Can fake dating lead to real love? In Kasie West's next sexy adult romcom two people must decide where the lie ends and the chemistry begins.
Sutton knows she needs therapy. After all, she’s managing her newly opened restaurant remotely while taking care of her ungrateful sick mother. Plus, her boyfriend of two years just dumped her over the phone. But does therapy with a handsome stranger, who she has to pretend to be engaged to, in order to help her friend’s struggling relationship count? Probably not. Then why did she just agree to go? Because she’s had a few too many drinks? Because this stranger, Elijah, is smug and annoying and really, really handsome? Because she feels guilty that she abandoned her best friend, Tara, after high school and this might just make up for it? Whatever the reason, she has committed to this unhinged plan.
What the hell is Sutton doing?
Helping Tara prove a point: a good therapist can tell the difference between real love and fake love. That’s what she’s doing. But as they attend their sessions, Sutton and Elijah only seem to be proving one thing—the lines between pretend desire and real desire are very blurry. This true connection forming between them is threatening to unravel everything Sutton thought she knew about family, friendship, and her own heart.
Sutton knows she needs therapy. After all, she’s managing her newly opened restaurant remotely while taking care of her ungrateful sick mother. Plus, her boyfriend of two years just dumped her over the phone. But does therapy with a handsome stranger, who she has to pretend to be engaged to, in order to help her friend’s struggling relationship count? Probably not. Then why did she just agree to go? Because she’s had a few too many drinks? Because this stranger, Elijah, is smug and annoying and really, really handsome? Because she feels guilty that she abandoned her best friend, Tara, after high school and this might just make up for it? Whatever the reason, she has committed to this unhinged plan.
What the hell is Sutton doing?
Helping Tara prove a point: a good therapist can tell the difference between real love and fake love. That’s what she’s doing. But as they attend their sessions, Sutton and Elijah only seem to be proving one thing—the lines between pretend desire and real desire are very blurry. This true connection forming between them is threatening to unravel everything Sutton thought she knew about family, friendship, and her own heart.
Title: Stranger Things Have Happened
Author: Kasie West
Publisher: St. Martin's Press/Macmillan Audio
Expected Publication Date: April 14, 2026
Review:
Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I will be honest, I love Kasie West as a YA author. She does a great job with character growth and romance. I was excited when I heard she was jumping into adult titles. But I didn't love her first one. I was disappointed. So I went into this one with some trepidation. I didn't want to be disappointed again. But then an amazing thing happened, I started reading and fell in love with the characters and the plot and just everything. It was so much fun and I'm so glad I took the chance on it.
I was excited to listen to Karissa Vacker narrate this story. I really enjoy her. She brings out such great emotion with the characters. And it takes a great female narrator to make me love their male voice and I love her. She did a fabulous job! She nailed the feelings and personalities of the characters so well.
If you're looking for a romcom that really has you laughing out loud, this one is it. I loved the enemies to lovers theme West imbued into this story that turned into something more. The idea of them as strangers who get to know one another through therapy was really fun. I loved the interactions, how the chemistry grew between Sutton and Eli. His first impression comes off as a boy toy who is arrogant and cares about no one but himself. But then West develops his character into something so much more complex.
Having grown up in a therapy family, with lots of therapy under my belt, I was really able to connect with that part of the story. And it showed so much depth into mental health and how important it is to take care of yourself this way.
West did choose to include a third act break up, which I normally am not a huge fan of because they often involve miscommunication (which this one did). But she did it in such a way that it made sense and showed the characters had learned how to express themselves throughout the story.
I will be honest, I didn't want this to end. The banter between Sutton and Eli was top notch. I cannot wait to see what West comes up with next!
Author:
I write YA and adult romance novels. I eat chocolate cinnamon bears. Sometimes I go crazy and do both at the same time. A few of my works are: SUNKISSED, PS I LIKE YOU, MOMENT OF TRUTH, WE MET LIKE THIS, and more. My agent is the talented and funny Michelle Wolfson.
No comments:
Post a Comment