This romance sounded right up my alley- fake marriage, second chance romance, basketball player. Although I liked the writing, I just didn't like Violet and Xavier wasn't much better. I really have to like the couple for a romance to work for me. I'll try a different book by this author.

sweet, swoony, and full of heart! kristina forest nails the second-chance romance with small-town charm and banter that had me smiling the whole way through. i absolutely loved this book!

This book was probably my favorite out of the series. It was funny and entertaining from beginning to end. Kristina never disappoints!

Violet and Xavier were once high school sweethearts, but as life often goes, they parted ways unexpectedly, drifting in different directions without ever really communicating again—though they kept an eye on each other through family.

Now, Violet Greene is a successful stylist, working with some of Hollywood's biggest stars and musicians, living her best professional life. But when her fiancé leaves her for one of her clients, she’s forced to show the world that she’s moving on.

Xavier Wright had dreams of becoming a professional basketball player, but a single injury derailed those aspirations. Now, he’s coaching high-school basketball and hoping to land an assistant coaching position at a college, needing to prove his personal stability before he can take the next step.

When their paths unexpectedly cross during a trip to Vegas, both realize they might be able to help each other move forward.

This rom-com beautifully captures the power of first love, and Kristina Forest does an excellent job of bringing her characters to life. I’ll definitely be picking up more of her books!

I enjoyed this so much! They both never lost their feelings and his choice to break up in high school was a mistake. When they see eachother again in Vegas and get a little too drunk at a club, they wake up… well you can guess.
It turns into a fake husband situation when she lets it slip and the town gossip gets ahold of it. She’s also stuck back in their hometown with an injury so there is a like forced proximity. Loved his students in his class and his coaching style. She was very successful in her high profile job as well.

The Partner Plot is a delightful fake marriage romance featuring Violet and Xavier, former high school sweethearts who haven’t crossed paths in 11 years—until fate (and a wild night in Las Vegas) reunites them. After an unexpected party, too many drinks, and a fake wedding ceremony, they wake up married. While they intend to brush it off as a mistake, things take a turn when Violet, in a magazine interview, claims she’s married to avoid questions about her ex.

The news spreads quickly to their hometown, and for the sake of their careers, they agree to keep up the charade for four weeks. Close proximity and cozy domesticity rekindles their feelings that never was gone in the first place. It was interesting see what they will do at the end of the four weeks, how they will reveal the reality and if they can give their love chance with different career and life style.

The writing is engaging and fun from the start. I loved Violet and Xavier’s reunion, as well as the gradual reveal of why they broke up all those years ago. Violet instantly became my favorite character (and my favorite Greene sister). Outgoing and rebellious on the outside yet deeply caring on the inside, she has built a name for herself as a celebrity stylist.

Her professional dedication is admirable, but she struggles with work-life balance, often neglecting her own well-being. It takes breaking her ankle for her to finally pause and reassess her life. Living with Xavier not only fills a void in her heart but also pushes her to open up and take a chance on love again. Her hesitation is understandable, and watching Xavier prove he wouldn’t repeat past mistakes was incredibly rewarding.

Xavier undergoes a compelling transformation. Once a cocky, overconfident teenager, he is now a man shaped by heartbreak and setbacks. A sports injury during his freshman year, coupled with his breakup with Violet, shattered his confidence, making him believe he wasn’t worthy—of a great career or even Violet. As a high school teacher and assistant coach in their hometown, he has settled for less than he deserves. However, living with Violet forces him to confront his fears and realize his true worth. Seeing him grow into a better, more self-assured person was one of the highlights of the book.

The second-chance romance combined with the fake marriage trope works beautifully in The Partner Plot. The chemistry between Violet and Xavier is sizzling, their vulnerabilities and struggles feel real, and their love is far more mature this time around. The story is packed with fun, heartfelt moments.

While much of it is predictable, it’s executed in a way that remains entertaining. Their decision to come clean to their family near the end leads to a chaotic and hilarious small-town gossip fest, giving the book a perfect, lighthearted conclusion.

Overall, The Partner Plot is a charming and entertaining second chance romance with fake marriage and high school sweetheart tropes.

This book was a breath of fresh air. A second chance romance that truly felt as though the characters took time to relearn each other, and the things that had changed in the ten years since they last saw each other. I've been on a binge of accidentally married in Vegas stories, and this one did not disappoint. The characters continue to feel very real and relatable, as though they are actually people that you would know in your everyday life, which makes them that much more endearing.

I do think there was less character development in this book than there was in the neighbor favor, but I still very much enjoyed it. It felt real, and raw, and I loved getting to read along as Violet and Xavier fell back in love with each other, both overcoming insecurities and growing together.

I love a second chance romance trope. This one did a great job at showing the beginning of the relationship but I really would have loved to seen more of the angst that typically comes with this trope. The marriage of convince twist was a nice change that I have never read with combined with a second chance trope. Kristina Forest has the coziest, sweetest romances and this is no exception. A perfect February romance to read on a cold day.

This was cute! The story is enjoyable. Unfortunately, I really struggled with the writing. A lot of info dumps and what felt like over-explaining even minor action. It gets very heavy to read.

My love for this series continued with The Partner Plot, except with this one Violet and Xavier held my attention from the jump! I was very curious to see how this fake marriage scenario was going to play out but they pulled it off well. Plus I'm always down for a second chance romance and this one will not disappoint with all the teenage butterflies and nostalgia.

I loved how we got to see Violet and Xavier's friendship and relationship from teenage years into adulthood, a perfectly imperfect pair navigating demanding careers and personal insecurities. This was a warm and refreshing read and I'm looking forward to Angel and Iris in book 3!

The one thing I will say about this author's adult romances is that there tends to be a lot of setup, a lot of complication before we get to the actual premise or even hook of the story that we're promised in the dust jacket copy. But eventually, when we do get to what the story's actually about, then it all clicks and it finally begins flowing.

I do appreciate how this story takes a modern look at what a marriage of convenience can be, makes it feel refreshing, and also kind of "defangs" that term. When I think of a marriage of convenience, I think of how it most often came from this place of women marrying people who they were not necessarily affectionate towards or in love with because that marriage offered them some kind of conventional safety or resources, whether that's financial safety, societal safety, or other forms of stability. And even though now we mostly talk about it as a romantic trope, it does kind of have heavy implications because you literally legally would've had to tie yourself to someone to gain certain advantages.

I don't want to spoil how the story is sort of playing with that trope or convention, but I do appreciate how it's kind of lessening the intensity of that dynamic and putting less legal stakes and social stakes in place.

I think the reason why this romance didn't especially blow me away is that it feels weirdly underdeveloped, which is strange because I feel like I know the characters and what they're struggling with incredibly well, but when they actually got together, when the romance reaches a boiling point, I just felt like they were going through the motions and it didn't really impact me on an emotional level, which is not to say that I don't enjoy their romantic arc or where they end up as a couple and as individuals, but just that it lacked that oomph for me in a way that I can't really explain.

All that said, I've enjoyed both romances in this companion series so far and will definitely be reading the third!

I love a second chance romance and a fake dating trope and this has both!

Violet and Xavier’s story is so beautiful and I love the finding your purpose aspect of Xavier’s story too.

And as a recovering workaholic, I really identified with Violet.

I absolutely loved this book! The vivid writing brought every scene to life, making it play out like a perfect movie in my mind. I couldn't put it down and devoured it in just three days. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a fun, feel-good romance that will have you blushing in public.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for providing me this Digital Advanced Readers Copy of the book!

🌟🌟🌟🌟

*The Partner Plot* by Kristina Forest is a delightful and engaging romantic comedy that explores themes of love, ambition, and the complexities of relationships. Forest’s writing is fresh and lively, capturing the whirlwind of emotions that come with navigating both personal and professional challenges.

The protagonists are relatable and well-developed, each facing their own dilemmas while trying to find a balance between their dreams and their hearts. The chemistry between them is palpable, and the witty banter adds a fun, playful energy to the story. Forest does an excellent job of portraying the ups and downs of romance, making readers root for the characters every step of the way.

The pacing is mostly brisk, keeping the plot moving forward with a series of engaging twists and turns. However, there are moments where certain plot developments feel a bit rushed, leaving me wanting more depth in certain areas. Despite this, the overall journey is satisfying and filled with heartwarming moments.

Overall, *The Partner Plot* is a charming read that will appeal to fans of contemporary romance. With its blend of humor and heartfelt emotion, it’s a perfect choice for anyone looking for a lighthearted escape. I can’t wait to see what Forest comes up with next!

Thank you Berkley and NetGalley for the review copy--all opinions are my own!

This was a delight. Kristina writes such lovable stories starring characters who feel like they could be your friends, they're so real and easy to root for. Both Violet and Xavier's individual growth journeys as well as their journey as a couple was touching and realistic and delivered such a wonderful balance of tender vulnerability and swoony joy. Can't wait for Iris's story!!

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

boring - did not care for their dynamic or their character development - i dont know what else to say but no thanks

I’m not usually drawn to second-chance romances, but this one really won me over! Watching Violet and Xavier reconnect after so many years was such a pleasure. The whole accidental Vegas marriage setup was a fun twist, but it was their genuine chemistry and shared past that truly made the story shine. Violet’s mix of ambition and vulnerability made her incredibly relatable, and Xavier? He was a total sweetheart—so patient and understanding, especially when supporting Violet through her personal struggles.

What impressed me the most was how the conflict was grounded in real emotions. Violet’s hesitation to trust again after her heartbreak was so well portrayed, and Xavier’s growth from their past mistakes was both touching and believable. The slow-burn romance felt authentic, and their connection from their younger days flowed seamlessly into their current lives.

I’ll admit, I was a bit skeptical about the “fake marriage” trope, but the author handled it brilliantly. It never felt like a gimmick, and it was a satisfying way for these two to find their way back to each other. The witty banter and the gradual build-up were spot on!

Overall, this book was a heartwarming surprise for someone like me who isn’t typically into second-chance romances. I’m excited to see what the author has in store next.

4 ✨

Tropes:

♡ Fake accidental marriage
♡ Second chance
♡ High school sweethearts
♡ Forced proximity
♡ City girl x small town guy
♡ One bed

This is my first Kristina Forest book and I loved it! I know this is the second book in her series about the three Greene sisters but since I never got around to reading the first one about Lily, I thought it wouldn’t matter if I just started with Violet first and then read Lily’s after and that turned out to be correct. Now I know things about The Neighbor Favor so I wasn’t complete in the dark when I started The Partner Plot and I’m so glad for that.

I love a good accidental marriage in Vegas story but this one took a different turn, in which Violet and Xavier were high school sweethearts and they actually didn’t get married for real, it was just pretend. But then when Violet, who’s a stylist for the stars, gets in an accident and hurts her foot, she moves back home to Willow Ridge and there she meets up with Xavier again. But they lie about being married for real to her parents, when Violet mentions in an interview that she married her high school hook sweetheart recently to get out of questions about her cheating ex-fiancé.

Everything about this book screamed second chance in the best way possible. Thea couple had a heart-wrenching breakup when they were young and they haven’t seen each other for almost a decade. They both also her big career plans, but only one of them reached them, so we also got the big city girl x small town boy trope which I also love.
Violet and Xavier were meant to be and it was just a matter of time before they found their way back to each other. It’s clear to see they only ever loved each other and any other people that came into their lives romantically were simply just replacements for one another. The love story in this book was very sweet and wholesome and I can’t wait to read Iris’ story.