3.5 stars! I enjoyed this Oxford brother's-best-friend fake-dating romance featuring Charlie, a 21-year-old rower and physics major with a problem ex, and Violet, a 19-year-old English major with a penchant for acting. I loved how from the first scene with Charlie and Violet together, Violet is a complete whirlwind. She's confident, a little chaotic, and really charming. Charlie is swept up by her right off the bat and their meeting (or reunion?) really drew me in from there. Watching Charlie's feelings evolve from his own POV really added to this story, and we get to see him battle with that and the guilt over deceiving his best friend. This is, for the most part, a very wholesome story - though Charlie's ex is unhinged and Violet's brother, Brooks, can be a little overbearing. Some of the side plots seemed irrelevant, and not developed enough to add to the story, and I would have liked to see more of Oxford through their eyes. There were a few Americanisms that didn't fit with the very British setting, but they may well have been edited out as I read an ARC copy, That being said this book brings together two interesting characters and I was rooting for them both individually and together, plus I really liked seeing their relationships with their friends too.

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

let me just say that this book has been a fun read, my rating on this books is based on personal experience and i’m sure there will be a lot more people that will enjoy it more than me… first of all - the writing style was great, super easy to read and understand the inner monologue of the character which i really appreciate. the story itself seems super fun- i love the fake dating trope and i was here for this - the only thing i can say is the timeline seemed a little so short, i don’t believe in love at first sight and in situation definitely we couldn’t go with that considering the main characters knew each other before… lets spread the timeline a little bit.
i absolutely adored the golden retriever energy from charlie, violet was also absolutely amazing. the only character that felt a little flat was evie- yes she did stir a little bit but i was expecting more drama but again this is not the type of book where drama drives the plot.
3rd act break up was good, and the timeline was great- poem a bit cringe but i get the thought behind it so i can get on board with it!

generally i would recommend the book to anyone who loves fluffy college romance. it was too soft for me, but i still enjoyed it!

This series has been so cute and so much fun. I absolutely loved Oz and Kate’s story so I was excited for Charlie and Violet’s!

I have always loved Lulu’s writing and story was no different. I’m always down for a fake dating/brothers best friend story! I loved Violet and her personality. I caught myself giggling at random moments and phrases, and the text messages between the two of them.

It was overall a great time per usual and I loved revisiting this world!

You Float My Boat is the second in the Oxbridge Series and follows Charlie and Violet. This is a delightful, fake dating, slow-burn that completely melted my heart.

Violet has always had a crush on her brother’s best friend, Charlie and can’t believe that he asks her to be his fake girlfriend. Charlie is in a pickle and needs Violet’s help - what he doesn’t imagine is falling so head over heels for Violet.

Their journey from a pretend relationship to genuine affection was beautiful to watch. Lulu is amazing at mixing tenderness and laugh out loud moments together.

I loved the banter and support shown between the boys, Charlie, Oz and Brooks. The friendship groups that Lulu created within her books are such a favourite part. In this book we get the added bonus of new friends - Stella, Violet’s best friend was hilarious and Gordon was such a character and I’m not sure sure, but I wonder if there is something with Gordon’s sister - who was mentioned but we haven’t yet met - I am intrigued but probably so wrong 😂.

The Oxbridge Series is such a comforting read and I can’t wait to see what comes next💕

I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Violet & Charlie
Brothers best friend
Fake dating
College romance
She falls first, he falls harder

I ADORE these two!!

Charlie makes a proposal to Violet, for her to help him keep his ex away by pretending to be his girlfriend, and he'll help her practice her lines.

Fake dating is one of my favourite tropes and this one did not disappoint! When he finally realises he has real feelings for her! Swoon!

Another amazing book by Lulu 😍

If you love the “she fell first, but he falls harder” trope in a cozy sweet read with a hint of spice, this is a wonderful one to add to your TBR.
I admittedly enjoyed the first one a lot more, but this one was still very good and I loved our MCs.
Violet and Charlie are so sweet together. However I didn’t feel as much connection to them as I did Oz and Kate in book 1. A lot of what was going on around them felt surface level. It was partially welcomed, though, as I just came down from the high of a high stakes read beforehand.

We do have major ex drama. Oh my god she was the worst. And a third act breakup. Which I am a fan of because I enjoy the drama and inevitable yearning that comes with it. Just fair warning, Charlie is an idiot, but we still love him.

This does follow the same timeline as part of the first book, Oar Than Friends, and I highly recommend reading them in order to get the full effect.
And I’m a huge fan of sports romance, so I adore that this series follows one that doesn’t get much attention in the bookish world: collegiate rowing. The tension is so good with the rivalries.


✨ARC review✨

“You’ve no idea. I can’t believe you were under my nose the whole time.”
I said it after reading Oar Than Friends, but You Float My Boat just reenforces how cool Rowing is. It is a sport I could never do, for many reason but mainly the early workouts. However, I could certainly rock at being a spectator.

Charlie Masterson has a problem in the shape of his ex girlfriend. He has never been able to resist her even when he knows he needs to. So he has decided a fake girlfriend will solve everything.

Violet Brooks has had a crush on Charlie forever but with some time away she has convinced herself the crush is gone. Until Charlie reaches out asking her to be his fake girlfriend.

Charlie and Violet were a classic fake dating to real dating relationship. They were perfect for each other without ever knowing it! I loved how hard Charlie fell for Violet and was so happy for Violet’s crush being reciprocated!
“I’m so glad I found you, Violet. You’ve no idea. I can’t believe you were under my nose the whole time.”

Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🔥: ‘Show me what you’ve got, Mr Masterson.’

✨ ARC REVIEW✨

You Float My Boat - a Rowing Sports romance by @lulumoore out 2/06!!

This is the second book in the Oxford series and I was SOO excited for this one that I requested an ARC as soon as it was available.

Rating: 8/10
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5
POV: Dual

Tropes:
- Rowing
- Uk Based
- Brother's Best Friend
- Unrequited Love
- Fake Dating

Charlie is focused on winning the Boat race and graduating. But he has a problem - his ex is in his new philosophy class. The ex that crushed his heart not once, but twice and seems hell bent on getting a third chance. He can't take a semester being stuck with her, so he comes up with the idea to get a fake girlfriend.. at least until the end of the semester.

Violet has always had a thing for his brother's best friend, but he has never seen her as anything but a little sister. So imagine her surprise when he asks her to be his fake girlfriend to keep his ex off his back. Violet is a theater major so she tries to look at this as the role of a lifetime. Help Charlie, but don't let him figure out that nothing about her feelings are fake. Too bad lines start to become blurred and not just for Violet. For Charlie too

I REALLLY wanted to love this book. I was super excited for it to come out, but I felt like it wasn't fluffed out enough. We don't really get to see Charlie fall for Violet. It's almost as if one minute he's not in love with her and the next he's obsessed. We don't get to see the cute moments in their relationship that make you swoon. Sorry Lulu! I love your books, but this one just wasn't my favorite.

Thank you Lulu Moore and NetGalley for the ARC!

Firstly, thank you for the opportunity to read and review this advanced copy, I very much appreciate it.

Secondly, What. A. Book! I absolutely loved this. I was very intrigued in the side storyline between Charlie and Violet introduced in the first book, so when I picked this up, I was already itching to know more! (Fully recommend reading the first book first to enhance your love of these characters!)

Charlie and Violet were perfect. Their dynamic was so well balanced between mutual benefit and attraction. I absolutely loved how confident they were with each other, but privately were a bit of a nervous mess. It was endearing and made me swoon even harder for Charlie.

The writing was so good. Lulu creates such a natural dialogue in the character, she gives them a back-story, depth and makes them feel relatable. I want to be friends with these people, and I want Charlie all to myself. The shared timeline between these two books is also handled so well, you get a different perspective on events from the first book, which if anything, just made me love Oz even more too!

I can’t wait to tell everyone I know to read this!

This book was so sweet and romantic— and I adored it. If you’ve ever watched a rom com and felt the flutter in your heart at the end, that’s this book personified.

Charlie’s got an ex whose nonstop existence in his life is causing anxiety he can’t afford with rowing season fast approaching. His roommate and best friend suggests his litter sister use her acting skills to be his fake boyfriend. But what happens when the very first meet up to talk logistics has him realizing he never really saw Violet before— and now he can’t stop.

The progression of their relationship was so beautifully love song coded. They were awkward, they were funny, they were yearning for more, they were both scared of it feeling too real.

This book was everything.

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Taking place concurrently with the previous book in the series (and yes, I went back for a quick reread of Oar Than Friends), this is the tale of Charlie who is seeking a solution to the problem of a rather persistent ex. I did think the premise was a bit of a stretch to start with, but that was before I realised what sort of character Charlie is: someone who solves problems any way he can, but unfortunately his academic intelligence far outweighs his emotional abilities. He’s not ready for Violet, or any of the complications that come with pretending to date his friend’s sister, and the way the two of them bumble into something real is funny and sweet and at times downright exasperating. It also involves a remarkable amount of cupcakes…
There’s much less of the rowing detail in this book (which makes sense considering how it dominates the previous one; it’d feel repetitive otherwise) and I enjoyed the change of focus, along with Violet’s different perspective. She’s determined, charming and just a little over-dramatic at times (understandable at her age) and more than a match for Charlie. Now I’m wondering what’s in store for Brooks in this thoroughly entertaining series.

The spring term is in full swing, with the countdown to the Boat Race ticking and that can only mean one thing; it is time to return to Oxford and see what Charlie Masterson has been getting up to with his best friends little sister Violet Brooks.

I have said it before and I will continued to say it again - Lulu can write the SWOONIEST men and Charlie is no different!

This man really went to town on the swoon factor [*see baking, rehearsing Shakespeare and writing sonnet for examples] and it doesn’t take long for him to realise that fake doesn’t exist when it comes to his feelings for Violet. I adored all the small things Charlie did but also how he didn’t hide his nerdy side.

As for Violet she may been an English major but she does have a flare for the dramatic which I think Charlie needed in his life. She has crushed hard on Charlie for years so trying to fake her feelings proves to be quite the challenge.

These two really balanced each other out and definitely had to work through some communication challenges to find their way back to each other.

I adored how Lulu set this book to run concurrently with the 2nd half of the first book in the series; Oar Than Friends. It was great to see how it slotted in with Kate & Oz’s story. As well as giving us the dose of adrenaline fulled rowing which I thoroughly enjoyed. Overall, I loved this book and I cannot wait to see who Brooks has been texting

Honourable mentions
🔖 Stella for being such a great bestie
🔖Gordon who must be protected at all costs
🔖The Great British Bake Off
🔖Evie, for being such a deranged ex girlfriend…

💜Fake Dating
💜 Best Friend’s Little Sister
💜 Forbidden College Romance
💜 Always been you
💜 She falls first, he falls harder
💜 Big grovel
💜 So much swoon
💜 Ensemble cast

I’ve enjoyed all of Lulu’s work and this is no exception. This is an easy light hearted read, works well as a standalone even though it’s the second in a series. Charlie is an absolute dreamboat but just a little unaware. The 3rd act break up reason was a little daft and could have been avoided very easily though.

Fake dating and brother’s best friend are two of my favourite tropes and this book delivered that and more than what I wanted.

I liked how there was no build up at the start of the book and it delves straight into the topic of what the story is about.

Violet felt like a breath of fresh air and I loved her bubbly personality, it really came across in the writing what a positive character she was despite some niggles she had throughout the book.

Charlie Masterson 😍😍 loved him, just swoony! Baker Charlie, rower Charlie, romantic/thoughtful Charlie all good Charlie’s. It was a ‘smack my head’ moment at the sprained ankle incident but he won me over again 😝

I hadn’t read the first book in this series but I will certainly be going back and doing that.

This was such an easy read and I finished it within around a day to a day and a half. Lulu Moore certainly writes stories you want to keep reading 🥰

Thank you Netgalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin random house for the opportunity to read an advance copy of the book

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️/5

Brother’s Best Friend + Fake Dating + Lulu Moore = My Happy Place

Lulu writes the swooniest MMCs, and Charlie Masterson is no exception! From baking cupcakes and rehearsing Shakespeare to writing sonnets, Charlie’s gestures are top-tier book boyfriend material. Watching him realize his feelings for Violet are far from fake is so satisfying. She falls first, but wow, does he fall harder!

Violet Brooks is equally compelling. Her ambition, charm, and vulnerability as she navigates her secret feelings for Charlie make her so relatable. And let’s be real, the fake dating trope? Chef’s kiss. The slow-burn moments and blurred lines between acting and reality are everything I could hope for.

The reason behind their arrangement—Charlie’s ex-girlfriend, Evie, refusing to leave him alone—adds an extra layer of tension. Charlie makes a bonehead move, but everything works out in the end.

This story has it all: well-rounded characters, swoony romance, and just enough tension to keep things interesting. I adore the banter between Charlie, Oz, and Brooks, as well as the close-knit friendship between Violet and Stella. You Float My Boat ties in seamlessly with the events of Oar Than Friends, offering a fresh and heartfelt perspective on Kate and Oz's story. This is another wonderful addition to the Oxbridge Series, and I cannot wait to see what’s in store for the rest of the characters. Brooks, I’m looking at you!

This was such a good book
the romance was super cute and it was really fast pace

finished this in one day

In “You Float My Boat,” hearts sail and soar,
A tale of love that leaves us wanting more.

You Float My Boat is the sequel to Oar Than Friends, which I loved, and so this went straight to the top of my to-read list! The story follows Charlie as he fake dates Violet (his best friend's younger sister) to avoid his ex girlfriend. Although there's less of a rowing focus, I loved being back with this group of characters and seeing how their relationships and friendships developed. Fingers crossed there will be more books in this series!

Thank you to Lulu Moore, NetGalley and the the publishers for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 ⭐️

Let me start this by saying I am a HUGE Lulu fan. I've read everything she's written at least twice, and force other people to read her books.

I loved the first one in this series, and was so excited for this one. I loved the premise (I'm such a sucker for fake dating especially when one has had feelings for the other in the past), and did enjoy this. The side characters were the best part for me!

The third-act breakup issue felt so immature, and just ridiculous for me and that's what knocked this down.

4+/5 ⭐️, 1/5 🌶️, 0/5 💧

🧁 Fake Dating
🧁 Best Friend’s Brother
🧁 Sports (Rowing) Romance
🧁 College Romance

This was very lighthearted and fun! Makes me want to go back to college and do it all over again.

The drama/third act break up didn’t have much leg to stand on, and it was hard to buy into that story line.

I still found it very cute, the side characters were very entertaining, and I enjoyed the banter from the friends. If you’re looking for a light read to break up some heavy ones, this fit the bill for me.

You Float 🛟 My Boat ⛵
Pub Date: Feb 6
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Get ready to fall in love with Charlie Masterson and Violet Brooks

Charlie has vowed to never fall in love again after he got his heart broken and shattered into many pieces 💔. However, when his ex joins his philosophy class he's afraid he will get pulled into her hook again therefore, there's only one solution he has to have a girlfriend (a fake one of course 🫣🤫).
Violet has been in love with Charlie since she was fourteen, he's owned her heart and soul since then so when he came up to her and asked to be his fake girlfriend she couldn't refuse even though it was fake 🤥.
So what will happen when these start dating will fake turn into real or????
You guys are going to love this book ❣️
Charlie is the swoony brooding hero we all 💕 and an excellent cook😋🤤. He would do anything to make Violet smile and the chemistry between them could 🕯️ up a room.
Loved Violet character 🤩 she's an optimistic happy person ☺️ and clicked with Charlie right away 😀.
I don't want to say more to not spoil it for you but you will love this book 💗 a lot.
Thanks to @netgalley and the publisher for granting me an ARC of #YouFloatMyBoat in exchange for my honest review.

Xoxo😘