Childhood friends turned high school rivals fall into a small-town fake dating scheme in this sweet, spicy, and utterly irresistible romance from the author of Give Me Butterflies.
Fable Oaks never planned to return to Fern River. But after a string of failures, here she is, living in her parents’ backyard, watching her beloved late grandfather’s A-frame crumble around her. She can't seem to find her direction, and to make matters worse, Theo Nikolaou, her ex-best friend, has also resurfaced, distracting dimples and charming grin in tow.
Theo knew it was only a matter of time before he came back. The demons of his past once drove him to leave, but Fern River always seemed meant to be. So, when Theo’s boss, Arthur, announces he is selling his veterinary practice, it feels like the perfect opportunity. He just needs to show Arthur he’s sticking around for good. And when Fable—Fable, with her smart mouth and sexy curls—quite literally falls into Theo's lap, an idea forms.
If they can convince the town that they're madly in love, it could solve all their problems. Theo can prove to Arthur he's settling down, and Fable can get some much-needed help fixing up the A-frame, a task she is determined to see through.
The only problem is, the more time they spend together, the blurrier the line gets between fake dating and falling hard.
She’s lost her way. He’s finding his path. Together, they might discover there's no place like home.
Fable Oaks never planned to return to Fern River. But after a string of failures, here she is, living in her parents’ backyard, watching her beloved late grandfather’s A-frame crumble around her. She can't seem to find her direction, and to make matters worse, Theo Nikolaou, her ex-best friend, has also resurfaced, distracting dimples and charming grin in tow.
Theo knew it was only a matter of time before he came back. The demons of his past once drove him to leave, but Fern River always seemed meant to be. So, when Theo’s boss, Arthur, announces he is selling his veterinary practice, it feels like the perfect opportunity. He just needs to show Arthur he’s sticking around for good. And when Fable—Fable, with her smart mouth and sexy curls—quite literally falls into Theo's lap, an idea forms.
If they can convince the town that they're madly in love, it could solve all their problems. Theo can prove to Arthur he's settling down, and Fable can get some much-needed help fixing up the A-frame, a task she is determined to see through.
The only problem is, the more time they spend together, the blurrier the line gets between fake dating and falling hard.
She’s lost her way. He’s finding his path. Together, they might discover there's no place like home.
Title: No Place Like You (Oaks Sisters #2)
Author: Jillian Meadows
Publisher: Avon/Harper Audio Adult
Expected Publication Date: March 10, 2026
Review:
Thank you to NetGalley, HarperAuduio Adult, and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I really enjoyed the first title in this series by Meadows. I was excited for the next sister to get her story and this book did not disappoint! I love that we were introduced to these characters in the previous book so I had some idea of who they were and their connection.
I had a eARC of this book but also had a chance to listen to the audio. I will way I enjoyed the print version a bit more. I have listened to both Victoria Connolly and Tim Paige on other books. For me, they were just ok for this audio. They delivered well enough for the characters but I just couldn't get into their voices for them so I ended up reading this mostly in print.
Fable and Theo were great characters. I liked the flashes of their past together and what happened to tear their friendship apart. Both characters carry quite a bit of baggage with them. But Theo's baggage was the most heartbreaking. The abuse he had to witness growing up really affected his ability to see what a great human he really is. I liked that Meadows chose to use this abuse in her book but did not give voice to the abuser by naming him or give details of the abuse other than to say it affected Theo's sister, Mia (there is a disclaimer prior to the story beginning that addresses this). Fable's character feels directionless. Although she's always been supported by family and friends, she feels like her inability to settle into life is a huge flaw. It's what causes her to keep walls up and run when the going gets tough. It was also great to see characters from the previous book make their appearance and join in Fable's story.
This book is full of emotion. There were many times I teared up for the characters and the heart ache they were feeling. The author easily pushed the plot forward as she developed characters who changed and grew throughout the story. The pacing was fast and the plot kept me completely engaged. And Meadows used such gentle hands when addressing the Theo's background.
I enjoyed the chemistry between the two main characters. It was a slower burn at first but sped up quite a bit once the characters decided to give themselves over to one another.
This one is a fast and enjoyable easy read. It touches on some very serious topics that the author treats with gentle hands.
4.25/5 Stars
Author:
Jillian Meadows writes cozy love stories that make you swoon, smile, and squeal. She lives thirty miles past The Middle of Nowhere with her husband, four wild daughters, two unruly dogs, and her sparkling water addiction. When she’s not writing, you can find her devouring a romance novel, playing board games, or enjoying the outdoors with her family.
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