This slow burn had me hooked from page one, all I wanted to do was keep turning the pages to find out what happened. the chemistry between autumn and Jenson was electric and the fact that it was a slow burn made it so much better. it was a light-hearted fantastically written book with some series parts in it to. Jenson made a big mistake towards the end of the book but I love that they were able to over come that mistake once he had declared his love. can't wait to read more from these authors.

♡ what a beautiful romance story with ELITE banter ♡

thank you to authors Amanda Nelson and Lisa-Marie Potter, and the publisher Wild Rose Press for an advanced reader copy of this book!

4/5 ⭐️

as someone in the medical field, i knew i had to request this book and it didn't disappoint! this book was full of banter, romantic tension & emotional depth of the characters. this was a funny and heartfelt story. i will definitely be getting a copy for my shelf!

this book is part of the Plus One series, but can be read as a standalone (i did!)

📖 plot & pace: a pediatric doctor (Jensen) has just been cheated on.. by a coworker. with a HUGE work event coming up, he needs a date and turns to Plus One, a companion hiring site, & is paired with Autumn. they fake date for a couple of Jensen's events afterwards.. this is when they both catch romantic feelings! autumn isn't looking for a relationship but the chemistry between the two is undeniable. the pacing was PERFECT, with each chapter pulling me in deeper. i was super jealous of their relationship! BUT the third act breakup felt way too forceful. it seemed to come out of no where and kind of derailed the emotional momentum for a bit

👥 characters: I loved the FMC and MMC. Autumns fathers were also a huge part of this story IMO. however, i didn't really like Lilly, the best friend. she seemed like she was purposely interfering and didn't want Autumn to be happy LOL.

🤩 tropes: fake dating, golden retriever boyfriend, third act breakup

this is perfect if you love fast-paced rom-coms (and banter!!!) i thoroughly enjoyed this book and will be sticking around for the series!

OUT JULY 9, 2025

Just What the Doctor Hired is a sweet, low-angst romance with a fun premise that immediately draws you in. The setup—a woman being hired to be a doctor’s date for a formal event—offers plenty of room for chemistry, awkward tension, and slow emotional unraveling, all of which the story delivers with charm. The banter between the characters feels natural, and their growing connection is paced just right. It’s an easy, comforting read that keeps things light while still exploring emotional vulnerability in a meaningful way.
The romance itself is heartwarming, and the characters are likable, though at times the plot leans heavily on familiar tropes without offering many surprises. Some developments are predictable, and a few side characters seem like they had potential but weren’t fully fleshed out. Still, the emotional payoff is satisfying, and the overall tone is cozy and uplifting—perfect for readers looking for a quick, feel-good love story.

I was really liking this one, but I couldn’t get past the fact that they can’t be together because Autumn needs to focus on her nursing degree ? like what a stupid reason not to be with someone you love! so many people support their partner through a degree and I just didn’t buy that as the one big reason keeping them apart.

I really liked this story! It was a pleasant and quick read. I really enjoyed the characters and their development! Overall it was a great story and I look forward to reading more from this author.

This was an ARC read and I’m so thankful I was allowed to read it before publication!

This was such an adorable little read! I wouldn’t say it was like any of the other romance books I’ve read. Of course they had their happily ever after but it didn’t happen quite like I thought it would, which I loved! This book drew me in from the start. It could easily be a 5/5 star book but I’m sooooo picky on which books get 5 stars. I’d say it’s 4.5 rounded down because I can’t get myself to give it a 5. But it’s SOOOO good and I highly recommend the read!!

This one caught me off guard in the best way. Autumn’s “no men” rule made so much sense with her backstory, and I loved how focused she was on building her future. Nursing school? Plus One side hustle? Girl’s got goals. And then enters Jensen… hot doctor, a little emotionally wounded, trying to avoid more hospital gossip? Yeah, I was hooked.

Their chemistry was instant and the tension while they tiptoed around their feelings? So good. I loved watching both of them slowly lower their walls and realize maybe this fake setup could actually mean something.

It wasn’t a full 5 stars for me some parts felt a bit quick or tied up too neatly but I was fully invested the whole time. If you’re into fake dating, guarded hearts, and slow trust-building, this one’s worth the read.

This boook!! That cover!!!

Gorgeous I tell you.

First Tq so much for allowing me to read this book.

I enjoyed every second of it. It was spectacular.

Can’t wait for the world to enjoy this like I did.

Tqtqtqtq

Another great summer read incoming.🩺🍦☀️
From the moment Autumn & Jenson meet the sparks fly, the chemistry is obvious and the sexual tension is written in every interaction. I found myself asking is this to good to be true and simultaneously thinking just get it on already.
It offers some great characters and one equally pointless one #roommate. I just didn't understand her role in this story but maybe that's because I've never had a roommate. 🤷🏼‍♀️
I did enjoy the subtle nods to modern challenges and how it gives acceptance to diverse ways of living.

Would I recommend this book? Absolutely!
#MrsAsBookStars

I really enjoyed reading this book, I felt like the love story between the two characters was enjoyable and you are rooting for them to actually get together. This is the first book I’ve read by these authors and I definitely will be looking for other books by them.

I enjoyed the start of the book, Autumn and Jensen had amazing chemistry and I loved their meet-cute as his friend hiring a date for a function he couldn't attend alone. But the story did drag a little bit and felt repetitive in both dialogue and internal monologue. I would watch this as a hallmark movie though!

This was such a cute fun read! The chemistry between the two main characters reminded me of a hallmark movie. I loved the banter between the characters but I wish we got just a little more insight into their interactions with family.

I really enjoyed this! Super cute and fun book! It was an easy read. This was my first book by this author and I would definitely read more!

4.5 stars! As a nursing student and reader I loved this book! This book was exactly what the doctor ordered—charming, emotional, and full of swoony chemistry! I absolutely loved the premise of a fake date turned real feelings, especially with Autumn’s fierce independence and Jensen’s quiet vulnerability. Watching a no-nonsense nursing student slowly fall for the guarded pediatric hospitalist had me grinning, blushing, and rooting for them the whole way.

I enjoyed the pacing and dialogue of this quirky romance. It has all the usual elements of unexpected love, a twist that threatens and then the finale where things are resolved. For this story, the resolution left me a bit dry. It felt forced in am otherwise good read.

I love a medical-themed romance so was excited for this! The idea of a Plus One company was interesting and I liked how this was portrayed. This book didn't quite hit the mark for me unfortunately as I prefer a slower burn and Jensen and Autumn had insta-lust from the get-go. I also struggled with how Jensen's ex was portrayed (such as comments about being a wannabe Margot Robbie and having breast implants) as it gave off mean-girl from the MMC and FMC.
Overall, an intriguing concept and fake dating will always be a classic trope.

Amanda Nelson and Lisa-Marie Potter could absolutely teach a masterclass on writing tension and angst. Just What the Doctor Hired had me obsessed from the start, and the character development between Autumn and Jensen was everything I wanted and more.

Autumn begins as a laser-focused nursing student determined to protect her independence after a painful breakup. Her commitment to avoiding emotional entanglements is tested the moment she meets Jensen as a Plus One client- and watching her wrestle with those shifting feelings was one of my favorite parts of the story. She’s honest with herself, even when it hurts, and her internal conflict felt so real.

And Jensen is easily one of my favorite MMCs ever. He’s smart, kind, a little awkward in the best way, and completely swoon-worthy. The fact that he’s still picking up the pieces after a toxic ex spread hospital gossip made me ache for him. His hesitation to let people know about his arrangement with Autumn made perfect sense- and the tension between them was OFF. THE. CHARTS. Every scene they shared was overflowing with chemistry, constantly toeing the line between their contractual fake relationship and something very real.

I loved how Jensen’s friends- especially Dan and his wife- embraced Autumn so naturally. And the portrayal of Autumn’s Dad and Papi? Beautiful. Their relationship was treated as completely normal (as it should!), without being a plot point, and it added so much warmth to the story. The subtle theme of acceptance threaded through everything in a way that felt organic and genuine.

The pacing was tight, the emotional beats landed, and the HEA was so satisfying. Nelson and Potter are not just fantastic writers- they're genuinely lovely women, and it shows in every page. I will devour anything and everything they write. Fin’s story can’t come soon enough!

I like the idea of a business where someone can hire a plus-one for important events! This story explores that job and how one woman uses it to earn money for her education. The novel's heart is when she joins a doctor at his award ceremony, and the action takes off! I think the authors captured the lust and spice quite well. It was fun to read! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.