#TheBuyIn by Emma St. Clair is fun and captivating small town rom-com that will leave you swooning for the leading man.
I loved everything about this book 📚🤓❤️

Thank you to #NetGallery and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for a review

This book was so cute!! So good!!

A small town second chance romance with marriage of convenience?! Sign me up!

Lindy, Pat, and little Jo had me smiling and laughing throughout the whole book! And the entire cast of side characters? PERFECTION!

I also loved the ADHD rep. You don’t see it often in books.

What a perfect rom com!

Thank you Netgalley for this eARC!

When finishing a book by a new to me author my first thought is would I read another of their books? After finishing this book, I didn't even pause before answering- yes. Although I did not come close to loving this book there was enough that I liked to make me want to try something else St. Clair has written especially Jojo and the scene with the squirrels. I also love a good small town in a book and appreciated how Sheet Cake was presented. The book had big ambitions and I am not sure it really fulfilled everything. The idea of buying a town was really fun but kind of fizzled out. The two main characters fell in love in college but when they reunite you don't feel any spark between them. Lindy is so cold and unforgiving they don't get to showcase any connection out of the occasional kiss which would come out of nowhere I would worry that Pat would get whiplash from the sudden mood swings. I also didn't love the way the custody battle was handled especially with the way that Lindy's sister's relapse was treated as a forgone conclusion. Addiction is a disease and I understand how it can damage relationships but the way it was written was so dismissive of recovery, it did not sit well with me.

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

Cute cute cute! Totally clean except for kissing and some spicy thoughts (but they’re, like, a one chili pepper amount of spice). Lots of funny moments, too. And I loved how there were Lindy’s Buzzfeed articles dropped in throughout the book. I love the world created here, and can’t wait for the rest of their stories!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Solid 3.5
This was a cute and easy read with some of my favourite tropes, the marriage of convenience and the one bed trope.
There was genuinely laugh out loud scenes like the squirrel and I loved some of the unique aspects to the story like the neighbourhood app and a few bits of Lindys article.
Also lindybird? My heart loved this
I have to say my favourite about the book was the family aspect with not just the Graham’s but Lindy and her found family with her friends and also Jojo just being the glue that holds everyone together and it’s almost like she’s a magnetic force where people can’t help but be drawn to her.
I feel like the pacing for the first bit was on and of and some aspects were bulked out when others could’ve been filled out a bit more.
I was a bit disappointed that we didn’t get to explore more of the villain aspects of the book, I know this book is focused on Pat and Lindys relationship but I think that if the story with Rachel and the waters could’ve been more developed it would’ve risen the stakes for us and make it not as predictable.
In saying that I do like the predicable aspects of romance novels , it’s almost like a comfort blanket like you always know what you’re gonna get.
I think the most heartwarming scene was finding out it was Patrick who was the gardener , I genuinely could’ve cried at this, I feel like this just tied the story in nicely together and the grand gesture at the end was beautifully done.
A solid 3.5 would recommend for someone who’s looking an easy romance read.

I was hooked into the book in the beginning, then in chapter 3 she mentioned the TARDIS and not messing with your own timeline as any good Whovian would know, that cemented my love of this book!

It only got better from there! Lots of little quirky jokes, amongst the marriage of connivence, second chance romance, and found family! I never wanted it to end and cannot wait to see where the characters go in the next few books!

Thanks for NetGalley and Emma St Clair for an advance copy of this book. This my honest voluntary review!

This book captures the essence of a small town in the first page with a list of characteristics even including a Neighborly App that details all the town’s gossip. When Pat’s father buys the town of Sheet Cake, Texas, Pat doesn’t think that the love of his life, Lindy, will still be there. Yet Lindy has returned to care for her mother and her sister’s five year old daughter Jo. When Pat and Lindy meet again, Lindy is facing a custody battle with her sister and one means of ensure the success of this challenge, is to enter a marriage of convenience together. Pat Graham is more than just a good looking guy, as he is always ready to help others, with his father telling him, he is the glue holding the family together.
This is an endearing story, filled with lighthearted moments yet tinged with sadness, when facing issues such as child custody and dementia. The Graham family make for an interesting read, and the sweet romance between Patrick and Lindy was lovely to delve into. Jo’s delightful personality and maturity beyond her years, only adds to this storyline.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I think the author got me hooked to this book with that one line by Tank "I bought a town". A great and a novel start. It's a happily ever after romcom story but it is told in a beautiful way. There were few places where Jo's characterization sounded too mature for her age but the relationship between Jo and Lindy was narrated beautifully. The name Sheet Cake sounded funny and smart and it matched its character so well. I felt that there could've been more 1-1 emotional moments between Tank and Pat. Overall it's a good one-time read and I'm going with 4 stars.

I really wanted to like this book. The topic was interesting. FMC raises niece because her sister abandoned her, now she needs to fight for custody so marriage of connivence trope. The most interesting part was Lindy and Jo for me. The MMC had a cool family, he's a former pro football player, open communicator. Actually, the communication was great. They were both very open and upfront. Books and movies would be so much shorter if everyone just said what they knew! But that doesn't apply to this book. They communicate well.

One of the downsides is that the book had so many pop culture references. It got annoying real fast. Though my favorite parts were hands down the Neighborly App. Made up social media is superior. The Reddit vibe without it being Reddit was great. I just hate that I didn't understand like any of the references. There was too much. All the humor was in the references that I didn't even get. No laughs for me.

The book also had a bit of too many characters syndrome. A lot of roles could have been infused into one character, and if it couldn't well, they didn't add much anyway. I think I would have enjoyed it a lot more if I understood the side characters more, but it was too much and too busy. This got me bored a lot found myself skipping paragraphs. Maybe if I read the first book, this wouldn't be an issue, but if this isn't a standalone that should be made clear.

Overall, not that much of a fan. But Lindy and Jo's relationship saved and otherwise boring book.

Review on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/RomanceBooks/comments/sdgle0/the_buyin_by_emma_st_clair_too_many_characters/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3

I enjoyed this introduction to this hilarious town of Sheet Cake, TX.

I have lived off and on in Texas for about nine years and this book brought me back there and made me laugh so many times about little things that are so very Texas. I enjoyed Lindy and Pat relationship, I am not a fan of second chance but this one was done well. I loved Lindy and Jo's relationship along with Pat and the whole Graham family. The secondary characters make this book, and I can not wait for all of their stories. A great book and fun read.

Four and a half stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒
The Buy-In by Emma St. Clair is the first in her Graham Brothers Sweet Rom-Com Series and it was delightful. This clean romance is funny, romantic, and heartwarming. This second chance, a marriage of convenience story is set in the small town of Sheet Cake, Texas, and has everything a sweet romance needs.

When ex-NFL player, Tank, purchases the small town of Sheet Cake, Texas, his son Pat is the first of his three sons and one daughter who approves of his crazy idea of buying a town. But, Pat is only happy about his father’s purchase because Sheet Cake, Texas is the home of his lost love, Lindy. Plus he hasn’t found a passion since he left the NFL and thinks that fixing up the small town of Sheet Cake, is a project he can get behind.

Lindy was supposed to become a travel journalist and see the world, but her niece needs her to provide a stable home ever since her sister abandoned her as a baby and her mother’s dementia has progressed enough that she must live in a home. So Lindy is now Jo’s primary caretaker and the only mother Jo has known. But, when Lindy’s sister, Rachel decides that she wants her child back and is going to court for custody, Lindy can’t let Jo go back to the woman who abandoned her as a baby. Her lawyer suggests that if Lindy were married, the custody battle would have a better chance of going in her favor. So, when the only man to break her heart is willing to enter into a marriage of convenience, she decides she can lock up her heart and do what’s best for Jo. But what will it cost her heart?

I sure enjoyed this romance between Lindy and Pat. Both main characters have their flaws and they have hurt each other in the past, but this book is about their growth and their ability to forgive the past. I liked that the author portrayed Pat’s ADHD realistically while highlighting the positive aspects of the condition as well as how he handles the more challenging aspects of ADHD.

The book was also hilariously funny, with a lot of witty banter between the characters. She also includes some cute side characters that give the town of Sheet Cake a fun vibe. The author also includes snippets of posts from the neighborhood app that are funny and add to the small-town flavor of the book.

I recommend The Buy In to anyone who loves a clean, small-town romance. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I went into this book kind of unassuming. It was a romantic comedy, and I feel like they all tend to blur together. I wasn't necessarily wrong that this was a standard rom com but it was definitely really cute and witty. ⁠
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I really loved the banter between Lindy and Pat, plus Jo's little comments were so cute! This book gave me all of the warm and tingly feels! ⁠
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I definitely recommend checking this book out, it just came out yesterday (January 25th)! ⁠
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Thank you to Netgalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing me with an advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

The Buy-In by Emma St. Clair reminds me of the move “Forever my Girl.” The movie and book both have the aspect of a couple breaking up and comibg back together years later, but now theres a child involved. Althought I wish there was more groveling from Pat in the book, I really enjoyed reading this! Pat is so lovable, and Lindy and Jo make such a great “mom/daughter” duo! Even the side characters were very well developed, and all had great, but simple story lines. I look forward to reading the next installment of the series!

This was my first book by the author - and I loved it! Thank you so much NetGalley and the publisher for the free copy. Can't wait to get back to Sheet Cake, Texas and see what comes next!

This was such a cute read! This is my first book from the Author and I’m hooked!
I loved Lindy. She is determined to be the best for her Niece Jo. I truly felt for her and all that she went through.
Pat is my new book boyfriend! He is so sweet with Jo it melted my heart! I love that he tries so hard to convince and show Lindy that he’s changed and that he’s not going anywhere. I really liked how he fixed up Lindy’s house for her.
The side characters were amazing! I’m super invested in the couples and hope we get Chevy and Val’s story as well!

Read if you like:
Dual POVs
Single parent trope ( or in this case aunt )
Marriage of convenience trope
Closed door romance

2 out of 5 steam level- kissing and closed door sex

Trigger warning- addiction, child abandonment, parent with dementia, custody battle

Things haven't been going well for Lindy Darcy over the past five years. She was left behind by the man she loved, she became the caretaker for her niece, and her mother was diagnosed with dementia. Now she's headed into a custody battle with her sister just as Patrick Graham, the man who broke her heart, walks back into her life. Could a marriage of convenience help her win custody of her niece and also rekindle the flame between her and Pat? Or will she end up with a broken heart once again?

I loved this book so much! There were so many great pop culture references and goofy moments throughout the story that made me smile and laugh out loud. I loved how the story started from Pat's POV, and I quickly found myself falling for him and cheering him on as he tried to win Lindy's heart. It also didn't hurt that he was amazing with Jo, Lindy's niece. I did feel like shaking Lindy a few times for doubting Pat's intentions, but she did have reason to be wary after all she's been through. Thankfully the ending did not disappoint, and the epilogue was everything I could have hoped for and more. I also loved the setting of Sheet Cake, Texas and all the side characters we got to meet, especially Lindy's friends Winnie and Val. And I may have even squealed in excitement when I found out one of them is the main character of the next book in this series! I will be impatiently waiting to return to Texas for more fun and romance!

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing me with an ARC of this book!
Be sure to follow me on Instagram @readwithsuzie for more reviews!

“Dad, you can’t just Schitt’s Creek a town.”

But the Graham family did in fact buy a town Sheet Cake, Texas and now they are showing up to fix it and their broken hearts along the way.

Pat Graham lost the love of his life and career in the short span of a few years and now he is hopelessly wandering his way through life with no real direction until his father, Think Tank Graham, bought a town he is set on fixing up Joanna Gaines style. The only thing Pat didn’t foresee in the gigantic project was the girl he left behind broken-hearted, Lindy, lives full time in the town raising her niece.

Lindy Darcy had not had it easy having to raise her niece after her sister abandoned them and her mother is falling into her dementia diagnosis, leaving the two of them to fend for themselves in the deteriorating house she grew up in. The last she needs is for her sister to barge back into their lives and try to take back the daughter she left at a few months old. What Lindy needs is a solid plan of action to fight the legal case her sister is throwing at her and as her lawyer pointed out a solid relationship would go a long way in helping matters.

When Pat enters the diner and sees Lindy for the first time in years he is smitten. It’s as if he resurfaced after the ride had pulled him under and kept him in the deep waters. She is the answer to his happiness and he knows he’ll have to fight hard to get her to forgive him. Lindy on the other hand see his attempt to renter her life as a way to secure her nieces future and potentially bring her some happiness as well. The two hatch a plan and attempt to live together to make both of their goals and dreams come true.

The dialogue in this story was brilliant. From the movie and television show references to the banter between the characters, it moved at a pace that was easy to follow. The best scenes (in my opinion) are the ones between Jo (the niece) and Tank. Instant chemistry between them as a grandfather and granddaughter relationship. They way she cashed him with a snake and he ran from her had me laughing so hard. It’s my favourite scene in the book.

The amount of brothers Pat has and the support of his family and the found family he makes in the town is so warm and welcoming. Obviously there will be a sequel by the little snippet at the end and James and Winnie will be at the centre of it and I am so excited to continue on the journey of revamping Sheet Cake, Texas. Will his story be able to live up to the epic romance of Pat and Lindy? I guess we will find out…

The narrative as I had mentioned is great. The plot of the book dives deeper into the give and takes within a relationship especially when it seems like one party is giving a lot more than taking. The story also touches on the characters lives with ADHD. It is handled in an approachable way that doesn’t ostracize the reader. It informs them of the traits and gives them a background on why the characters are the way they are. It was refreshing to read a story with that perspective.

Spice: 🌶 1 pepper for spicy scenes. Even though there is no big explicit scene there is enough kissing and foreplay for the reader to get a good idea of the private relations between Lindy and Pat.

Tropes: pining, ex-lover, small town, raising a niece, forced proximity, small town gossip, ADHD, Supportive family

How does she do it? Every book Emma St. Clair writes is better than the last! And I love them ALL!

Okay, I absolutely loved Pat! He was so funny. Every time he giggled, I was legit LOL. I've come to the conclusion that Emma St. Clair can do no wrong with her books.

I loved seeing the Graham men more. Having Harper, Chase, Thayden, and Delilah show up was bittersweet! I hope they continue to have cameos in the coming books. I loved that all of Harper's friends came out to support her brothers. Such an amazing group of friends.

Oh, and Jojo was the sweetest and reminded me of my 7-year-old who is obsessed with animal facts. We can't go for one hour without hearing a random animal fact in our house, so I could totally relate to Lindy and Jojo.

Also, the grill and squirrel scene?? Ha!

Can you tell I loved the book?

This is the first in a new series, but I would highly recommend reading the Love Cliche series first because it will make the cameo appearances so much more amazing.

I cannot wait for The Bluff to release! I have a feeling that I'm going to love James and Winnie's story even more!

**Thanks to NetGalley and the author for the copy to review!

Reader's Notes:
- this is book one of a series, but you do not need to read the others for this story to be complete
- this book has characters from the Love Clichés series, but you do not need to read it to understand this book (though it is definitely more enjoyable if you do!)
- this is told from both Pat and Lindy's points of view
- Lindy's sister was/is an addict (we don't really see her except in some memories that Lindy thinks of)
- there is some innuendo
- there is some talk of doing more than sleeping in the same bed (not much talk/thoughts; and the characters thinking it are married)

Review:
I think this is one of my favorites of what Emma St. Clair has written! There is so many laugh out loud moments (like verbing a noun, flaming squirrels, and the glitter), sassy moments, and of course moments when the child knows a lot more than she probably should (and will gladly share the information). I loved the small town of Sheet Cake and how the inhabitants knew pretty much everything that went on in town because of the Neighborly app (think the nosy grandma who gets into/tells everyone everyone else's business plus Facebook where you share videos/photos you enjoy, but the town inhabitants are generally both the grandma and the Facebook poster in the scenario). It was so funny to read this book and I can't wait to read book two when it comes out!

When your father tells you that he bought a town, would you think he was nuts?
That's how Pat feels when his former pro-football player father tells him that's what he did. But then he discovers exactly which town his father bought, the same town that the one that got away (Lindy) grew up in. A little town called Sheet Cake. So he goes along with his father to try and see his vision for the place (and to hopefully catch sight of Lindy). When both happen, Pat is pretty much on board with the hope that he'll be able to win Lindy back after all these years.
Lindy has spent the last five years trying not to think of Pat and caring for her niece that her sister abandoned. While she is successful in loving and caring for her niece, she hasn't been in forgetting Pat. Now her sister is fighting her for custody of Jo (her niece), who looks to be the better option for a family setting right now (Lindy's sister that is). If somehow Lindy could get married, that would up her chances of keeping Jo. But she isn't willing to ask for help and nobody really seems like an option (or at least a good option for her and Jo). Then in walks Pat, the guy who would do anything for her and Jo, but could also hurt her heart if she allows him in and he leaves once again.
Will they both be able to have their happily ever after and not have it shatter?

The Buy-In is the first book in the new spin-off series, Graham Brothers, from the Love Clichés series.

After reading Falling for Your Best Friend I was wishing that Harper's brothers (and dad) would get their own story. Imagine my delight when I found out that Emma St. Clair was writing this series (spoiler: I jumped for joy)

Second chance romances are hard for me because it all depends on the reason for the breaking in the first place. The Buy-In felt hopeful and I could understand what happened between Pat and Lindy the first time around. They made some mistakes and each felt as though they were the ones that got away.

Pay and Lindy were characters that I loved together, they brought out the best and made each other stronger. I loved Jo, she definitely stole every scene she was in for me. I also loved Sheet Cake, the small town where this story takes place. From the Neighborly app, to the three Bobs, to the Ladies Literary and Libations Society. This book was a rom-com that had me laughing and crying.

I recommend reading Harper's story first, to meet the Graham brothers. I also can't wait for The Bluff, especially after that ending. I just know I'm going to love it!

Thank you to the author for the ARC, all opinions are my own