Place series.

Falling for His Fake Girlfriend
By Shannon Stacey

A sexy librarian, fake dating, forced proximity romance, but not what you think. Being an attractive, male librarian can be a drawback in a small town. That's what happens when Callan Avery settles down in Stonefield as the town’s librarian. He’s surprised by the reaction of some of Stonefield’s residents to him. His neighbor Molly Cyrs, however, easily befriends Callan, and impulsively suggests they “fake” date to help him not only be accepted by the town but give the town a chance to get to know him before passing judgment on him being a young, attractive, male librarian.

Molly has ADHD and has come to understand from family and friends she is often “too much” for people. Callan sees her differently than other people and really tries to not only understand what she goes through but help her be herself without guilt. She’s endearing, quirky, and often funny. I really felt the anguish and vulnerability of Molly and her fear for a family, and Callan’s heartbreak when he realizes she has made up her mind about her future.

The 4th book in the Sutton’s Place series has wonderful characters, the kind you can relate to, and the sense of community that is the essence of a Shannon Stacey story. I’ve been reading her books for years, and I am a huge fan of the way she brings HEA to her characters. I loved how she showed us the inner workings of Molly’s brain and her coping mechanisms with ADHD. The delightful supporting characters, the backdrop of a small-town library bringing programs to the town, and the love between friends. The epilogue was the icing on this small-town cake and I’m still smiling. This book can be read as a standalone, but we do get to see characters from the previous books and catch up on their lives. I received an arc of this book from NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

He's the shy librarian...

I quite enjoyed this fun fake dating to something real book.
Callan is the quiet librarian which is as nice switch up, as he's a guy.
Molly is extra. She has ADHD and is loud and over the top. She is the one who proposes they fake date so that Callan can be accepted into the community.
There was a lot covered in this book and it was well done and enjoyed.

With her adult diagnosis of ADHD, Molly is used to people thinking she's "too much." When Callan, the town's new librarian, first meets her, he thinks the same thing. Once he gets to know her, though, he begins to understand how special she is. But Callan wants to have a family, and Molly doesn't believe she's cut out to be a mother. Can he convince her they belong together?

Molly and Callan are adorable together. She's funny and outgoing, while he's on the quiet side. It's so sweet the way he learns to help give her what she needs—the way he accepts her just as she is. A sweet, heartwarming, satisfying read.

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

This a a perfectly lovely small town/fake relationship romance. A buttoned up librarian who wants a family more than anything agrees to fake date the mermaid sweater wearing ball of sunshine who works (and lives) at the local funeral home. Oh, and they're next door neighbors. And she doesn't want kids because she has ADHD and her parents never understood her (and still don't).

It's perfectly lovely. It does it's job, and tugged on my heart strings several times, and will be a four or five star read for many. It's a three star read for me as I'm not that interested in kids/no kids as conflict and it didn't do anything spectacular to elevate it.

A nice, cozy, low steam romance that will be enjoyed by many.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Molly and Callan’s story was sweet with just a bit of steam. I loved how Callan researched her ADHD to try to know her and help her better. I was hoping there would be more about how her parents dealt with her, and maybe more about Roman. Sweet ending.

Molly and Callan set up a fake romance to help him adjust to life in a small town after taking the job as the town Librarian. Initial visits by library patrons caused some unease with the new handsome, single librarian.

With severe ADHD affecting every aspect of her life, Molly is challenging. Callan researches her condition to learn and understand how to help her: no one has ever done that for her. She's made to feel different her whole life and not even her parents took extra steps to understand how the condition affects her.

It was a great addition to the Sutton series and I enjoyed the updates to their families. Although part of a series, this can be read as a standalone book.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Four and a Half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒
Falling for His Fake Girlfriend by Shannon Stacey is the fourth book in her popular Sutton Place series but can easily be read as a stand-alone.

Story Recap:
Bookish Callan Avery is the new librarian in town and is looking forward to settling down in a small town. But, some of the townspeople aren’t happy having a single man as their librarian. His next-door neighbor, Molly, works at her family's funeral home, also right next door, and befriends him right away. When she finds out some of the townspeople don’t like that he is single, she suggests that they fake date until the town gets to know him better. Will fake dating turn into a love match?

My Thoughts:
I enjoyed this fake dating, opposites attract book very much. Molly was just wonderful. She has ADHD and isn’t well understood by her parents or any of her past boyfriends. She can be a bit over the top and she knows it. She feels like she can’t have a real relationship because she was always too much for her past boyfriends.

I fell for Callen when he researched Molly’s ADHD in order to understand her better and help her navigate her world. It just showed how much he cared about Molly as a person and a friend. He’s quiet and bookish and Molly is the opposite, but he grows to understand Molly and he appreciates her more than anyone.

Recommendation:
I highly recommend Falling for His Fake Girlfriend to anyone who enjoys romance. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The town of Stonefield may not be ready for their new male librarian, but local Molly Cyrs definitely is. Molly, who is often thought of as “too much” or too rash by her friends and family, comes up with a scheme to make the small town of Stonefield feel more comfortable with their new male librarian, Callen, by faking a relationship that she says started back when he first came to town months ago for his initial interview at the library. As she introduces Callen to the townspeople, Molly and Callen both start to really fall for each other and wonder if this fake relationship is truly fake. I love Shannon Stacey’s writing and really enjoyed both Molly and Callan’s characters. It was so cute when Callen went out of his way to make Molly feel comfortable and let her know she was not “too much” for him. Can’t wait to read the rest of the series.
Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for providing an ebook copy for review.

Shannon Stacey is BACK and I love this series! She has such a knack for writing families, characters with deep souls, and humor.

Such a benign title for what turns out to be a great story that grabs at your heart rather immediately and has you laughing out loud frequently. I guess that what makes this newest book, FALLING FOR HIS FAKE GIRLFRIEND by Shannon Stacey a winner. Those who know this prolific author won’t be surprised. It’s her stock in trade. Romance, humor, family, angst. - kind of goes with family, and characters that have flaws. Shannon Stacey likes her characters to feel like real people, so they have foibles and weaknesses. And in FALLING FOR HIS FAKE GIRLFRIEND we get to meet Molly.
Wait till you meet Molly who freely admits that she has ADHD which she corrals with lists and sticker notes. How many of us can truly identify with this young woman even without a diagnosis of this problem with keeping the brain and thoughts organized. I am a list maker. I also draw a line through an item that has been taken care of. So watching Molly is like seeing myself in a way. A very charming and humorous way. That is not to say we should make fun of Molly. In fact she is a joy and the new librarian in town, Callan, quickly realizes that she has a knack for taking stress out of his job as a small-town librarian.
Callan is single and good looking. These qualities make him ripe for suspicion. He is already having some doubts about taking this position in such a small town. Hoping of course that the gamble of starting in a new place, doing what he loves will pan out and that the councilmen won’t release him from his contract because the locals are worried about his being around their women, young and old. Brought an immediate smile to my face.
Spending time with Molly means getting to know how talented Shannon Stacey truly is. Molly has no filter which means if she thinks it, she says it. Honest beyond reproach. Just like all of us Molly gallantly tries to work and play with the cards she was dealt. The community knows all about Molly. Life is an open book in a small town and Molly has endeared herself to most everyone making her a great champion for newcomer Callan. Almost immediately after their relationship becomes common knowledge Callan notices the difference in their acceptance. In fact the love they feel for Molly seems to now extend to him. Callan has no family and few friends. Here in Stonefield Callan finds people. Dare he hope he can also find the possibility of love and family too. With Shannon Stacey you know anything is possible. And if she thinks it, it will probably happen right before our eyes.
Shannon Stacey compares Molly’s life to color outside the lines. Corralling these tendencies is a challenge and Callan is quickly recognizing Molly’s difficulties in doing so, and her dismay at having folks fix her or correct her. In particular, her mother. Done with love and affection of course but Callan is somewhat amazed that he feels so protective towards this woman who is more of a stranger.
So what does a man who lives with boundaries and organization find so appealing with someone you might think of as his opposite. Well you know all about that adage. And in FALLING FOR HIS FAKE GIRLFRIEND Shannon Stacey gently reminds us to look beyond the cover to the real important items.
Shannon Stacey’s forte, romantic comedy with endearing characters and plots that might seem silly at the start but wait before making that judgement. This is one of my favorite authors. Never disappoints. Always delivers a smashingly lovely tale. One that makes you smile, laugh, sigh and dream. Can’t think of a better way to spend a day then reading something by Shannon Stacey and FALLING FOR HIS FAKE GIRLFRIEND will win her new fans.

This book is the best example of opposites attract! Callan is a shy, introverted Librarian that is new to town. Molly is the outgoing hometown girl. When the small town is having a hard time adjusting to the idea of a male librarian, Molly hatches a plan to pose as Callan’s girlfriend to help him fit in. Molly has often felt like to much for those around her between her outgoing personality and her lifetime struggle with ADHD. When she spends time with Callan, she surprisingly feels like perhaps she’s not to much. . . Maybe she is just enough the way she is. Highly recommend this one. I loved Callan as a character. You can’t beat a handsome, book loving hero.

Stonefield New Hampshire doesn’t appear ready for Callan, the small town’s first male librarian. Molly, a fixture in the town, suggests she and Callan fake date. That way he’ll skate through his probationary period, and she’ll have a date for her friend Gwen’s wedding. Win win. The fake dating soon starts feeling like the real thing, but a philosophical deal breaker may make force their breakup despite their connection.

Molly makes a wonderful heroine. She’s quirky, likable, and relatable. Her ADHD is well portrayed as is her complicated relationship with her parents and her strong friendships with the Sutton sisters and Chelsea, the owner of the local coffee shop. Callan’s BFF Rome provides wonderful remote support though video chats. I’m hoping Chelsea finds a happy ever after in the next installment of the Sutton’s Place series.

The humor, the charming small town atmosphere, and the focus on Callan’s job at the library provide a solid foundation for the story. Even though this is the first book I have read in the series, I had no problem getting up to speed in the happenings of the town and various characters. Since I enjoyed this installment so much, I plan to check out the previous books.

I’m a big fan of the fake relationship trope and a great epilogue and this book delivered both beautifully.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks to Harlequin Enterprises ULC for providing an Advance Reader Copy via NetGalley.