Guys, if you're into messy, complicated love stories with a side of hilarious banter, "It's Complicated" is your jam! 🍓

So, Lori's BFF, Aiden, is tying the knot, and she's facing the horror of going to the wedding solo. Cue the brilliant idea of fake dating her other bestie, Jace, to survive the cringe-fest. But guess what? Fake dating ain't as breezy as it sounds, especially when Jace starts turning on the charm for real. Talk about a plot twist!

Camilla Isley weaves this tangled web of friendships and feelings, and you can't help but get caught up in the whirlwind. Lori and Jace's banter is like a rom-com dream, sprinkled with humor and moments that tug at your heartstrings.

Jace, the tall, dark, and brooding dude, brings the perfect dose of mystery to the love triangle with Aiden, the fair, dreamy doc. It's like a rom-com version of 'choose your hero,' and trust me, it's as complicated as your last relationship status on Facebook.

The writing style is like chatting with your bestie – easy, breezy, and totally relatable. The story flows smoothly, and the witty dialogue adds a cherry on top. As the characters stumble through the messiness of evolving friendships and secret feelings, you're in for a ride of self-discovery, laughs, and the kind of romantic entanglements you see in those guilty pleasure movies.

In a nutshell, "It's Complicated" isn't just laughs and giggles. It's about figuring out love, dealing with those messy emotions, and navigating the unexpected twists that life throws your way. If you're a sucker for sweet romance, sassy banter, and stories that keep you guessing, grab this one for your next cozy read! 📚💕

I loved It's Complicated. One of the main character, Lori finds herself in a complicated situation. She has been friends with aiden and jace for a lifetime. She's been secretly in love with aiden the whole time and jace been secretley in love with Lori. Everything gets further complicated wthen Aiden annonces he's getting married. Great book. The only thing i didn't like was the ending. The ending seemed a little rushed. I would have loved to seen where the characters ended up years ahead.

What a fun, cute and lighthearted read. Three best friends, two secret crushes - what could go wrong?

Lori has been in love with her best friend Aiden since college. Jace has been in love with Lori since college.. complicated. When Lori recieves Aiden's wedding invite she's distraught, and goes to Jace's apartment to talk. But when Aiden shows up and Lori answers the door, she panics - making up that Jace and her are in a relationship.. albeit a fake relationship (but he doesn't need to know that!)

As Jace and Lori put on a show for their fake dating story, Lori starts to realise she may not love Aiden.. but Jace.

𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀
A friends to lovers romance featuring fake dating and a little love triangle (but not a bad one!). I flew through this and was getting so happy with Jace and Lori's relationship growing - their chemistry was on point! It definitely felt like a realistic story which I enjoyed as well, I am glad with how Aiden handled everything too!

I loved the dual POV so we can see Jace's pining for Lori, and I did laugh at Lori's POVs with her house full of cats and chickens - my cat is as sassy as hers!

Overall this was a really heartwarming romantic comedy and as always, I can't wait to read more from Camilla!

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this copy. This review is voluntary.

A fantastic romance, easy to read and great characters! I found it so easy to read and thoroughly enjoyed how the story flowed. It was engaging and you really got to feel for Lori and Jace and the friendship dynamic.

Jace and Aiden were definately swoon worthy, lucky Lori! I would highly recommend!

Don’t you just want to grab this, switch off the phone and curl up on the sofa
By far one of my favourite books I've read this year… I loved every minute…

Fake dating, best friends to lovers and miscommunication that was solved so quickly that it didn't make me want to rip my hair out I'm obsessed. Picked this book up from netgalley because the description was right up my alley. Thoroughly enjoyed this book, it was a quick easy read that I finished in a day and I liked all three main characters. Jace was an actual sweetheart and Lori and her cats were funny. I saw a mention of a love triangle in the description which made me a little sceptical, however it was a triangle that was squashed quite quickly on, even if insecurities and misunderstandings were still happening. Only reason it wasn't a 5 stars was because it felt quite rushed, everything happened so quickly and then it got to the epilogue and I was like oh is that it? Wish we saw more of them as a couple but other than that, it was a wholesome sweet book and I will definitely be reading more books from Camilla.

Thank you for the arc.

It's Complicated
by Camilla Isley

Pub Date 23 Feb 2024 by Boldwood Books

I picked this book because of the love triangle, sounded intriguing to me.
Lori, Jace and Aiden, besties ever since college. Lori has a crush on Aiden who is about to get married. Jace is secretly in love with Lori. They start fake dating. Yeah….

I mean this was cute and fun, but maybe not the read for me. But I do believe that someone who loves romcoms will really enjoy this book.

Read if you like:
⭐️ friends to lovers
⭐️ fake dating
⭐️clean romances
⭐️ cute stories
⭐️ banter, lots of it

This was basically a very closed doors romance. I would have not picked this if I had known. I am just not into clean romances. That’s a matter of taste, it’s just not mine.
I am not big on stories where everything could be so easy if the communication would have been better.

Also the pacing was off for me, it was rushed and everything was resolved so very fast.

Ok, random, but why does every (romance) book playlist or dedication have to feature Taylor Swift? I might be the only person in the universe, but I am put off 🙈

Arc received courtesy of Netgalley and Boldwood Books. I was under no obligation to share a review, all opinions are my own.

Friends to lovers is one of my favorite romance tropes. Basically a closed door romance just fyi for anyone looking for something a little more than PG 13. The conflict was a little drawn out for me especially since in the end, it was all resolved very quickly. Overall 3.5

Call me a wishy washy hater because my last review was like oh it's cute and fun but nothing special, and then this one I'm like yes it's cute and fun and ALSO, I loved it. But really, I did. Best friend one is getting married, best friend two is in love with him and has been for 15 years, and best friend three is in love with best friend two but she has no idea and has been venting about her love for best friend number one this whole time.

I felt like this was a way better take on tropes (friends to lovers, fake dating) than most have been doing lately and the characters felt like real people.

THANK you Netgalley for the chance to read this early! I LOVE Camilla Isley: and this is no exception. I also love friends-to-lovers and a fake-dating trope, as well as a perfectly written dual POV.
This was such a cute fun read focused on a best friend triangle: Lori, Aiden, and Jace. Lori has always been in love with Aiden but, with only a month left until his wedding, she starts fake-dating Jace as a last ditch attempt to drive up some jealousy. Only problem is Jace has always been in love with her.
This was a relatively PG-13, closed door romance, but it really worked. The chemistry is sizzling. The banter is perfect. The romantic scenes are perfectly done. I thought Isley really nailed Jace's chapters in particular: it's a real balance to show him as pining but not weird, torn but not incapable of making decisions.
Without spoiling anything, I also really loved Aiden's reactions throughout this entire book. He could have gone a different way, but this was such a perfect, and very believable, 'love triangle'.
This was funny, adorable, and a perfect end of the year romance!

Okay, Lori, Jace, and Aiden – a trio of besties since college. Lori's crushing on Aiden, who's about to get married. Oh, and Jace secretly loves Lori for 15 years. Cue fake dating (between Lori and Jace) to stir up drama and reveal everyone’s true feelings.

Friends to lovers and fake dating in one book – sign me up (love those tropes, especially fake dating)! This book's a rollercoaster of unrequited love, heartache, and some white lies. Messy, but I love it.

No actually, scratch that, their situation (“love triangle”) isn’t exactly that messy it’s just frustratingly complicated, but not messy. It's like, “for fucks sake, just communicate!” but then again, they just value their friendship a lot – gotta take that in consideration. Plus, lots of sweet moments make up for the mess they create. Love it.

All in all, it's a wild ride of surprises and laugh-out-loud moments. The characters? Totally likable and relatable. Plus, it's not too predictable – keeps you hooked with a smile on your face.

Also, a perfect weekend read! Imagine a rainy winter day, a cup of hot chocolate, and this book – chef's kiss. Thanks for the arc, it was fun!

📖 ARC REVIEW 📖

Thank you @theboldbookclub for an early copy of It’s Complicated by @camillaisley. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. 🤍

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Release date: February 23, 2024

Blurb: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

🛑Read on with caution; review may contain spoilers🛑

It’s Complicated is a sweet and hilarious fake-dating/friends-to-lovers/love-triangle romance novel between Lori, Aiden and Jace, who have been best friends since college. Lori has liked Aiden ever since they first met, but has never admitted it to him, not has her interests been reciprocated by him. Her only confidant on the matter was Jace, who in turn has always been in love with her.

With Aiden getting married to another woman, Lori is devastated and has gotten Jace’s help in fake dating her to make Aiden jealous. But she’s having second thoughts and is suddenly having this new attraction to Jace. Lori is seeing him in a new light and is considering the possibility of them becoming more.

I couldn’t help but gush and feel swept off my feet with Lori and Jace’s romance. Their growing romantic relationship is so sweet despite being complete opposites, with Lori being used to an organized chaos and Jace being a neat freak, and everything else in-between. I enjoyed Jace being so sweet and caring with Lori, even knowing how much she liked Aiden, he’s still considering her overall happiness over his own (at a certain degree because of the pact he had with Aiden).

The conflict between Lori and Jace felt prolonged though, and the ending felt quite rushed (only because I wanted more of them!), but a fitting one to their romance.

Pick this one up when it releases for a sweet, romantic quick read!

I loved all the tropes . Unrequited love, best friends to lovers.he falls first, teddy bear MMC, lightbulb moments. A messy FMC with some Star Wars themed named cats ,chickens and old books hoarder finds her match in an OCD squishy tough guy. Some of the book was a little cheesy but everything ended nicely. A fun afternoon read. Thank you to NetGalley for this free advanced copy. I’m leaving this review voluntarily

Lori, Aiden and Jace have been a trio since college through owning a practice together. Aiden is getting married and Lori, secretly in love with Aiden, asks Jace to pretend to be with her. This was a cute story, had me laughing out loud at parts, and it’s a fast read. The only cons is the epilogue left much to be desired and the ending rushed for me!

I think for me Camilla Isley is becoming the queen of the romantic comedies with the most charming swoony heroes and relatable funny sassy heroines.
Its Complicated was a heartfelt heart warming love story with laugh out loud moments and amazing plotline.
Lori, Jace and Aiden are best friends since freshman year of college and now fifteen years later are successful doctors and run family practice together. Lori is in love with Aiden since last fifteen years and Jace is in love with Lori. Its a complicated love triangle but all changes when Aiden announces his wedding to someone else and Lori gets a bright idea to fake date Jace to make Aiden jealous. Soon Lori realizes Jace is the one who is making her heart skip beat and now everything is complicated again ❤️

I’m in love. I’m absolutely 100% in love with this book.

Some people say they are hooked from the first page or line. Not me. I was hooked at the dedication! That’s The Way I Loved You is one of my favorites T-Swift songs, and I just knew I was in for a fun ride if that was how this was going to start out. There are a few Taylor references, so Swifties rejoice!

I’ve only read one Isley book before this one, but I loved Baby One More Time so much I knew I found a new favorite author.

Told in dual POV, I knew I would love Jace the minute we got in his head. He is just the sweetest! Without giving anything away, it’s clear he is willing to do anything for Lori (or as he calls her: Lola).

Lori was a strong character with maybe a slight obsession problem (but not in a bad way). In a way that makes the plot that much more interesting.

Jace and Lori really compliment each other, and the chemistry is off the charts. This novel is filled with sweet and spicy moments that will have you wishing you were secretly in love with your best friend.

If you’re looking for a cute rom-com, you need this book in your life. It was such an easy read, I devoured it in less than 24 hours. I was super disappointed when it ended.

*An ARC was received in exchange for an honest review.

3,5/5

Thanks to NegGalley, the publisher and author for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have conflicting emotions about this novel. I always appreciate a refreshing romantic story to take a break from my usual fantasy reads, and this one fit the bill perfectly. However, I was anticipating a love triangle that never materialized.

Let's dive into what I enjoyed: The friends-to-lovers trope, which I typically dislike, surprisingly worked well here (kudos to the author). The fake dating scenario, one of my favorites, was expertly woven in, along with the wedding trope. I admired how the author skillfully handled these tropes, and their writing style was lively and dynamic, creating an enjoyable reading experience.

Nevertheless, there were aspects that didn't resonate with me as much. Initially, while the first part of the novel was entertaining, I felt the pacing was rushed. Although I appreciated the conclusion, the development felt hurried. And here's a spoiler alert: While the male main character (MMC) has harbored feelings for the female main character (FMC) for 15 years, it felt somewhat implausible that she reciprocated those feelings after such a short period. Call me skeptical, but it didn't strike me as entirely believable.

In summary, I did find enjoyment in this novel. It's perfect for a lighthearted and laid-back afternoon read.

Lori has been in love with her best friend Aiden since they met in college, but he’s marrying someone else. What better way to make him jealous and realize his love her than to fake date their other best friend, Jace?!
Seeing Lori gain confidence to stand up for herself and realize what’s always been right in front of her was such a heart-warming plot in this book!
There were so many sweet romantic parts to this story with so many funny moments mixed in! Chicken-gate had me laughing out loud 🤣

If you love a good HEA, love triangle then this is the perfect book for you!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 stars

It's Complicated is a friends to lovers, fake dating, romantic comedy was just as good the second time around! This book is a re-release of Camilla Isley's Falling For Her Best Friend with a new cover (love the colour) and title. I loved it the first time, and despite realizing I had read it before within the first few pages, I got roped in again and reread it. This is a definite recommended read for anyone looking for a fake dating romcom.
Thank you to NetGalley, Camilla Isley and Boldwood books for the ARC of this splendid read.

This friends-to-lovers/fake dating/unrequited love/love triangle romance book is such a fun read, without it being too predictable. The characters are likeable and relatable and as the story progresses there are a few surprises, along with a couple of laugh-out-loud moments, which will keep you invested in the story and a smile on your face. If you are looking for a quick, lighthearted read, then this would be an ideal choice when it is out on February 23, 2024 (shame it’s not out for Valentine Day - that would have been awesome, based on the date in the book!). Thanks to NetGallery and Boldwood Books for allowing me to get a copy of the book. Highly recommended.