This one started off good. Daphne and Calvin didn't like each other in high school, to put it lightly. When they run into each other again after several years apart, things just pick right up where they left off and the animosity and snark make an appearance. Despite the underlying dislike, Calvin convinces Daphne to attend his mom's vow renewal with him to get her off his back.

There seemed to be a bit of chemistry between the main characters but in my opinion, it just kind of fizzled as the book progressed. Daphne's constant self loathing got to be a bit repetitive as well. I understand that that was a big part of her character but it just got to be too much. If I'm being honest, Mable and her crew were the highlight of the story for me...I'd read a book about their shenanigans! Lol! Overall, a decent read but probably not one I'd add to my "read again someday" list.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I had never read anything by Lilian Monroe, but “Four Steps to the Perfect Fake Date” just seemed like the cutesy and light book to read. You know those books that you can almost smell like Spring? You wanna read them in an afternoon on your balcony sipping a mocktail. It seemed very like that. But in reality, it was hiding something a little more meaningful than just a fun quick read.

The book talks about the expectations that other people put on you. Daphne is boring, the responsible one, the daughter who causes no trouble. And everyone tells her that, her ex, her family, they look at her with the weight of a good child. Daphne carries everyone’s opinion about her like it’s a fact, like she is one of those things and it happened for so long that she says those things like they’re facts. This is something very common in the romance scene where a female character is deemed as boring or not very interested. She then undergoes a change in character in order to be worthy of the affection of the love interest, but in the end, it is clear the people were just wrong about her and that she was fierce all along. My thoughts on it are conflicted. This idea is that women have to be not boring, they need to be fiery and take risks, while guys most of the time are also pretty boring themselves. So while I understand Daphne’s side, that internalized ideas that others have about us that we focus on so much that it becomes reality, it’s really unfair for women to have to carry that weight. 

I really enjoyed it when Calvin saw that moment. The moment when he saw that Daphne wasn’t able to be herself and that the stakes for her were higher than it was for him was very endearing. He saw that while nobody was expecting anything from him because he didn’t have a good reputation, Daphne had a lot to hold on to. Calvin says he sees Daphne as someone completely different from the good girl that she is, so at one point I feel like we lose who Daphne really is. She might be boring and her ex was right, she might be a good girl and her family is right and she might be the feisty woman Calvin believes her to be. But we never know what Daphne thinks about herself. She also contrasts her own opinions of her in the light of what other people tell. She is crushed under the weight of others.
 
We know that Calvin has a lot to prove, that while he made mistakes, he’s not letting those mistakes affect his work and dedication. He also feels like he wants other people’s opinions of him to change, but mostly he wants Daphne to look at him differently. And I don’t find Calvin that interesting to begin with. He is caring, he has good comebacks, and he tries to protect Daphne but he’s a small-town guy who is a sheriff. It’s not like he’s Batman. So maybe he doesn’t find Daphne “boring” because he wants to enjoy a simple and quiet life just as much as she does.

There is a side plot with a family heirloom that is an old pot, which is a little silly and very chaotic, but the more it progresses, the more the author ties it around the idea of Daphne rebelling vs the good girl image.

“Four Steps to the Perfect Fake Date” goes beyond the trope of fake dating, while fun and light it also tackles important themes and the characters are allowed to have some meaningful thoughts on their emotions and their lives.

Lilian Monroe's newest book is another great one. Former bad boy but current acting sheriff Calvin Flint is back on Fernley Island and so is his nemesis, good girl Daphne Davis. They butt heads immediately, but things heat up as time passes. It's a funny yet touching story of self-discovery for both main characters. I highly recommend everyone to read this new book.

4.5stars
What happens when you meet your high school nemesis after several years? While Daphne is someone who strictly follows the rules around Calvin she couldn’t be more opposite. Their personalities clash at every turn. Yet, despite it all, there’s an undeniable spark between them. When the opportunity arises, even though reluctantly, Daphne agrees to a fake relationship with Calvin. A cute and funny story full of anecdotes and dangerous grandmothers.
I volunteered to review an ARC of this book for NetGalley.

Moving back to the childhood town, working for the sheriff department as an accountant is not what Daphne imagined her life would be.
Dumped by her fiancé, losing her forever home and job. Esteem at an all time low
Getting pulled over by her high school nemesis starts a chain of events.
Romance blossoms but hides a hidden agenda. Can the truth set Daphne free or cause more heartbreak?
Enjoy I did.

This one was a bit of a slog for me to get through - had a some sparkling moments of banter but really repetitive which took me out of it while reading.

A playful and quick read that I just couldn't put down.

It was a quick and enjoyable read that I breezed through and before I knew it I was done.

I wish it had more to how Calvin tells her why he'd been bullying her and how he felt about her.

I had an absolute blast with reading this book. The shenanigans were top notch and I couldn’t stop laughing with some of the characters. I really wish the book would have been longer tho 🤣

This romantic comedy blends enemies to lovers in a small town world and I found myself smiling through most of the book! Daphne and Calvin have some great chemistry and I loved them together. It was a quick, lower spice read that just made me so happy reading!

3.5 stars rounded up.

I liked this one, but I didn’t love it. The first half was great with the banter between Daphne and Calvin, but the second half was a little repetitive with Daphne’s inner monologue. It seemed like every few pages we were having to read about her convincing herself how boring she is just because she’s an accountant. The grandma and her friends kept the story light hearted and funny at times, and to be honest this kind of reads like a cozy mystery but with a little spice!

I have to say I really enjoyed this book and actually shed a few tears going through it. There’s a lot of unresolved trauma between the two main characters and you can feel that hate/love going on as the story builds.

Both characters have past issues with their families and a lot to overcome. I think that added so much to the depth of writing and storytelling the author delivers. She touches on a lot of sensitive topics especially surrounding self-esteem and she also includes characters that help balance out the main characters.

Some of the secondary characters are a riot and bring the levity that we need to balance everything else. The plot is a little complex and makes for an exciting story that I really couldn’t stop reading. It was touching and emotional in many places and I love the fact that the male main character has been holding a torch for her since high school.

Monroe brings an epilogue that is a wonderful addition to round out the story. She pours in the emotion and passion we need for a memorable read. I really loved Four Steps to the Perfect Fake Date and can’t wait to read this author again.

PS: Three cheers for a cover that shows real people and not graphic art!!

"Four Steps to the Perfect Fake Date" by Lilian Monroe is packed with humor, misadventures, and the irresistible charm of two wonderfully mismatched protagonists. Daphne Davis is the quintessential good girl—until life throws her a series of curveballs that turn her world upside down. Recently dumped, jobless, and back in her hometown, Daphne finds herself questioning her rule-following ways, especially after an unexpected run-in with her high school nemesis. Calvin Flint, the town's acting sheriff, is no longer the scrawny high school troublemaker Daphne remembers. Now rugged, confident, and unfortunately her new boss, Calvin is as infuriating as he is appealing. And when a family obligation forces Calvin to concoct a fake dating scheme, Daphne reluctantly agrees to help.

Real talk: beyond the romance, the book explores themes of self-worth, family dynamics, and personal growth. Both Daphne and Calvin carry emotional scars that influence their decisions, and the way they ultimately learn to believe in themselves—and in each other—is genuinely moving. However, some readers may find Daphne’s self-doubt repetitive at times, and the subplot involving a stolen heirloom verges on the outlandish. That said, these minor quibbles don't really detract from the overall charm of the story.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

Four Steps to the Perfect Date is a cute, funny, and steamy enimies to lovers book. Daphne has just moved back to the island that she grew up on. She has been dumped by her fiancee and has lost her job. Daphne has always the one in her family that has a level head and follows the rules. When Daphne leaves her sister's engaement party her day could not get any worse or could it. Daphne is pulled over by the police and she comes face to face with the last person she thought she would never see again Calvin Flint and the new sheriff that she will be working for in the next few days. Calvin and Daphne have hated each other since high school. Calvin was jelous of her relationship with her family and Daphne hated him when he almost cost her scholarship to college. When Calvin asks her to be his date for his mother's vow renewal, Daphne can't say no. This is her one chance to show her family she is like them once and for all. This is a slow burn book that will have you laughing as you read it. Daphne's grandmother and her friends will keep you in sticthes. I loved the chemistary between Calvin and Daphne and wanted more of them after I finished the book. I would like to thank both NetGalley and Montlake Publishing for an advanced copy of this book.

In this follow-up to Four Steps to the Perfect Revenge (which I haven’t read).

*fake dating
*enemies to lovers
*small town
*mystery


Cute, but repetitive and I didn’t really get the chemistry between the MC’s, but I enjoyed this enough to read the author again. Low spice factor.




Thank you to Montlake for the DRC

"Four Steps to the Perfect Fake Date" by Lilian Monroe is a delightful romantic comedy with a charming small-town setting. Daphne and Calvin have fantastic banter and their fake relationship quickly turns into something real. The story is lighthearted and fun, perfect for a cozy read. I especially enjoyed the heartwarming moments and the supporting characters.

✨fake dating
✨small town romance
✨enemies to lovers
✨he falls first

Such a fun quick read! Loved the storyline and the characters.

"He was officially fake dating the woman he was already half in love with. And she was right about one thing. It was a terrible idea."

I enjoyed reading the initial parts of the book. Calvin & Daphne had good chemistry and the banter between the them was amazing. But after a while, the miscommunication between them got too much. And Daphne was too frustrating. <spoiler> Her constantly thinking of how she's a misfit and boring and doesn't belong with her family members was annoying (especially all of the insecurities were instilled in her by her ex of two years and she should've been over it long ago). Calvin was good as compared to her and I felt bad for him at so many occasions. I agree that, he was kind of a bully to her in the past but he apologised and it was obvious how gone he was for Daphne since the very beginning. </spoiler> I think he deserved better and Daphne should've grovelled a bit but still, I liked the way things ended and the epilogue was amazing. So overall, this was an enjoyable read but some parts were repeatitive and I feel like the plot could've been executed better tbh.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review

The 4 groomsmen of the apocalypse series were a guilty pleasure read for me, so I was excited to start this new book by Lillian Monroe. While not as charming as that series, this is definitely a fun, cozy romance. It has small town charm which I love. Also the two main characters had nice depth to their stories. I particularly was drawn to Calvin's story of parental neglect and him misunderstanding his mom's overtures. Both Calvin's and Daphne had reasons their self esteem was shattered and it was nice to see them begin to believe that they were loveable and worthwhile people. I didn't love the subplot of the heist, it was a bit too silly and unrealistic. Even so, this book is worth a read. 3.5 stars. Thanks to Net Galley and Montlake for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Such a great romance. I read through this so fast, I loved the characters and I loved the storyline!!

4 stars for Daphne and Calvin!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A nice small town romance. It was a good read and it had my favorite tropes, enemies to lovers and fake dating. I liked Daphne and Calvin and found their story filled with mystery and that drew me in. The cover is also very pretty. It was a nice read that broke up the usual dark romance that I read. I would definitely recommend Four Steps to the Perfect Fake Date.

Thank you to Netgalley and Montlake for my ARC of Four Steps to the Perfect Fake Date!