I really enjoyed An American in London by Louise Bay. This book focuses on Tuesday, who just relocated to London for management fast track program through her employer after a horrible breakup and with no feeling of belonging in New York. While in the coffee shop, she starts chatting with a handsome stranger, who seems cold and quiet. However, Tuesday is drawn to him, as he looks just like her favorite actor, who she has deep rooted feelings about, due to a bond she shared with her mom and his movies. She keeps running into the mysterious stranger, even having dinner with him and being asked to be his fake fiancé. After turning him down, isn't she shocked when she learns he is one of the biggest clients of the bank and she is responsible for putting together a report about his overall wealth. As with all romance books, there are lots of ups and downs and feelings being developed on both sides. I would highly recommend this book and don't want to give it all away, so you need to read it to see if they have a HEA :)

I'll admit I love a romcom movie that gives you the feels. This book was like a romcom movie. It had a nondescript heroine who isn't where she wants to be in life and who's drifting after a breakup and other life changes. It had a handsome but gruff leading man who isn't much for words but is really a teddy bear on the inside. An American in London is fun and predictable. Ben and Tuesday don't necessarily ooze chemistry but they do have a comfortable familiarity and that's what makes them feel believable. It has several tropes including billionaire and fake dating.
My only issue was the amount of time Tuesday spent talking about and thinking about her ex Jed. It got to the point that just reading his name annoyed me. Whenever she'd bring him up she'd say "Oh I haven't even thought about him at all until now". Which incidentally was all the time. Jed actually got more pages than her best friend Melanie. Jed was not a welcomed addition.
Also the celebrity lookalike angle dragged on for a bit too long. I'm glad she clarified near the end of the book because I felt like I was being gaslit.

All in all it was a nice light read.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 3⭐

"An American in London" is a charming romance about Tuesday Reynolds, a Manhattanite navigating a rough patch in her life, and Ben Kelley, a wealthy and handsome stranger with an unusual proposition. When Tuesday agrees to be Ben's fake fiancée for a weekend, their professional arrangement slowly blossoms into something more.

The chemistry between Tuesday and Ben is undeniable, and their banter is laugh-out-loud funny. The supporting cast, particularly the delightful Duke and Duchess, adds to the story's charm.

While the book takes time to build momentum, it eventually wins over with its witty dialogue and sweet romance. Ben's hidden charm and Tuesday's relatability make them a compelling couple.

Overall, "An American in London" is a pleasant, if not spectacular, read. Fans of romantic comedies and "fake relationship" tropes will likely enjoy this lighthearted tale.

This book made me smile so many times.

I love the dynamic between Ben and Tuesday. They have a chemistry that goes deeper then just lust.

Tuesday has lost herself. But in London she finds out what and who she wants.

Ben knows exactly what he wants. Until he lays eyes on her and his whole 5-year-plan slowly starts going down the drain.

Together they accomplish in making old and new dreams come true.

I’m not sure how to describe this book and do it justice. Every time I try to summarize it, it sounds lame compared to how cute this book actually is. I was sucked into this story from the beginning. Tuesday is quite endearing. Ben is grumpy but he will grow on you. I feel like this book should be a movie.

Thank you NetGalley and Montlake Publishing for the ARC.

ARC review

4.5⭐|2🌶|5%🌶frequency

This is such a wonderful cliché story. Yes, I'm a sucker for cliché stories 😎 I inhaled it. I couldn't stop reading. OK, yeah I had to because damn sleep 😖 But before and after... I just read and read 😁

I don't know about you, but I definitely dreamed about meeting my favorite actor and him falling for me 🙈

I don't know who the author thought about when she created the story and Ben, but I instantly thought about Hugh Grant. British actor. Made a lot of rom-coms... Yes, I might be outing myself as old, but that's who I see in Ben, or better,r Daniel de Luca.

I loved Ben. He is (typically cliché) a grumpy billionaire. And of course 🔥 We aren't in real life, so of course billionaires are young and 🔥😁
But it's not just him I loved. My absolute favorite was the weekend trip to the duke and duchess. Oh, these two are so cute 🥰 and the whole estate. The story about the estate. The things the duchess and Tuesday have in common... Not just their love for grumpy men 😉 The estate is so extremely meaningful for Tuesday 🩷

I haven't read many books by Louise yet, but I know I need more 😁


Thanks to the author, Montlake, and @netgalley for trusting me with an ARC.

I love Louise Bay! What a fun and enjoyable read. Thank you for the chance to read this ahead of release. Louise’s books are joyous banter filled romps with delicious spice and this add no exception.

This was a great Louise Bay novel. I've read quite a few of hers and this one is one of my favorites. Likeable main characters and a believable fake-dating, billionaire trope. Highly recommend this one!

The minute I started reading this book I knew I was going to love it and I did!

Ben and Tuesday are such great characters and I instantly loved them both. I was laughing so much when Tuesday kept randomly bumping into Ben in the beginning and she just chatted away even though Mr Grumpy (though he really isn't) barely utter a word. I loved their connection and chemistry, it was like they had know each other forever.

I loved every minute of this and didn't want it to end.

It's been awhile since I've read a Louise Bay book, but this one did not disappoint. There was plenty of witty dialogue, great chemistry and of course the story taking place with London as the backdrop. I forgot how Ms. Bay is adept at weaving in emotional depth to her stories along with the usual elements of a rom-com. It won't be so long between reads next time.

My first Louise Bay novel. I liked this a lot. I was originally drawn to the story b/c I'm a sucker for a story with an American and a Brit. I really liked both Tuesday and Ben, both separately and together. Although I found the Daniel DeLuca thing a bit irritating after awhile, it was integral to the story. and I loved the meet-cute. Overall, this was a quick light read.

Tuesday is a blessing and should be the new Friday in my eyes. This story is just that good, I loved the whole thing, there was just something special about it all, I loved how Daniel De Luca is such a massive part of the story, with his little cameos and then a special appearance. Tuesday is such an easy character to love, there was something special about her, her feistiness when she starts to come out of herself, that really shone for me. Ben was adorable, even at his most grumpy, and troubling. This is a great story, and you would be sorry to miss it. The author tells a very good story and has a great way with words.

Louise Bay has once again delivered a romance that feels like it belongs on the big screen—with witty banter, heart-melting chemistry, and all the Bridgerton-adjacent vibes you could hope for.

When Tuesday Reynolds jets off to London to salvage her career, falling into a fake engagement with a handsome, brooding stranger was definitely not on the itinerary. But Ben Kelley needs to impress some British royals, and Tuesday needs the cash (and honestly, the emotional distraction). A countryside estate, a new wardrobe, and a weekend of pretending-to-be-in-love? What could possibly go wrong?

The setup is peak rom-com, but what makes this one shine is the emotional depth beneath the tropes. Tuesday is scrappy, smart, and impossible not to root for. Ben is gruff with a heart of gold, and watching him slowly unravel around her was pure romance gold. The tension simmers, the lines between fake and real blur deliciously, and suddenly the pretend fiancée gig doesn’t feel so pretend anymore.

If you’re a fan of the “fake it ‘til you feel it” trope, grumpy/sunshine pairings, or books that read like your favorite comfort movie, An American in London needs to be on your TB

This was a very sweet, engaging story that introduces Tuesday and Ben. Their somewhat meet cute was fun, the side story of Daniel De Luca was also fun and the dialogue throughout was spot on.

An American in London by Louise Bay is the perfect book to read when you’re looking for a sweet, charming, interesting and romantic modern fairytale. The author has filled her story with witty dialogue, an engaging fake relationship and supporting characters that certainly add to the narrative. The sub-plot about the heroine’s all time favorite movie star crush certainly resonated with this reader who still has some autographed pictures from my teenage years. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley. Highly recommend.

This was well paced and I really liked the characters! While predictable like most fake dating billionaire books, it delivered in execution! It was my first book by this author and it made me want to shelve more of them for when I have a HEA contemporary urge!

An American In London is your typical grumpy billionaire rom-com on a fake engagement but from the UK. It's feel-good and has a nice vibe, especially if you're interested in movies and matinee idols (a center of the book). This is a fast read with a lot of London landmarks featured. There are some sad parts and "tragedies," but they are not out of typical life experiences. The book centered on the couple and their journey towards love and discovering their attraction towards each other. There are very minor subplots and secondary characters.

This has some spice, and it's generally a good romantic comedy. It's a good escape from everyday life and stress!

Louise Bay doesn't disappoint with an enchanting story that is certainly movie-ready. With thoughtful characters, a rolling plot, and a running question of will they or won't they, An American in London is a solid feel-good read. You get to explore the emotions of extreme life change, and what you make of life after everything seems to fall apart and you get to grow with the main characters as they grow in themselves. A heartfelt read, with lots of humor wrapped up in each chapter.

Unfortunately, this story did not work for me. While there is an element of romance, most of the book was Tuesday (FMC) dissecting Ben’s (MMC) slightest facial tics and extrapolating appreciation and love. Ben hardly verbalized let alone expounded on his deepening affection. Quite honestly, I could not feel any electricity between these 2 characters. I actually liked the Duke and Duchess more.

This book uses the fake fiancé trope but what I found distasteful was that Ben (MMC) was wanting to purchase a hotel from the Duke, an old school business mogul who values family and traditional values like honesty. Ben would have been better off telling the Duke his true reason for his interest in the hotel (which he finally does!)

⭐️ - 3.5
🌶️ - 2

Tropes:
Grumpy x Sunshine
Fake Dating/Engagment
Millionaire/Billionare
Slow Burn
Loss/Grief

This is my 14th Louise Bay book – I’m a long-time fan, and her writing always delivers for me.

The overarching trope is a well-done grumpy x sunshine dynamic. Tuesday, our spunky American FMC, is visiting London for work. While she’s there, memories of her late mum are stirred up by a shared love of fictional celeb Daniel De Luca – a childhood crush who becomes a guiding character during her stay.

Enter Ben: a grumpy, broody millionaire (maybe billionaire?) who happens to resemble Daniel. Cue a meet-cute, fake dating scenario, posh country weekends, and a classic British romcom setup.

I loved Tuesday. She was layered and real, and her emotional growth – especially around the grief for her mum – was really well done. Her character ARC was well earned. I wasn't sold on the constant references to Daniel De Luca, but I understood the emotional thread.

Ben? Loved him. He was unapologetically grumpy and grounded – exactly who he said he was. I loved his nicknames for her as well 🙂 I do wish we’d had more from his POV.

Louise’s writing is always solid. The dialogue feels authentic, the characters believable, and it’s the kind of light, fun, read that goes down easy. A very satisfying 3.5-star comfort read that hits all the expected spots in the best way.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC — and to Louise Bay for continuing to give us romantic leads we can swoon over! All views and opinions are completely my own.