Fake-ish by Winter Renshaw is a right place wrong time book.

Briar and Dorian meet at her cousin's bachelorette party weekend. They spend the whole weekend enamored with each other, but neither are in a position for a long-term relationship. Dorian is a famous band manager and asks Briar to wait two years for him. After two years, he'll be ready to quit the band and commit to each other. They bonded over their shared disdain of marriage. A year later, Briar has a job opportunity. Her boss, Burke, offers her one million dollars in exchange for pretending to be his fiancé for eight weeks at his family's beach estate. The only problem is that when Briar arrives, she realizes Burke and Dorian are estranged brothers.

This book had lots of potential, but it didn't always keep my interest.

4 ⭐️

I read Winter Renshaw’s ‘The Best Man’ book some time ago and I loved it so much, I feel honoured to have the chance to read her new upcoming novel before its release.

So, big thank you to the author, Montlake and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. <b>Fake-ish by Winter Renshaw will be coming out on December 5th, 2023.</b>

This book tells the story of Briar and Dorian. They both met during a bachelorette getaway. They had a deep connection but it was bad timing and they agreed to meet again in two years. When she gets a new job that pays well—pretending to be her boss's fiancée for eight weeks on a private island with his family. The catch? Her boss's brother is Dorian, and things got very complicated.

As soon as I read the blurb, I knew I was going to love Dorian and Briar’s story and that’s exactly how it was! Even though I hate the insta-love, this book was very enjoyable thanks to the plot. But still, the end was too fast paced for my liking. Anyway, Winter Renshaw, you never disappoint!

This second chance romance holds a special place in my heart. It’s hard to do second-chance correctly but Winter Renshaw’s Fake-ish managed to get it right. It has all the fun tropes; fake relationship, forbidden romance, second chances, and spice. It was a fun read!

I got UNO reveresed with this one.

its fake dating but not like your used too. the guy shes pretending to date, yea shes head over heels for his brother.

the angst, the pining, the secret looks. Chefs kiss. This was a fast paced romance featuring the "right guy, wrong time" trope. ive not read many books with this trope and I've got to say, I really enjoyed it.

this book was light on the spice, having about 2 scenes. the scenes where very bland on my scale, which isn't necessarily a bad thing but i like my spice to be spicy. the Dual POV really elevated the book for me, getting to see both characters turmoil made me itching to read the next chapter.

Devoured this book. Could not put it down, had to know what was going to happen!
Burke sucked, I felt so sorry for Dorian throughout,
Kind of want to read about Nicola and Dash’s divorce now, sounds like it was juicy 😂.
All in all it was a good twist on the fake dating/engagement trope.

I loved this romance!

It was filled with sexual tension, emotional moments and swoon worthy love!

Would love to read more by this author 😊

Thanks to NetGalley and Montlake. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

I really liked the main characters, Briar and Dorian, and disliked everyone else, which took away from enjoying the rest of the story. You could feel the emotional attachment between Briar and Dorian from the beginning of the book. Unfortunately, the other characters came into play and it went downhill for me. There was no reason given why the siblings were so detached from each other. Nicola and Burke were just awful. And the whole premise started out great, but once Briar figured out the connection between Dorian and Burke, it didn't make a lot of sense as to why she kept up with the NDA fiasco. Why didn't she ask Burke to get out of it earlier in the book? The last couple chapters were a whirlwind, neatly tying up the ending. Lots of potential, didn't keep my interest. The "one year ago" chapters are what get the 3 stars from me.

This book had several things that are up my alley. The writing is solid and the characters well developed. My issue was the third act execution. The ending kind of just happened? I didn't feel like I had any closure and that's something I definitely need.

4.5
This one is more than a romance. It's a multi-layered story of family, but more importantly, it's about money and how some are affected by its power far more than others.

Briar is recovering from a lost job and a broken heart. Dorian lives on the road, managing a famous musical band. They meet at their friend's bachelor/bachelorette party and instantly connect. After spending three days together, they agree their connection is undeniable but the timing is off. While neither believes in marriage, they agree to wait two years for each other until their lives settle and they can make a decent go at a long-term relationship.

One year later, Briar agrees to pose as her boss's fiancé at a family retreat. She'll earn a cool million at the end of eight weeks but will be perpetually bound by an NDA. All is well and good until she meets her fake fiancé's brother, Dorian. Suddenly, the fake relationship, the NDA, and how everything combined makes her appear like a liar who didn't feel that deep bond the year before, isn't such a great idea.

This story leans heavily on family dynamics—the friction between siblings, parents, and how money can come between them. There are secrets and misunderstandings. There are striking moments and heartbreaking ones. Not a lot of spice in this one, but it fit the structure of the story. I hated the NDA. It became a character in the story and a repeated source of drama. At times, the family issues overshadowed the romance and I wanted to have the focus centered back on Briar and Dorian.

The writing was witty in parts and emotional in others with the chemistry between Briar and Dorian brewing on every page. My heart broke with each painful stab Dorian took seeing the woman he loved with his brother. There's another story there - one that unfolds and amplifies the pain. But I held out hope and feverishly turned each page, willing him to see the truth that they would somehow make it through the hot mess of his family situation. The ending was perfect, and how Nicole (his sister) stepped up. All in all, even with their shared belief that marriage wasn't for them, their together-forever bond was evident in the epilogue.

/I received an early edition of this book from NetGalley. This did not affect my opinion of the book or content of my review./

Thank you to Net Galley for the chance to read this Arc.

Briar and Dorian meet, get to know one another and fall in love however time and distance separates them.

As fate would have it they find each other again in the weirdest scenario ever. Briar feels trapped and Dorian is mad but doesn't know the full story. With family drama and a lovely trip to a get away island. Will their love prevail.

Storyline was very good with enough grit that you can feel the drama between the characters and the pull they have for each other. Wasn't fussed on the back and forth until it stayed in present day timeline. However it played out well.
Would definitely recommend.

Thank you to Montlake for the ARC. I loved this book so much. Dorian is grumpy but so sexy and the chemistry, wow. Must read.

Read this overnight.

I won't discuss it in detail because I'm afraid I might give something crucial away... but let me say this—this book is heartwarming and swoon-worthy!

Expect the unexpected! That's life! You never know where life takes you... Seize the moment, that's what our MMC and FMC didn't do... sure they had an agreement but life always throws curve balls...

Anyway...

This book would make a great hallmark or Netflix movie! I can just see it!

I recommend this book!!

I thought that this was a really good story and it was a thoroughly enjoyable read!

The plot was well developed and it was romantic and sexy

Two people become oceans apart due to a fake relationship – will they get back together…

It is 4 stars from me for this one, highly recommended – go read the book!

—2.75 ⭑
“𝖭𝗈𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗆𝖺𝗄𝖾𝗌 𝗆𝖾 𝗁𝖺𝗉𝗉𝗂𝖾𝗋 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗇 𝗀𝗂𝗏𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗐𝗈𝗋𝗅𝖽,” 𝗁𝖾 𝖺𝗅𝗐𝖺𝗒𝗌 𝗍𝖾𝗅𝗅𝗌 𝗆𝖾. “𝖭𝗈𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖾𝗑𝖼𝖾𝗉𝗍 𝖻𝖾𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗐𝗈𝗆𝖺𝗇 𝖨 𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖾.”

It took me so long time to get into the story, when i finally did i had a lot of fun reading and enjoying it until i got bored and the characters started to annoy me.

i’m not really sure what i think about it because on one side it was good and on the other side it was bad.

💌- thank you Netgalley and Winter Renshaw for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

A romance about two people who fall in love but the timing isn't right. Dorian and Briar make a pact to contact each other in two years and go their separate ways.

Then she gets into a fake engagement to Dorian's brother and is stuck on their family island with everyone.

I really enjoyed this book and finished it in one sitting. Dorian and Briar have chemistry and even though they both are anti-marriage they still believe in soulmates. There were a couple of steamy scenes but nothing graphic and a HEA.

3.5 stars

Fake-ish is a few tropes thrown into one book and it works. Renshaw gives us the whirlwind romance of before and the awkward position of now with a fake relationship to the ONE's brother. Complicated- yes. Over- not even close.

Reunited in the worst way, turns out to be the best thing ever!

I thoroughly enjoyed 'Fake-ish' by Winter Renshaw. The narrative unfolds with a perfect blend of romance, emotional depth, and a touch of comedic irony. Briar, an advocate of romance without the commitment of marriage, finds herself entangled in a complex web of love, deception, and unexpected connections during her cousin's bachelorette getaway.

Renshaw's use of flashbacks adds a poignant layer to the storytelling, giving readers insight into Briar and Dorian's past and its impact on their present circumstances. The emotional turmoil experienced by both characters is palpable, making the reader deeply invested in their journey. Dorian's sister is a captivating character, embodying the complexities that shape Dorian and Briar's paths.

While the book may not have steaming romantic scenes, the intricate and beautiful story compensates for it. Renshaw's writing style expertly delves into the characters' psyche, allowing readers to grasp their emotions and motivations effortlessly. I appreciated how the plot consumed me, making me overlook the absence of steamy romance typically found in this genre.

'Fake-ish' stands out for its compelling narrative and well-drawn characters, leaving a lasting impression. It's a testament to Renshaw's skill to craft a captivating love story that resonates deeply, even without the conventional romance tropes. Highly recommend for those seeking a romance novel that's both emotionally engaging and heartwarming

First off, this ARC was provided by the publisher & author via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

OOOOO MMMM SQQQUUEEE this book had me at the synopsis and it was fantastic! I don’t usually prefer the back and forth timeline, but the way the author wrote it was amazing! To the point and poignant and just the way I love my books. Also, the close proximity troupe is a must love and the angst and tension between Dorian and Briar was so 👌🏻.

I felt like this story was fresh and different and kept me turning the page. I did finish it in just over a day, while on a mini vacation, so that should tell you I tried to find every minute I could to finish this book!

This is my first Winter Renshaw book and I’ll be keeping my eye out for her! She’s gained another fan 🫶🏻.

Another meh for me. Briar took too much for granted with Burke and not enough with Dorian. Same with Dorian. Their pact seemed silly and impossible. The writing was good. I just didn't enjoy the story.

Thanks to NetGalley for the arc!
This is the first book I’ve read from Winter Renshaw, and I LOVED it!! This book kept a fairly face pace, and the storyline went back and forth from the past and the present, it tied together great and was easy to follow. I was also even more invested at the end of each chapter from the past to find out more from the present day! I throughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend!