The book had everything I love: a captivating plot and romance. I could easily picture myself in Pine Falls with everyone else. Matt and Zoey’s story genuinely surprised me, and I enjoyed how they both faced their personal struggles.
I do want to mention that some dialogue felt a bit too harsh for me at times. I understand the characters’ emotions, but a few outbursts were off-putting.
Otherwise, Hoax and Kisses is a charming read for anyone who enjoys cozy small-town romance.

3,5 ⭐

Hoax and Kisses was a delight, and the cover displays the vibes of the story so well! I was in love with these characters from the first page, both with their moody attitudes and banter. Both Matt and Zoey were endearing, coming in with backgrounds that were well developed and executed in their on-page interactions. This author did so well with the inclusion of Matt's autistic sister and being sensitive to the neurodivergent community while also highlighting the familial struggles and conflicts that can come with having an autistic person to care for.
Zoey's character arc was performed so beautifully. I loved that she came in n0t as her dad's puppet, but with her own ideas that still shifted and molded after learning about the town and what was meaningful to them. The conflict at the end was well executed and I appreciated that Matt and Zoey worked together to figure out solutions rather than using miscommunication as a trope.
Overall, such a sweet story that I will think about for a long time!

Okay so! This was a quick and super sweet read, a perfect pick me up and palette cleanser!

Super sweet(and a little grumpy) characters that has their own shit going on, fake dating to help each other out. A+ setting, because who doesn’t love a good fake dating?

Loved Matt’s sister, Dash, and how autism is portrayed here! Good job!

The city is giving ”Gilmore Girls” with its small town setting, and we can’t forget the town meetings, love it!

What I did feel was missing, just a tiny bit, was the build up of their relationship, and also the tension surrounding it, and their feeling in general. It wasn’t bad, I just felt like it all went down pretty quickly and almost surface level. For me, we didn’t really get that tension filled build up that I love!

But also the third act, It was good, loved the whole idea and story line of it. But I do wish there was a better build up to it? I don’t feel like we didn’t get much of it. Sure her dad felt meh, but not much more than that through out the book. And it went down pretty quickly, like the last 10-5% of the book. Over all it was okay, just a little hasty.


Over all, I really did enjoy it, and I would still recommend it for a quick and cozy read, with sweet characters!

I was lucky to obtain this book as an eArc through Netgalley! And this review can be found on my Storygraph bookishclara!

Hoax and Kisses was such a fun, quick read filled with fake dating, a one-night stand, and a touch of enemies-to-lovers. Zoey and Matt made a sweet couple—her journey of self-discovery paired perfectly with the way he accepted her wholeheartedly. While the plot was fairly simple, I still enjoyed the ride and thought the ending wrapped things up nicely.

ARC review 💐

“Why did you have to be everything I never knew I needed?”

Zoey “I don’t do romance” Delacroix, is finally ready (sort of) to take over her father’s hotel empire but first she has to convince the shareholders that the daughter of the boss is up for the challenge. How is she going to do that? By securing the one deal her father wasn’t able to close.

Matt “I can handle you” Becker has one too many flowers in his bouquet. He can barely keep his flower shop from going under and now with his parents away, he is tasked with caring for his teenage sister as she starts a new private school with a hefty price tag to match.

She needs a town ally.
🤝🏻
He needs a business lifeline.

Before we get to the romance, I want to highlight how much I appreciate the thoughtful, neurodiversity-affirming lens in which Matt’s sister, Daphne’s experience is told. As a neurodivergent mother to an autistic daughter, I know first hand what seemingly “harmless” assumptions and stereotypes can do to the actual autistic experience. Thank you Elodie for giving us Daphne in all her popcorn, flower-loving, “nothing less and nothing more” nuanced glory. Maybe we’ll get to read her romance someday???

Hoax and Kisses gives us a classic Hallmark start before evolving into a heartwarmingly vulnerable story of love and self-discovery, complete with charm, community and enough heat to keep the pages turning.

For fans of:

Small town
Fake dating
City/Country mouse
Neurodiversity rep
H0rny man🌶️
I saved you a seat {on my face}🌶️

Elodie was kind enough to send me a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review, and although we mutually follow one another on socials, this in no way affected my review. I love to hurt people’s feelings and she deprived me of that opportunity. Yes, I am kidding.

You’ll be iris-istibly drawn to this one, I’m posie-tive! Hoax And Kisses hits shelves Aug 26th and is currently available for pre-order from major retailers.

This was a great fluffy romance if, and only if, you are willing to just run with suspension of disbelief that these people manage to live adult lives in any capacity.

The plot is thin at best, the premise is pretty weak from jump and not how any real-life humans would ever act. The entire narrative is based on insta-lust, tragic pasts and immature human behavior. Character development is minimal, almost everyone acts out of character to reach a HEA and frankly, the protagonists are only halfway likable.

However, if you want a fun read, with decent spice and small town vibes...this is a pretty great book. Human disaster city-slicker meets grumpy small-town man of single syllable interactions is a classic for a reason. This book is quintessentially a formulaic made-for-TV movie in spicy book form. Honestly, not mad about it.

While this is a far from perfect read, it was eminently enjoyable and will scratch that Hallmark Movie itch.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sweet, swoony, and so full of heart — Matt & Zoé completely stole mine! 🥹💜

From the very first (almost disastrous) meet-cute, their story had me grinning, giggling, and clutching my Kindle. This book leans fast-paced and a little insta-love, but honestly? I didn’t even care because the chemistry is just that good. The banter, the tension, the way they can’t stay away from each other… swoon city.

What I loved most? There’s no unnecessary miscommunication drama here 🙌 — just two people learning to open up, trust, and fall hard. Zoé’s growth had me cheering, and Matt… oh Matt. He is the sweetest man alive (yes, I know his attitude didn’t feel that likeable at first… 🙃). Patient, kind, protective — the way he’s there for both Zoé and Daphne melted me into a puddle. 🫠

The spice? Delicious. The feels? All there. The writing? Fast and addictive. Basically, this book gave me everything I wanted: romance, banter, a touch of drama, and the kind of book boyfriend who’ll absolutely melt your heart.

If you love swoony insta-love with heartfelt moments and a book boyfriend who’ll absolutely melt your heart, Hoax and Kisses needs to be on your TBR.

Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley CO-OP for providing this ARC for review. All opinions and statements are solely my own.
Thank you to Elodie Colliard for the opportunity to read and review her book.
A heartwarming, small-town romance that stole my heart!

Hoax and Kisses is everything I love in a romance—charming, heartfelt, and filled with just the right amount of steam. Matt and Zoey’s story had me hooked from the very first page. The grumpy, overworked small-town florist paired with the ambitious city girl on a mission is the perfect setup for sparks, banter, and swoon-worthy tension.

What I loved most is how real both characters felt. Matt’s devotion to his sister and his struggle to balance responsibility with desire made him so easy to root for. Zoey’s journey from proving herself in the corporate world to finding where she truly belongs was inspiring and relatable. Their fake relationship turning into something more? Absolute perfection—I laughed, swooned, and even teared up as their walls slowly came down.

The small-town setting gave me all the cozy, Gilmore Girls vibes, while the emotional depth reminded me of The Holiday. It’s the kind of romance that feels both comforting and fresh, balancing tender moments with sizzling chemistry.

If you’re looking for a story about love sneaking up on you when you least expect it—with unforgettable characters, witty banter, and a whole lot of heart—Hoax and Kisses is an absolute must-read.

💐 ARC Review:

5/5⭐️s

This book gave me all the warm fuzzies you get from a feel-good Hallmark movie in the absolute best way (with the perfect amount of added spice) 😮‍💨

I have been in the worst reading slump and this book pulled me in so quick and kept up the momentum the whole way through. There is the perfect amount of tension in the beginning between our MCs and then the build-up through the rest of the book is 🥵🥵🥵

As someone with a sibling who is special needs, I absolutely loved the representation of being protective and apprehensive in a new relationship. This is not something I’ve seen in a book yet and I was really able to relate to our MMC and what he was going through.

This was a first read for me from Elodie Colliard and I can’t wait to read her other books!

Thank you, Net Galley & Elodie Colliard for the ARC 🫶🏼

Gros coup de cœur pour cette romance qui coche toutes les cases : des personnages attachants, une belle représentation d'un personnage sur le spectre autistique, des scènes de smut originales et bien écrites (ce qui est vraiment rare), de l'émotion...

Zoey a toujours été drivée par le travail, l'ambition, même si on découvre rapidement qu'au fond, c'est surtout pour obtenir l'approbation de son père, elle qui ne semble existe que lorsqu'elle réussit. Sauf que l'empire hôtelier de son père risque de lui échapper, à moins qu'elle ne réussisse là où lui-même à échouer, en sécurisant un emplacement pour une construction d'hôtel dans une petite ville américaine. Oui, on est complètement dans un trope small-town et j'adore ! Les petites boutiques, les habitants qui se connaissent tous et s'entraident...

Et puis, c'est la rencontre avec Matt, fleuriste (sexy) et grand frère de Daphné, autiste, pour qui il est prêt à tout. Surtout quand il s'agit de payer les frais astronomiques d'une école spécialisée que leur mère refuse de payer. J'ai particulièrement aimé le fait que l'autrice fasse appel à des sensitive reader sur le sujet afin de proposer une représentation sincère de l'autisme, sans cliché ni pathos. Notamment dans la manière dont son frère ou sa mère la considèrent, entre lui qui essaye de la comprendre et elle qui est bloquée dans une ancienne manière de penser, où l'autisme n'existe pas vraiment et il faut juste qu'elle grandisse.

Bref, leur rencontre va être explosive, sensuelle et complexe, les menant à ce qu'ils n'imaginaient pas : une fausse relation. Pour Zoey, l'occasion d'avancer, mais aussi d'imaginer peut-être un autre avenir. Pour Matt, l'occasion de rouvrir son cœur après une blessure et de sauver tout ce à quoi il tient. J'ai aimé le passé des personnages, leurs blessures, mais surtout leur manière de communiquer, c'est vraiment une romance bienveillante, profonde et sexy (il y a des scènes, ouhlala) qui m'a convaincue. J'ai fini avec les larmes aux yeux...

From the very first moment Matt and Zoey meet, you can feel the spark between them. It isn’t just attraction—it’s the kind of chemistry that makes you lean closer to the page, waiting to see what they’ll say or do next.

Matt, with all his small-town responsibilities and quiet strength, balances so perfectly against Zoey, who’s ambitious, polished, and determined to prove herself. On paper, they couldn’t be more different, yet their connection feels inevitable.

What I loved most was how naturally their relationship unfolded. Even when they were pretending for the sake of the town, it never truly felt like an act. The way they challenged each other, softened each other’s rough edges, and saw through the walls built from past heartbreaks was so heartwarming. As a reader, I could really relate to those moments when someone else sees the best in you, even when you can’t. By the time the ‘fake’ began to turn real, it felt like the only possible outcome.

Matt and Zoey’s story isn’t just about romance, it’s about finding the person who sees the real you, even when you’ve spent years hiding behind expectations, obligations and doing things for others, even if it isn't what you really want. Their journey made me laugh, swoon, and believe in the kind of love that sneaks up on you when you least expect it. Daphne’s character was such a thoughtful and authentic representation, and I truly appreciated it.

Pine Falls itself is a joy to experience as a reader. The town radiates warmth, charm, and community spirit, and it’s clear that its residents genuinely support each other in the best way—through small acts of kindness, cheering each other on, and stepping up when it matters most. Having already fallen in love with Pine Falls in Unbearably Yours, it was a delight to return and see how the town continues to feel like home for its characters.

This book is Gilmore Girls meets The Holiday. A cozy small-town, witty banter, family ties, and a love story that sneaks up on you in the sweetest way. Hoax and Kisses is an absolute must-read.

I spent the whole time giggling and kicking my feet. It was so cute. My only problem was the insta love, but how cute it was made up for it. I definitely want more from Pine Falls and I can't wait to go back

Hoax and Kisses is the first novel I have read by Elodie Colliard and I am so grateful for the opportunity to read an early e-arc.

From the moment I started reading, I loved the setting, and the descriptions of Pine Falls made me feel like I’d stepped into the set of Virgin River.

What I found unique in this story was the inclusion of a neurodivergent chapter. Daphne, Matt’s little sister, stole the show for me. She’s written perfectly and with such consideration. Matt’s love for her is adorable and I love that she comes first.

Unfortunately, I was unable to connect to Matt and Zoey’s romance and I found the pacing a little off at times. Certain events happened that seemed unexplained and some things were too descriptive in my opinion.

Overall, I am glad I read the story as it was fun and I’m grateful for the opportunity.

As a girlie from British Columbia, I absolutely love reading a book set here.
Pine Falls is the cutest small town, and I wish I could drive there right now! If you’re a fan of Gilmore Girls, you’ll definitely get Stars Hollow vibes from this book.

I enjoyed how realistic our main characters were. They each had their own flaws and problems to work on, while also having the emotional maturity to check in with each other. They both had a good amount of character growth throughout the book.

Things got hot and heavy pretty quickly, and let me just say… I was not mad about that one bit. The chemistry between Zoey and Matt was clear from the start.

I rooted for Zoey the entire time because she was so likable. You could just tell she wanted to do right by the town and by herself. It did break my heart to see how much she yearned for her dad’s praise and approval.
Matt, being the most attentive, caring, and responsible brother, was SO swoon-worthy. The autism representation in this book was incredible.

You can tell that Elodie put a lot of care and thought into writing Daphne’s character. It was so respectfully done, and her use of sensitivity readers really showed. I truly appreciated it.

Overall, if you’re into small town Canadian vibes, fake dating, found family, enemies to lovers, and incredible autism rep, this is the book for you.

Thank you so much NetGalley & Elodie for giving me this arc in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you, NetGalley for the arc of hoax and kisses by Elodie Colliard.

I stumbled upon one of this authors other books on KU and fell in love. This book was the second I’ve read from her and it did not disappoint!

I really enjoyed how cutesy this book was and how well the dynamic was written between two people that come from completely different lives.

Very solid romance!

3.5⭐️

Bursting with charm and cozy vibes, Hoax and Kisses is a delightful small town romance about knowing your worth, loving yourself, and finding community. I loved Colliard’s Unbearably Yours and was so excited to see this latest release was set in that same small town and for the chance to reconnect with those characters. Hoax and Kisses is a standalone, but I do think it’s best appreciated if you read Unbearably Yours first!

I adored Zoey and was rooting for her from the start. Her journey towards recognizing and embracing her self worth and standing firm in that knowledge was full of hope and so encouraging. I was thrilled to see Zoey bet on herself and find a community that rallied around and gave her support.

While I think that Matt complemented Zoey very well and became a soft place for her to land, I was not a fan of how hot and cold he was in the beginning and the verbal barbs he threw her way. I was happy to see him let go of making snap judgments, though I recognize that he also had his heart guarded, but one can be grumpy and guarded without being mean. I’m glad Matt recognized the unwarranted unkindness and made amends with Zoey.

Overall, this was super cute and a fun read!

A small town romance with enough tension to power my late night reading sprints? This is it. I was immersed in Pine Falls and not ready to leave when the story came to an end – luckily there are three other books by Elodie Colliard for me to pick up next. Zoey and Matt, in addition to the people of the town, felt real and the interactions between them made me smile, chew on my fingernails (figuratively), and tear up in a never-ending cycle. I loved to see the autism rep in this book, and as I said earlier, will definitely pick up Colliard's earlier work while waiting for her next one.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read and review this e-arc. I am very grateful.

Unfortunately I don’t think this book was for me overall.

I really enjoyed the neurodivergent representation, through Matts little sister Daphne. The way her preferences and reactions were addressed in the book was handled with care and consideration. I loved Daphne as a character, and I loved how important she was to Matt.

I also really enjoyed the way Zoey’s backstory played into her character today. She was very single-focussed and never gave herself time for what she finds joy in. Seeing her journey through this, and by prioritising herself, it was a really nice angle to the story.

The pacing of the story felt off in places for me, events happen with little build up and it made them feel out of place at times. Their connection to each other felt too weak for me to become invested in their journey. They constantly doubt each other and what they really think, even though they have many conversations on it. I struggled with some of the editing, especially on some of the descriptions not always making sense.

Overall, I’m glad I read it and am very grateful for the opportunity to read and review.

4.25 🌟 / 5

This is the first novel i’ve read of Elodie Colliard, and it certainly did NOT disappoint! I thoroughly enjoyed the story of Zoé and Matt.

Pine Falls is the cosiest woodsy town, with a tight knitted community, the perfect background for the story. The introduction of the main characters was so hilariously charming (it reminded me so much of the RomCom Leap Year and Virgin River)!

I loved the story of the characters; their motives felt very natural and fluid throughout and the romance was *chefs kiss* 😘. It was dislike/lust at first sight with gorgeous banter and so many mature conversations. I was genuinely hooked with their romance 🩷.

Overall:
Absolutely would recommend! 😊
I would happily reread this book if i was in need of cosy, small town, hate to love, close proximity vibes!
Spice rating was 🌶️🌶️

Thank you to Netgalley for this eARC. Everything i’ve wrote is my own thoughts of the book. This review is on behalf of The Spicy Sword Society.

Ohhh, we're back in Pine Falls and I couldn't be more excited!
I want to start by saying that Elodie's writing never fails to amaze me! The way she crafts her words, her characters, and their emotions feels so effortless yet so intentional!
From the prologue, I knew this story was going to be devastating yet beautiful!

My favourites tropes of the book
- Rivals to Lovers xe
- Small Town Romance
- Dual POV
- Found Family

Zoey is a complicated and layered character and I honestly loved her for it. She's tough on the outside but soft on the inside, and I related so much to that. She just needed someone to truly see her to explore that softness and vulnerability within her and Matt was exactly the person she needed for that.

Matt was a dream. He was mature, emotionally available, communicated openly and has an itch to create flower bouquets based on what he thinks will bring you comfort?
I mean. Sign me up. Absolute book boyfriend material.

The dynamic between Matt and Zoey was truly intense and electric. The sweet moments balanced perfectly with the spicy ones (and when it gets spicy, Elodie does not hold back in her writing). The banter, the tension, the intimacy, I was hooked. I think the fake dating trope in this book was done incredibly well. It gave Matt and Zoey space to slowly learn each other's hearts and each other, and I loved every minute of it.

Beyond the romance, the plot had me fully invested. The small-town setting is warm and comforting and I loved that we got to meet folks from Pine Falls along the way.
This lovely fictional town is warm, cozy and filled with life and layers.

Lastly, I want to note that Elodie depicted an accurate and respectful representation of autism in Matt's sister. It was handled with care, respect and authenticity.
All in all, I loved every part of this book and I truly cannot wait to see what Elodie comes up with next!
Thank you to Netgalley and Victory Editing for letting me read this before it's been published in exchange for my honest opinion!