Dnf at 23%. I think this is just a case of “right book, wrong reader”, and even though I’m struggling to push through, many other readers will love this. The concept is fantastic!

ugh this was so damn cute!! i loved every page of this. the synopsis is what originally piqued my interest - she’s new in town and is looking for someone to show her the ropes and bring a little more to her life, he’s a starving artist looking for a way to pay rent, they meet online and she essentially becomes his sugar momma.

what really caught my interest though was the writing! it felt very reminiscent of emily henry, emily wibberley & austin suegmund-broka, who are authors i absolutely adore. i loved the amount of details, i loved the emotion and the character progression. caroline was such a relatable character with her need for lists and explanations. i loved seeing her find her own way with her life in boston, and finding someone like adrian who helped her come out of her shell. they were seriously adorable!!

i think my only hiccup was that i felt like their romantic relationship progressed a little too fast - they were certainly friends and were headed that way, but it kinda felt like suddenly a switch had been flipped. i also wish they had been a little more communicative about what they had wanted towards the end, because it led to a disagreement, but it did end up with a sweet reunion so there’s that at least lol

i’m very happy to have picked this up! i can’t wait for the book to be published so that i can grab a physical copy for my shelves!

Caroline’s grandmother leaves her everything in her will, instructing Caroline to go live a big life. Two million dollars should’ve been enough for Caroline to stop doing everything her father wanted her to do, to live life on her own terms. The inheritance should’ve been Caroline’s ticket to the live she craved but that seemed to be one thing her newfound money couldn’t really buy. Caroline hires Adrian from an online escort site to do all the things she’s been dreaming of, like attend the symphony and the theater and art museum galas. Adrian is only on the website in the first place because his ex fiancé kicked him out and refuses to sell his paintings at her gallery. Caroline and Adrian embark on a reluctant sugar baby relationship that ultimately gives them both way more than they could’ve expected.

Adrian was introduced in Katie Shepard’s debut, Bear With Me Now. I was so glad to see he would get his own chance at a happy ending after what happened with his ex fiancé in the first book. His character was a delight from the start, and I loved his growth as a person and as a boyfriend throughout his time with Caroline. I love that Katie Shepard writes emotionally intelligent men who are able to clearly articulate their feelings without miscommunication taking over.

Caroline was such a real and heartfelt character. Her vulnerabilities and worries about being enough came through so clearly that I felt like she could’ve been me. Her effort to build a life on her own terms using the resources she had at her disposal showed remarkable bravery and gusto. I loved her so much and was cheering for her the entire way.

The message in this book is breathtakingly beautiful. You can build a life you love exactly as you are, choosing joy and happiness without concern for other peoples opinions of you. Caroline and Adrian chose that life of joy and richness together, and it made for an epic romance.

Katie Shepard has firmly cemented herself on my auto-buy author list with this gem. I cannot wait for book three of this trilogy! An absolute must read for everyone but especially those that enjoy: 🩷 age gap romance (33/22) 💸 sugar baby dynamics (he’s the sugar baby) 🎨 snarky commentary on the snooty world of fine art 👨‍🎨 he falls first ✨ the belief that joy in life matters 🖼️ masterfully rich and sincere characters who you can’t help but love

Not as awful as Bear With Me Now (quite possibly the worst book I have read in 2023) but I didn’t like this book either. I requested the arc out of morbid curiosity after hating the last book so much and I should have just not.

I loved this book! It was nice seeing Caroline grow and open up. The plot was hilarious! Adrian is a dreamboat! This would be a wonderful beach read.

Monica Adorno paid $105,129 and endured more than three years of delays to board the submersible Titan to see the wreck of the Titanic and the depths of the sea.

I really loved "Sweeten the Deal" by Katie Shepard. It's a captivating novel that had me hooked from beginning to end. The story is about Caroline, a young woman who unexpectedly inherits a lot of money but isn't happy with her family. She decides to leave her troubled past behind and pursue her dreams in art and school.

Caroline has a hard time socializing because of her dad, which makes her journey even more interesting. She finds comfort in Adrien, an artist who is also dealing with his own problems. Caroline hires Adrien to show her around the art world, go to art shows, and help her decide how to spend her money on supporting artists.

Adrien used to paint beautiful flower portraits, but they've become darker since his breakup. As Caroline and Adrien spend more time together, they become close friends who inspire and support each other. Their bond helps them grow personally and artistically, making the book a joy to read.

"Sweeten the Deal" is a heartwarming and enjoyable story that shows how friendships can change us and help us grow. Katie Shepard, the author, skillfully explores themes of self-discovery, overcoming challenges, and finding our true passions. The book has moments of sweetness, humor, and self-reflection that kept me captivated throughout.

Caroline and Adrian. They met in an unconventional way, both coming from different backgrounds, and there’s the part about the 10 year age gap.

Caroline is 22, her grandmother just passed away, she’s in college, and just inherited 2 million dollars. Adrian is in his 30s, he just broke up, is living with his college roommate, and is struggling to sell his art.

Caroline just moved to Boston. She doesn’t have a good relationship with family, and doesn’t have much friends. They meet through an escort website. She wants to learn about Boston, he’s looking to make some money to get back on his feet. Little did they know, they were signing up for the best adventure yet. They bring the best out in each other.

I did think Caroline was too good at times, and maybe too naive. Of course this is fiction and not real life. She could sometimes be portrayed as childish, compared to Adrian. Maybe it was intentional with the age gap difference.

Overall, it was a fun read. Thank you Berkley Publishing and NetGalley, for the ARC!

I absolutely love love loved this book. Adrian and Caroline have my entire heart and there's something about Katie Shepard's writing that leaps off the page and burrows straight into my brain—I can't stop thinking about this story or these characters. I loved watching these two lower their own—and each other's—walls. Also, one of my very favorite things is when a taciturn man becomes SO SOFT for the person he loves, and this was Adrian in SPADES. I know he'd roll his eyes at my absolute lack of art knowledge, but it wouldn't diminish my love for him in any way. And Caroline, oh I just adored her and her bright athleisure and her desire to find her place in the world with people who will genuinely care for her.

I just rooted for these two so hard, and know I'll be rereading this book (probably sooner than later). Definitely a 2023 favorite!

I made it to 10%. I fell asleep two nights in a row reading it and didn't wake up either morning after interested in the story. I actually don't remember the story and it's only been a day. I'm calling it here and moving on to something else. I liked the premise, but the writing didn't grip me, and it's... well, not memorable or engaging.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC.

This was a delight! I felt incandescent joy while reading this, mostly because I was completely enamored by Caroline! She was so so sweet and lovely and I just wanted to give her a hug. I loved her innocence and kindness and optimism and anxieties and she just felt so intensely relatable to me. She really made up for the fact that I actually didn’t really care for Adrian for a majority of this book.

I just had a great time with this! The Anastasia girly in me was THRIVING.

ahhh i tried really hard with this one but i just couldn’t get into it adrian was being a rly pretentious hero in a way that wasn’t like oh slay he’s hot he’s just confident and too arrogant but in a way that seemed like he genuinely thought the heroine was stupid and i didn’t appreciate the tone around sex work for such a sex positive genre :(

This book reminded me of a gender-reversed "Pretty Woman" with a refreshing twist on the dynamics between the characters. Instead of the typical physical exchange, the heroine hires the hero for his brain cells, emphasizing their intellectual connection. I absolutely adored this unique concept, which seamlessly blended elements of fake dating and friends-to-lovers tropes, immersing me in Caroline and Adrian's captivating love story.

One of the aspects that captivated me from the start was Caroline herself. Despite the age difference, which some might find concerning, I couldn't help but fall for her sunshiny disposition and kind-hearted nature. At only 22 years old, she possessed a maturity beyond her years. In addition to her personal growth, she found herself navigating a new financial situation with a 2 million dollar inheritance. It was refreshing to see that she didn't succumb to the pitfalls of instant wealth and debt like many of her peers. Instead, she sought to use her newfound resources wisely.

Enter Adrian Landry, a struggling artist and talented painter, who was nursing his wounds after a devastating breakup. Despite his artistic prowess and multiple awards, he found himself broke and crashing on his friend's couch. Desperate to make ends meet, he reluctantly turned to an escort site as a last resort. Serendipitously, he connected with Caroline, who sought more than just physical companionship. She was interested in exploring culture, art, and the world, desiring a deeper intellectual connection.

Their meeting was unconventional, but it didn't hinder the blossoming of their affection for one another. As they spent more time together, their connection grew stronger, surpassing their initial expectations. I found myself completely invested in their tender and heartfelt romance, rooting for them every step of the way.

Overall, this debut novel delivered a feel-good and heartwarming reading experience. The fresh and intelligent concept added a layer of depth to the story, making it stand out from the crowd. I eagerly look forward to exploring more works from this talented author in the future, as their writing style and ability to create engaging characters has left a lasting impression on me.

I extend my sincere gratitude to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this incredible debut book. Their generosity in sharing the digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts is truly appreciated.

This was definitely a case of opposites attracting and a fun flip of the older man/younger woman situation. Rather than a wealthy older man looking for the company of an attractive younger woman, in this story, a wealthy young woman is looking for a cultured man to help her broaden her horizons and experience more of the world. Caroline and Adrian don’t expect feelings to actually grow. And how can they build a relationship with their arrangement and her money looming between them? I would have enjoyed seeing the chemistry between them grow a bit more before Adrian realised his feelings, but still a very enjoyable read. I’ll be looking out for Tom and Rose’s story!

Caroline has moved to Boston on her own after receiving a large inheritance and spending her early years on nothing but tennis. She’s estranged from her family and struggling to make friends. Adrian is a newly single artist who is struggling to make ends meet. His buddy suggests that he join a companionship website to make some money. When he does, he’s surprised to connect with the young, beautiful, and slightly awkward Caroline. They form a friendship and enjoy the time they spend together, despite the untraditional way that they met.

This is my first novel written by this author, but it won’t be my last. This book was sweet, heartfelt, and had a different spin on the fake dating trope that I love. Caroline is absolutely, without a doubt, one of the sweetest souls you’ll ever find in a book. I felt for her so many times, and hated to see the way she was treated before finding people who embraced her exactly as she is, without trying to change her or take advantage of her. I’m not typically a big fan of the age gap trope, but it was done well here. Adrian was very much a gentleman, respectful, and kind hearted. Overall, I loved the characters so much and devoured this adorable story. If you enjoy age gap romance (22 and 33), fake dating, and friends to lovers with two characters you can’t help but love, you’ve got to read this book!

Thank you to Katie Shepard, Berkley Romance, and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.