I don’t know how to describe my feelings on this book other than to say it was a soft read. I don’t mean that in any sort of bad way at all. I greatly enjoyed the story of Connie aka Hazel and Beck. They are tiptoeing their way around each other because, quite frankly, they have both had the worst luck when it comes to the opposite sex. So when they find that they click and get along so well, neither trust what is right in front of their faces.

Charlotte Stein is a master at writing a single POV story where you never doubt what that other character is feeling. You would think that would mean it is obvious to the character whose POV is seen, but somehow the author always makes it make sense that that isn’t the case. Hazel is so clueless when it comes to how gaga Beck is over her. That, on top of her waiting for him to do a 180 on her and act in some horrible manner, had her always pushing Beck away just as they were opening up. Poor Beck, what is he supposed to think other than he is not the man for Hazel?

I absolutely adore Beck. He is the biggest cinnamon roll of all cinnamon rolls. He doesn’t hide it, he doesn’t even seem to know the extent of his kindness. It’s just who he is, and it’s marvelous. That also means he can be a bit of a doormat, and I hated that for him. I love how quickly Hazel comes to his defense and puts herself between Beck and those who treat him poorly. Even before she barely knew the guy! Hazel may think she’s rough and tough, but she’s also a big softy at heart.

While there are will they or won’t they moments, some past hurts that inform their actions, and a deadline to their fake arrangement that neither wants to stick to, there isn’t a lot of angst or drama in this book. That’s what I meant by soft. It’s so sweet, even when Hazel is getting in her own way.

**I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely.**

Four and a half stars.

Connie has had the worst luck with men. All those nice guys she dated turned out to be pretty terrible. So when the giant mustachioed man across the hall seems to be the nicest guy in existence, she runs screaming. Almost literally. But through twists and turns she ends up posing as his wife during a two week writing retreat.

It took me a minute to warm up to this book. But then she defends him. And I loved that. She is not going to stand for someone being mean to this ridiculously nice man. And then she starts *noticing* him.

The second half of this book is So Much Filthier than I ever expected. And this is a positive, my friends. These two have a ridiculous physical connection. But they're making assumptions about the mental and emotional sides of things.

It's a satisfying and very hot read.

But it's not quite a five star read for me because I just can't understand how the MMC exists. He's like Ted Lasso (somewhat explicitly) but with less darkness. I wish he'd been a bit more well rounded. Or, in my dreams, this was a dual perspective book. I desperately wanted to understand him more.

For all of that, this has got me wanting to go back and read the previous book!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.