Ugh. I wanted to like this one so bad, but August is a grade A asshole. I expected him to turn it around, treat Elle better as their relationship grew and I was immediately disappointed.

I really wanted to like this book. But something felt off about it from the beginning. Like, why is a millionaire/billionaire flying business class on Delta? And it just kind of went downhill from there.

We start off with Elle, suffering from a blistering migraine, making her way back to the west coast. She just happens to be seated next to “The Fixer” August. She passes out, he feels compelled to take care of her, and someone splashes pictures of them all over the internet. In a bid to repair his reputation, August proposes. I’m kind of foggy on the reasons why he needs to, but apparently it was important.

Then he offers her a job at his company. A children’s book publishing house. And woah, hold your horses, Elle JUST HAPPENS to be a children’s book illustration. WHAT A COINCIDENCE! Then is gets even crazier when his aunt also turns out to be a famous illustrator that Elle has looked up to and admired her whole like. It just seems like everything works out too perfectly.

I enjoyed the story itself, and the hot scenes were…hotttttttt. But I had a hard time connecting with the characters and finding them and the situations believable. There is a ton of spice and open-door sexy time, so this is a red hot read for sure.

Overall it was a quick read with a meh story line with characters who just didn’t do it for me. It felt like the whole book was trying too hard. Almost as if they were trying to hit every popular trope. Also it was long for a book that didn’t have much to offer plot wise.

If you’re looking for lots of sexy time with minimal plot and character development, this book is for you.

I’m pretty sure that this review perfectly sums up how I feel.


Don’t get me wrong. I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t love it either. But as always, I encourage you to read for yourself and see what you think.

RED HOT READ ALERT: RED HOT READ ALERT: this book is a sexy sexy red hot read that might jusy leave you blushing.

💖 Fake dating

💖 Fake engagement

💖 Grumpy vs sunshine

💖 Age gap

💖 Billionaire Romance

💖 Boss-Employee

Almost Pretend is available now in KU. Grab your copy here

Thanks to Netgalley and Montelake for the ARC copy of this book.

This was a first time read for me by this author so I didn't have any particular expectations going into it. I found it to be an entertaining read. August is a grumpy billionaire and he meets Elle when they are both on the same flight. August is a sourpuss while Elle is all sunshine and positive energy. He wants nothing to do with her, but it turns out to be a matter of being at the right place at the right time when he catches her after she faints from a migraine. Being the hero, though, may cost him his reputation when the media has a field day snapping pictures of him carrying her. He then does some damage control and asks Elle to be his fake fiance to protect his reputation. Elle is way out of her element when she agrees. But as they spend more time together, they both begin to have a hard time remembering that this is all supposed to be pretend.
I am such a sucker for a fake relationship trope, and this was definitely my cup of tea! I enjoyed seeing Elle and August get closer and the banter between them was such fun to read. These two were polar opposites, but they couldn't have been more perfect for each other. Definitely a fun read!
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

"Almost Pretend" by Nicole Snow has all the tropes I adore in a romance novel: fake engagement, age gap, billionaire romance, and found family. I've read several of Nicole Snow's books and usually enjoy her work, but this one just didn't do it for me.

The story follows Elle, an illustrator who returns home to live with her grandmother and struggles with severe headaches and other health issues. On her flight home, she meets billionaire August, also known as Jet Daddy, during a crisis. He steps in as her white knight, helping her through the airport and ensuring she gets home safely. The next day, August unexpectedly proposes to Elle, aiming to escape the media frenzy branding him a "black widow" after his first wife's death and the woman coming after his family’s company. Despite the promising setup, the characters' immaturity and lack of true chemistry made the story fall flat for me.

The saving grace of the book was Elle’s grandmother and August’s Aunt Claire. Their vibrant personalities and witty banter added a much-needed spark to the narrative. I also appreciated the epilogue, but overall, I can't highly recommend "Almost Pretend." It just didn't meet the mark for me.

Due to unforeseen circumstances beyond her control, Elle is on the flight from h3!!. It's not all bad though, she's seated next to a major hottie. Even though he doesn't acknowledge her at all, August feels it's best to stay focused on his computer and not the woman having issues in the seat next to him. Settling into her six hour flight, Elle's migraine reaches full force and she tries hard to stay composed.
Waking up in a stranger's car after passing out was not Elle's plan, nor was it August's. Elle soon arrives at her grandmother's house and she has some sense of comfort.
August's plane ride was not the uneventful trip he desired and taking care of Elle was no bonus. It was just something that had to be done. When August deposits Elle at her destination, he believes that to be the last time they will see each other. He's helped her and now he can cut his losses and get on with his day. August was wrong. He now needs a favor and who better to ask than the woman he rescued earlier, the one causing him so much trouble now. When August shows up on Elle's doorstep she's shocked. But she will be even more shocked, and a little freaked out, when she hears what he is proposing.

An amazing, well written story with characters that are opposites but have chemistry that is undeniable! Loved Elle and August😍 A fantastic read that I highly recommend to everyone, you will not be disappointed!

This is the story of Elle and August. He is an alpha billionaire who really has a problem being grumpy all the time. Love him or hate him he is all alpha all the time. Elle is really sweet and the exact opposite of him. Full of energy and joy, she is a woman that you can't be around and not be happy. These two are as different as night and day. These two meet on the same flight and it just so happens to be a day when Elle is suffering from a horrible migraine. He doesn't have time for this annoying woman. Moaning and groaning. But when she faints as they are landing and he rescues. her. However the nosy media has gotten pic of him carrying her thought the airport. He knows that his reputation is on the line and needing to do damage control he ask her if she is willing to be his fake fiancee. Elle of course agree, not having a clue how out of her element she is with this man. She finds herself thrown into a lifestyle that she never had any intention of knowing anything about. This story gets really interesting really fast. I loved these characters. You are going to love to hate him and just fall for Elle and root for her throughout this book. They did have some really great banter and will have you laughing at times. They also have some serious chemistry between them that is shown is this push and pull form. There is a reason they say that opposites attract. This is a story that you do not want to miss.

OMG I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH!!
Eleanor Lark is an upbeat illustrator plagued by headaches and unruly strawberry blonde hair. After a grueling cross-country flight, she blacks out cold. The brooding stranger who sat next to her grumping his way through the flight catches Elle as she falls. Neither expects the sweet chaos that happens next. August Marshall is stonehearted, insanely rich, and a master of corporate cleanups with major baggage of his own. The last man alive who needs a media frenzy after his airport heroics steal headlines. But August has a plan—ask Elle to marry him so their trouble disappears.
This was such a great story right from the beginning! So moving and deeply emotional. It’s hot and sexy, but full of meaningful moments and dialogues that warm your heart and break it at the same time. I fell in love with these two almost form the first page. But every secondary character made it even better.
I loved the story behind the little penguin. Pen pals and secrets. The new cartons and the lessons from the past that still hurt. August is not an easy character to love. It’s hard and cold. The grumpiest male character I’ve ever read. And Elle is defiantly the most sunshine. My favorite strange to lovers ever!
This is a book I would definitely remember for a long time. I highly HIGHLY recommend it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The story of Eleanor and August. A fake dating romance. I liked how it was told from both points of view.

Quirky artist meets grumpy billionaire? Sign me up!

Elle is a children’s artist moving across the country. August is a billionaire with a huge chip on his shoulder. Their two worlds collide (literally) when Elle experiences a medical emergency in the airport.

Throw in a fake engagement, an aunt hiding a decades-old secret, migraines, a lawsuit, a dead ex-wife who was a member of a cult, some spiiiiiiiiiicy moments, and love that overcomes everything and you’ve got this book!

Nicole Snow introduces her latest Grumpy Billionaire August, who happens to cross paths with Elle while traveling together. She suffers from a medical condition which she just so happens to be under the influence of upon their first meet. Dismissive of her he ignores her throughout the flight but when they land at their destination fate sends her into his arms when he sweeps her off her feet and not in a romantic manner.

Depositing her with her Grandmother he thinks he is done with her and will not cross her path again. Things are about to get more complicated because in today's modern world where there are cameras everywhere, having picked up on him carrying her from the terminal the press are on him and the solution put forward is for them to fake an engagement to protect his reputation.

Sweet and funny Elle is unprepared for what she agrees to when she accepts the fake proposal suggestion, they are so different but with her sunny disposition she brings out another side to August and the back-and-forth was so much fun to read.

Another 5-star from the incredibly talented Nicole Snow.

This book is well written, with good character development, and a great storyline. This book held my attention throughout and peaked my interest. Overall a very good book.

I liked this book. However I did not love this book.

There were some plot holes that did not make sense. The biggest is why a billionaire is not flying first class from NYC to Seattle.

Overall I understand this is a fake dating book however I feel like the relationship between the two was extremely forced and not in a we are pretending kinda way and not even enemies to lovers kinda way.

This was a super fun romance. August and Elle make a very cute couple. I loved the grumpy/sunshine trope, and I thought that the chemistry between these two was electric. The smart blend of emotion, angst, drama, humor and heart is paired with snappy banter and some awesome secondary characters to fuel and create a simply delightful book.

August and Elle, opposites who attract. Elle who is kind and is always smiling and then August, a grump of a billionaire who is all business and no fun. Due to unfortunate circumstances these two need to pretend to be engaged, to save both their reputations when tabloids make a story out of them. The attraction is there and soon Elle is chipping away at August’s walls to call themselves friends and soon more than friends until August inserts his foot in his mouth and Elle is done with him….or is she.
A great read with steam and an opposites attract plot that will have you smiling and cheering for these two. I liked the little to no drama between them, the twists and surprises I didn’t see coming and the amazing characters.
*I voluntarily read an advanced copy and expressed my honest opinion*

A charming story with an amusing relationship between August and Elle. A little lighter read than her usual books with lots of banter and some interesting situations. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Elle and August are definitely opposites as he is the rich, brooding, closed off CEO and she is the sweet, upbeat, caring illustrator. These two rub each other the wrong way but then things start to change as they are thrown together trying to safe Augusts family business. I really enjoyed this couple and the ups and downs. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review after reading this arc.

I DNFd at 40%.
I like Nicole Snow’s books but I didn’t love this one. It wasn’t completely terrible but I just couldn’t get into it. I did not like the MMC at all. There were a lot of little things that didn’t really make much sense to me. I really don’t know what either MC saw in the other. The chemistry wasn’t there for me. The banter was fun sometimes but overall this felt super cliche and unrealistic. I do believe other people could enjoy this book. It’s just not for me.

Elle hates flying especially this one since its from NYC to Seattle. She has been diagnosed with Anemia and Migraines and flying cou7ld make it act up. She gets a bad first impression of August when he sits next to her on the plane. Just when they reach the terminal she passes out, and thankfully August was there to catch her. Not before he was photographed catching her before she fell. After this happens, he needs her help, so he shows up at her place. Will she help saving his family business? Can they keep this a business arrangement, or can this have turned into something so much more?

How crazy can one love story begin? This one begins as Elle falls into August and never leaves his life, despite his rough exterior and earning the name Grumpykins!!!
August has had challenges growing up and in his past, some take a little longer to overcome and with the right help, it is still difficult but doable!!!
Elle is a happy mess, more brightside than negativity, which is one of her strongest qualities but something August secretly loves to hate. Elle has grown up with her Gran as her parents just weren't around much. Her creative way has only grown and matured with the love of Gran and her BFF Lena. And her heart grew even more with the addition of so many more new people in her life to handle this life thing!!!
This story is filled with so much love, romance, hate, misguided attempts at being noble, tragedy, mystery, spicy scenes and so much more. I love this author!! I received an ARC of this book from the author.

The author's name and these covers have a generic quality to them, and sure the grumpy billionaire and sunny fake fiance/employee, seemed overly familiar to me. I guess marketing sure knows I have a trope, but I was surprised to look through my past reading list and learn I've never read anything by Nicole Snow.

Happily, I enjoyed it so much that I thought about it as I tried to sleep at night, like how it might end with confessions of feelings and all. Just to say, I enjoyed it. ~3.5 stars.