Another great book by Denise Hunter! Small town, fake dating, celebrity/author tropes.

Liam is the lead in a new movie based on the book Chloe wrote, and filming is taking place in Chloe’s hometown. Liam isn’t what Chloe had in mind when she wrote the character, but they work out a deal… fake date to help Liam’s reputation and in exchange, he’ll take notes from Chloe on how she wants her leading man to act.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Watch for Love, Unscripted to come out March 12, 2024.

Chloe has written her dream man into a character in her first book, which is a bestseller about to be made into a movie. The film is set in her small town, and even on her property, and the handsome actor cast as her dream man is not someone she would pick. In an effort to salvage what she is sure is going to ruin the film, she cuts a deal with Liam in order to get him to spend some time with her, so she can influence the portrayal of the main character. Of course, things don’t go exactly as planned…

Denise Hunter has a way with small town romances, laced with family drama. Her characters aren’t perfect, which makes them even more likeable. I really liked the story and loved the characters, and was rooting for a happy ending for Chloe.

Hunter has a gift of writing heartfelt, beautiful stories with unforgettable, loveable characters. I started reading this book on a Saturday morning and never set it down until the last page was turned. None of my Saturday chores were done, however, my heart was full of this exhilarating, inspiring story.
Chloe Anderson’s debut novel is being made into a movie. Lodger, the main male character was written to portray the perfect boyfriend. Chloe is worried what acter will be chose to play him since she feels he is the key to making the movie a success. In reviews of the book, Ledger has been called the “best book boyfriend of all time.” When the call comes to announce to Chloe that Liam Hamilton will play the all-important role of Ledger, Chloe is stunned. Liam is hugely popular at the box office, however, in real-life his reputation as a womanizer precedes him.
The movie is to be filed in Chloe’s small hometown of Stillwater Bay, North Carolina, where Liam arrives a week ahead of schedule to get the feel of the town. When Chloe notices him strolling through the town, toward her, she dives into a round rack of clothes on the sidewalk to avoid him. Several sneezes later, she peeks out from the clothes and looks right at Liam. This is just the beginning of a wild adventure for them both.
To improve Lian’s reputation, Chloe agrees to a fake relationship with him, that includes numerous social media posts. So many times, I had to pause in reading just so I could catch my breath after laughing.
This delightful, charming story, has many interesting facets, even going back to the childhood of both Liam and Chloe’s family. It was a letdown when the last page was turned. I was not ready to say good-bye to these unforgettable, loveable characters.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.