Hoax and Kisses by Eloise Colliard was such a cozy little romance book. It was predictable, but I liked the small town vibes and the characters. I always enjoy a fake dating trope. The book had a few spicy scenes which I loved. It made me think of a Hallmark movie and reminded me of the town meetings in Gilmore Girls!

It’s giving early 2000s rom com in the best way. I loved their not so meet cute, and the instant chemistry. This book was an easy, cozy read. Sweet, yet spicy with plot. I also really enjoyed the accurate depiction of autism within this book.

Thank you so much for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

I fear the main issue I came across reading this book was that it felt very cookie cutter, i think a less experienced romance reader could start this and fall in love with the genre through it, but as someone who has read about 500+ romance books, i fear this didn’t really excite me in any way?

The fact that I just discovered that this isn’t the first book in the Pine Hills series blows my mind. Cause Goodreads lists it as the first, but thanks to some fellow reviewers on here there are other books that take place with some of my favorite side characters of Pine Hills. I had no clue. But now I’m so excited to go back to Pine Hills and read some of these characters beginnings. But before I do that I have to go some major love and props to Hoax and Kisses because I absolutely loved and adored this book.

I went into Hoax and Kisses with zero knowledge and zero expectations. I’ll be honesty I totally requested this book because the cover is adorable. And thankfully the cover was only just the beginning of how much I’d enjoy this book.

Let’s talk about my Pros:
1. I loved our MFC Zoe so much. The constant pressure to live up to parents expectations is exhausting and excruciating. Everything she went through I could 100% relate to. I loved watching her rediscovery herself and finding the courage to stand up for herself.
2. Can’t forget our leading man, Matt! I absolutely loved him as well. His love for his town and his sister is infectious. Plus him and Zoe together was perfection. Watching them grow and change together for the better was refreshing.

And now for my very few Cons:
1. I think the ending with Zoe’s dad was rushed. I really wanted him to get karma dished back in full. And in a way he did, but it all happened so fast. I guess I wanted more drawn out to the drama. (Yes, I know I’m nitpicking)
2. My other small con again is the ending when the conflict arose it made me so mad how the town reacted at Zoe. Like I get it, but also you’ve spent weeks with this person surely you can’t flip on someone that quickly. Thankfully the town redeems themselves but I was a little disappointed in their reaction and treatment of Zoe.

Overall, I highly recommend this book. It’s a fun, sweet perfect for ending the summer romance. Thank you to NetGalley & Victory Editing for the ARC

Hoax and Kisses was a Hallmark movie with spice, in a good way!

It was very predictable and followed the typical formula, but I really liked Zoey's character growth. Matt felt like every other cinnamon roll hero, overprotective of his family and town and friends (but at least he can eat crow warm). Their relationship was very insta-love and I didn't quite grasp it, but it also felt like it was the exact same scenario Matt found himself in with his ex and I really wanted there to be more to it than that.

All in all, a sweet book and I look forward to seeing what else happens in Pine Falls in the future!

Elodie Colliard is not only a lovely human being, but she writes a wonderful, dialogue-heavy book that sucks you in on page one and doesn’t let go until you’ve reached the dedications.

The snark and banter between Matt and Zoey is almost addictive, but the one-night-stand in the beginning of the book kind of defeated the purpose of an enemies-to-lovers trope. Did they hate each other? Sure. But once you’ve fucked each other in the living room of your rental, are you really still enemies?
Matt and Zoey felt really fleshed out, with their hopes, dreams and desires all out there on the page, and maybe that’s why I didn’t even care that the enemies-to-lovers bit of the book is completely skipped after a few chapters. They fit together beautifully and I loved watching their relationship take shape during their fake relationship.

But while I loved these two characters, I’ve arguably gotten way more attached to Daphne. She’s Matt’s autistic little sister who just gets dumped on him because his parents are taking a cruise off…. somewhere? I don’t remember where they went, because honestly, I was too pissed off that they didn’t want to be there for her first day at her new school. Matt and Daphne are a super team together, but a little girl deserves to have parents who understand and love her the way she is.

Romance-wise, I have very few complaints. Matt and Zoey are smitten and they take every opportunity to show each other how much the other means to them. Some of the smut felt a touch… unbelievable in the logistics department, but I’ll let you be the judge of that when you run to the store to get your own copy!

It did al move a little fast for my liking (again, seeing that they banged their brains out in the first few chapters), but it works seeing that Matt, Zoey and the side characters are acknowledging this in the book itself.

And arguably the best part? There’s no third-act breakup! Matt and Zoey actually talk through their struggles like grown, proper adults! There’s plenty to be scared about, as they discuss together, but without taking the leap, you’ll never know how life will turn out! It was wonderfully refreshing and as much as I can enjoy the strife leading up to the break-up, I loved seeing that it’s not necessary for an addictive romance!

I honestly cannot wait to read more of what Elodie has written. If all her romances are like this, I’ll be sure to buy each book she’ll be publishing!

I really enjoyed this book, even more than I think that I originally intended. I was immediately drawn in from the author's notes in the start, and then almost couldn't put it down from then on. I finished it quickly and truly had a good time reading it the entire time. Zoe(y) and Matt were so lovely to read about, and I adored both of their characters so much that it was impossible for me to not root for their happiness in every sense of the word. I love a small town romance, and this had everything I love about them - townspeople who are far too into the MCs relationship, found family, town halls (I know this is niche but listen Gilmore Girls started this and I can't stop it).

I think everything about this book was well-thought out. I admire so much the detail that went into making sure that Daphne's autism was represented in an honest and caring way, and I want the WORLD for that girl (and all of the flowers she could ever wish for). Matt's care for his sister made me have a soft spot for him in my rankings of MCs for the rest of time. It was honest, loving, and he handled her with so much care without taking away her autonomy, which I loved. I also loved Daphne and Zoey's relationship so much, and how well they slotted together.

This book is not insta-love to be sure, but when they fall, they do fall fast. Sometimes that is hard for me to get behind, but I did honestly buy that they had strong feelings for each other rather quickly. It's still not my favorite (I am a slow-burn girl at heart, after all), but I was not put off by it in this book at all, which is a feat for me personally. I also thought overall their communication was great, which also influenced my feelings on their relationship moving quickly - it didn't feel like they were leaving things (important things, usually) out when they were talking about themselves and their lives.

This was a 4.5 star for me, and I will definitely keep reading on in this series! Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Elodie Colliard for the opportunity to read this e-ARC.

If you're up for a feel-good, steamy small-town romance where a fake date thing turns way more real than expected—and those Gilmore Girls vibes are your jam, Hoax and Kisses just might be your next cozy read.

I'm french and I like to discover new authors in VO, so I asked for this book on Netgalley and I loved it ! The story set place in a cosy town, where our two characters have a one-night stand before knowing each others. The town is very cute, the people who lives there too. The style of Elodie Colliard is very nice and easy to read, and as a french people, I recommend it :D

I ate this book up, it was so good, and I'm now fully obsessed with Elodie Colliard's brain because Matt is now the love of my life.

The tension between Matt and Zoey, their chemistry, the way they went from a one-night stand to rivals to fake dating to so much more was just absolute ~perfection~ and I will take no criticisms on this.

Matt falls first, falls HARD, I mean the man is down bad for her in the best way while being so incredibly supportive and kind, but also an absolute beast in the bedroom *fans self*
I love him with my entire heart, this grumpy hunk of a man with a beard and long hair and a heart of gold.

The autism rep in the story was amazing, I loved loved loved it so much, and Matt's devotion to his autistic sister was so touching, I found myself tearing up. The way Zoey accepts and loves Daphne from the get-go tugged at my heart strings, and the sh*t she goes through with her dad? Broke my heart.

I was giggling and smiling and kicking my feet while reading this gem, it was just so good I couldn't put it down.

Thank you to Elodie Colliard, Love Notes PR and Netgalley for a copy in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

4.5⭐️ thank you so much @elosreadingcorner and @victoryeditingngc for the ARC it was such a comfort read!!

But I read it in one day? This cozy romance was so cute that I didn’t notice the time fly by. Everything was there to make you feel good with this rustic and friendly atmosphere.

Zoey is a super strong and independent woman who has lots of plans in mind. I was really touched by her relationship with her father, the fact that he doesn’t see all her efforts. She spent most of her life alone, she wasn’t happy and she couldn’t be herself. But all that was before she met Matt, a florist who is loved by everyone and who is trying to grow his business even more. He was just adorable! How could you not be charmed by all the little gestures he does for Zoey? He also has a lot to manage. He has to take care of his little sister Daphne, who is autistic. I loved how this subject was addressed in the novel.

Zoey is afraid to show herself vulnerable and Matt is afraid to trust someone with his heart again. They both felt lonely. You’d think they had nothing in common, but they’re PERFECT together. There were so many cute moments!

I just couldn’t relate to the characters, which isn’t a big deal! I also found a few passages a bit rushed, but overall they were harmonious. We feel so at home in Pane Falls: I loved getting to know the inhabitants. Everyone was very warm and welcoming.

4.5 Stars Omg, Hoax and Kisses by Elodie Colliard was so freaking adorable and definitely one of my fave reads of the year! Zoey and Matt were so sweet and I loved their journey as a couple, plus the autism and caregiving representation was so well done and with care.

Zoey Delacroix is set to finally take over her father's hotel empire, but the shareholders are still unsure if she can do it. To prove herself, Zoey decides to finish a deal her father wasn't able to: purchase land in the small town of Pine Falls. When she's met with hostility by the townspeople, who remember what her father tried to do years ago, she turns to local Matt Becker with a plan. Matt and Zoey met her first day in town and ended up having a one night stand, thinking they'd never see each other again. Yet, they keep running into each other and can't deny the attraction that exists. Since Matt needs to expand his florist shop in order to pay his sister's tuition, he accepts Zoey's proposal: he'll fake date her to help boost her image in the town and she'll help him get into an investment program for his business. Matt is determined to not only make this arrangement work, but to keep Zoey at arm's length. He's fallen once for a city girl before and it won't happen again, especially since he's taking care of his autistic younger sister, who attaches herself easily to people she likes. The more they get to know one another, the more Matt realizes his initial assessment of Zoey was wrong. And now he can't get her out from under his skin. With the clock ticking down until Zoey can get approval from the town for the land purchase, will this fake arrangement turn into something real?

Hoax and Kisses was so utterly charming! I couldn't put the book down and stayed up too late telling myself "just one more chapter" before bed. I loved the parallels between Zoey and her dad and Matt's sister, Daphne, and her mom. How both feel misunderstood by their parent and it's stifled their growth. The way that Matt is able to recognize this and use this new understanding to support Zoey is heartwarming to read. Matt was so swoony! He was so sweet to Zoey and a wonderful big brother to Daphne. He's a natural caretaker and the perfect person to show Zoey that someone will put her first. It's such a cozy, sweet read!

Thanks Elodie Colliard for the ARC 💕 Hoax and Kisses releases August 26th!

I still say I don't like fake dating, and I end up reading it, falling in love, and appreciating the stories they have to tell. Because I think it's that way, it's more than just fake dating, it's much more, and the depth of the characters and the themes it covers enchanted me and made me feel very comfortable reading it.

I was surprised at first hand that SOMETHING happened after just a few chapters (or almost none), and I don't usually like that. But I think it was justified, and it ended up winning me over.

I liked the characters; you can tell the author has a lot to offer, and I feel like she'll be able to make the most of it because her characters are interesting and entertaining. I would love for it to be translated into Spanish!

Thank you so much, Victory Editing, for the arc I read on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Hoax and Kisses by Elodie Collard is my first read by her, but God, I am so happy I saw this book on NetGalley, and I requested it. I loved it so much. The cover might have caught my eye, but the story has my heart for sure. Matt has it. I LOVED Matt so much. I need him in my life. I don't like to read blurbs because then if the story is not what I thought by reading the blurb, I get disappointed, so I go blind, with no expectations. However, for some odd reason, I did read HAK's blurb, and it gave me the absolute best vibes. It was a delightful book to start my "fall weather manifestation season" (I live in Texas and it's currently RIDICULOUSLY hot). The town description, the details of this book have made me wish this were real, because I wanted to plan my next trip so badly.

I must admit that Matt and Zoey's meet-cute was very cliché, and I was like "not again," but I kept reading. Hoax and Kisses felt deeper and emotional for me. It is indeed a romance book, but as Matt was going through personal issues, Zoey's as well. I loved how Matt took care of his sister as she's on the spectrum. I loved that, but it felt so much from overprotection from his side. I thought someone was going to tell him at some point in the story, but it didn't happen. I needed to see more from Matt's mom; this needed more development. It felt like I was robbed; it had no ending. I don't want to give spoilers as I don't like that in reviews.

Personally, Hoax and Kisses gave me all, almost. I loved the ending so much, but I needed more pain from Zoey's dad, hahaha.

This was cute as hell!
I’ll admit, I hated Matt at the beginning and even mused with Elodie about kicking him in the shins 😂😂😂

It was a true enemies to lovers.

What happens when you are inexplicably drawn to a person who represents everything you hate? To the daughter of a man who made your life and everyone you care about’s lives hell ???
Is a daughter guilty of her father sins too? And worth does she even know about them? Can you let yourself get close enough to ask???

I loved the family the characters build around each other of support and care.

The town was kinda scary with their mob mentality though 😅 you feel so bad for Zoe when things go sideways each time!
Like damn, sit down and let people explain

This book was a romance with a fake dating twist that had me hooked from the start. Zoey Delacroix is a workaholic and desperate to prove herself to the shareholders of her father's hotel empire, but especially to her father. She's determined to show him that she has his business prowess. Enter Matt Becker, who is a grounded small-town florist doing his best to keep his head above water. Between running his shop and caring for his autistic teenage sister in an adorably protective big brother way, he doesn't have the time for romance. When Zoey's plan to secure a land deal in Matt's town blows up in her face, he offers to fake a date to help win back the community's trust, in exchange for a spot in her small business investment program, but love has other plans.

What starts as a practical arrangement soon becomes a magnetic, spicy connection that neither of them saw coming. Matt was burned by a past relationship, which creates a gruff exterior, but we soon see his true nature. Zoey's caring for what he holds dear begins to crack his walls, showing him that love doesn't have to mean loss. As Zoey starts falling for both Matt and the charm of his small town, she begins to see a life different from the one she'd always imagined, a life more than business. Their fake relationship doesn't just change the way the town sees them, but it changes the way they see themselves, and each other. By the end, it's two people daring to imagine a life they didn't know they could want, and finding the courage to take it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the opportunity to review and provide my honest feedback.

From the very first chapter, Hoax and Kisses completely pulled me in. On the surface, it’s the kind of cosy, small-town romance I love—fake-dating, witty banter, swoony moments—but there’s so much more going on here. Underneath all the fun is a story about figuring out who you really are, where you belong, and what you’re willing to fight for.

Zoey’s journey especially resonated with me—her determination to live up to her family’s high expectations while secretly feeling out of place is written with such empathy that it’s hard not to see pieces of yourself in her struggle. The way Elodie Colliard writes her inner conflict made it feel so real, so relatable. And then there’s Matt—the gruff, overworked small-town florist, but also a devoted brother who’s carrying a lot more on his shoulders than people realise.

One of the things I loved most was how Matt’s sister, Daphne, is portrayed. She’s autistic, and her routines, preferences, and way of interacting with the world felt authentic and thoughtfully written. The tension with their mum’s lack of acceptance was sometimes tough to read, but it made Matt’s role in her life even more moving. This isn’t just background colour—it’s a core part of who Matt is and why the romance works.

Speaking of the romance—it’s perfection. Sure, there’s the fun banter, but it’s the little moments that got me. There’s one scene where Matt quietly helps Zoey without saying a word, and honestly, it melted me. Those understated acts of care made their eventual relationship feel so earned. And yes… the spice? Perfectly timed and worth the wait.

If I had to sum it up, I’d say it’s got the snappy, small-town vibe of Gilmore Girls with the fish-out-of-water warmth of The Holiday, plus a level of emotional depth you don’t always find in rom-coms. Every side plot and character beat feels like it belongs — and in this town. you'll feel like you belong, too.

If you’re looking for a romance that’s sweet but grounded, with genuine representation, intense chemistry, and banter that’s as good as the kisses, this one’s a must-read. It’s one of my favourite romance reads of the year.

Cute and steamy little small town romance. The perfect little turn off and enjoy hallmark movie style romance.

Following our florist MMC Matt and corporate heiress Zoey, we watch as they meet with instant dislike, have a one night stand and then Matt discovers she’s there to secure land for her father’s company to build a hotel. When everything backfires, Matt and Zoey end up in a fake dating scheme which turns into real dating pretty quickly.

It’s adorable, a bit predictable and full of smut. It’s nice to read in dual perspectives how much they both fancy each other, and their interactions overall were just adorable.

Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing Co-op for the review copy!

My first Elodie book and defs not my last!!!

Hoax and Kisses is a perfect little romance about the small town hunk and the big city girl just stopping through. Think: hallmark but better!

Matt’s a florist and helps take care of his little sis with autism. He gets her in a way most people don’t, and he’s really a big softie on the inside. Zoey is on track to take over the family business from her dad, but first she needs to land a real estate deal that he never could. BUT, she’s much more than your big city corporate girlie!!!

After Zoey makes the wrong first impression to the townsfolk (think Gilmore girls style town meeting!) the obviously fix is for her and Matt to fake date. 🤪

I had a great time with this sweet and spicy book and I can’t wait to dig into more of elodie’s other books!!

I have been keeping my eye out for this author and i am glad i finally read her! I went in thinking it was going to be another fake dating story and Elodie proved me so wrong.
Zoey wants to be picked as the next CEO after her father retires and needs help convincing the people of Pine Falls her intentions are genuine. Matt needs help getting a grand to expand his business and pay for his sister's school. So, the best thing is obviously fake dating eachother, right? I was hesitant about Zoey at first, after the prologue, i though i would hate and that made me lover her even more, she felt genuine, real. People are complex and seeing her journey, how she found herself was beautiful. I can't talk about without mentioning Daphne, his sister. I loved how the author was not scared not only about portraying the autism spectre but also showing how family dynamics change after such a diagnosis, the i-dont-know-how-to-react moments, once again, it felt real and that made the story and Matt even more enjoyable.

I was worried the relationship was going too fast at first but that dind't last long. They were scared and wary of eachother and that made the ending so much hearful.Relationships are more than liking eachother, is a process and the characters knew how to develop it, they talked about the future, expressed their worries and made it work

I will for sure be checking more books by the author.