This captivating romance swept me away with its mix of sizzling chemistry, emotional depth, and high-stakes drama. I was hooked from the first page and loved every moment. I happily rated it five stars.

I liked the premise for this book, but the execution could have been way better. It felt as though there was no connection between the two main characters, and some of the story wasn’t explained well enough. For example, Mia finds out she is the heiress to a billionaire fortune after her parents told her she was adopted. This is contradicted when she finds out she was ‘taken’ as a baby and that her biological parents never stopped looking for her. It’s never explained how she was taken and if her adoptive parents knew. If these points were rectified and more chemistry was added between the characters, then maybe it would be more enjoyable.

Do you love the second chance romance trope? Runaway bride? Fake dating and grumpy x sunshine trope? This is a book for you!
I love a book with all my favorite tropes and this one doesn't disappoint. This was a quick little read once you get started you can't stop. Ethan and Mia are a cute couple who are written to make you fall in love with them.

Honestly for me, it was kind of hard to get into this book. But I'm sure fans of this author will love the book. Took a bit to get through for me.

A story that has a runaway bride, a billionaire and a sudden new engagement that is tested at every angle. The characters test each other and need the protection from each other without realising what they are getting into.

IDK what it was about this book but I was not a fan. I think it was too cliche for me and too uppity. I will try more of Vivian Oliver's books in the future to see if it's just this one.

Cute quick read. Runaway bride ends up in a fake engagement with her childhood sweetheart/ crush. Grumpy x sunshine, second chance. HEA. Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

This book just wasn't for me. I could never figure out why the heroine was going to marry the one guy. Plus, the story jumped around, and things happened with not a lot of detail.

thank you to netgalley for the arc!

this book was just not for me. nothing flowed the way i would've liked and too many plot holes.

A Grumpy Billionaire's Fake Engagement, is well written. I thought that there would have been more erotica from reading the summary. it was great for a normal steamy romance novel though.

Stars: 1.5
Review Release: 11/02/25
Review Platform: Goodreads/Amazon
Review: If you like single dad, second chance romances where it’s the whole grumpy x sunshine trope and fake dating? Yeah, I would skip this one cause there is no flowing plot at all. It was so jumpy, no flow at all. There were so many missing plot holes I was left wondering about many things. There is no lead up to important things and the one biggest thing I noticed was the inconsistencies in backstories about his ex. I feel the author needs to revisit this story and flesh it out a little more.

Readers who are drawn to tales of second chances, where love reignites amidst the complexities of life, will find themselves captivated by this novel. The narrative paints a vivid picture of a strong, independent woman who refuses to be defined by her past, and a brooding, alpha hero whose tough exterior hides a depth of emotion. Their compelling love story unfolds against a backdrop of high-stakes corporate intrigue and the unraveling of long-held family secrets, adding layers of suspense and anticipation to the romance. This book is a perfect fit for those who enjoy a passionate, emotional journey with characters who are as complex as they are captivating.

Nope...this book didn't work for me. It jumped forward skipping plot points that could've really turned it into a great read, but instead it became unreadable. I can't in good faith recommend anyone read this.

**Thanks NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this in exchange of my honest opinion.

This ARC was provided by NetGalley for an honest review.

If you are looking to unplug for an hour or two and don’t mind the apparent potholes in the storyline that will have you wondering if you just picked up book six of a series instead of a standalone, then this billionaire, runaway bride, fake engagement, jilted groom, what that’s not enough, single dad, second chance, surprise heiress, found family and more tropes that could possibility fit into a story, this one might be for you.

Mia thought she had her life all figured out until Ethan Sinclair burst open the church doors before she could say “I do” and walked her out of her wedding, stopping her from making the worst mistake of her life. In the same breath, he makes her deal: to be his fake fiancé. And everything goes downhill from there.

Oliver’s execution is disjointed. There is no flow to the writing. The jarring time jumps leave readers struggling to piece the story together. The backstory, which seems to impact the present decisions, is sorely lacking.  Why all the glitzy parties? Sure, it makes for glamorous settings, but without context or substance, what’s the point? Readers are not invested since we have no knowledge of why Ethan needs a fiancé for his business; besides him saying he does, no details are given. Oliver’s writing is tell, tell, and more tell; where is the show to draw us in? The entirety of the book felt underdeveloped and rushed, resulting in a chaotic ride.

This book’s most lovable and authentic character is Lily, Ethan’s daughter. The single dad dynamics is on point. He worries about how his fake relationship with Mia will impact her and its consequences when they have to end the charade, which is the only genuine emotion Oliver brings to light, salvaging some of this reading experience. All in all, this was a disappointing 1-star read.

It took a little to get through this book as I felt like I could only handle a couple chapters a day. The premise of the book was good, it was the execution of it that had me questioning whether I was going to finish or not.


Thank you to NetGalley for this copy!

This story follows Mia, who is about to marry a man she does not love when her childhood best friend, Ethan, steps in to save her, giving her the option of a fake engagement to him.

I liked the premise for this book, but the execution could have been way better. It felt as though there was no connection between the two main characters and some of the story wasn’t explained well enough. For example, she finds out she is the heiress to a billionaire fortune after her parents told her she was adopted. This is contradicted when she finds out she was ‘taken’ as a baby and that her biological parents never stopped looking for her. It’s never explained as to how she was taken and if her adoptive parents knew.

Tropes:
— Single dad
— Billionaire
— Found family
— Fake engagement
— Second chance

This book delivers everything you’d expect—glamour, chemistry, and the irresistible tension of a fake relationship turning real. From the moment I started reading, I was hooked, quickly falling for the story.

The fake dating trope is executed well, adding just the right amount of playful denial between the protagonists. Watching them navigate their "pretend" relationship while obviously battling real feelings made for an entertaining and swoon-worthy read. And Lily? Absolutely the sweetest! I only wish we had gotten more of her presence in the story, as she added a heartwarming touch to the dynamic.

However, one aspect that pulled me out of the story was the repeated use of the word "curves/curvy." The frequency of the term felt excessive, to the point where it became a distraction. Every time it popped up, it momentarily took me out of the narrative, making it harder to stay immersed in the romance. Which ultimately made it hard to enjoy the story when all my brain could focus on was that one word and waiting for it to pop up like a jack-in-a-box

I really got caught up in this book. It wasnt a long book but it packs a lot in it. Hero saves old friend from bad marriage and they are off and running. Plenty of surprises and his little girl is amazing.

First time reading a book by this author. Writing style is unique and took me a bit to get used to it. Storyline kept you invested. Fake relationship romance. Nice ending.

I'm not sure how I made it through this book, I'm so sorry I tried so hard to give this book a chance, I finished it but only because I was to the point of just giving up when I realized I was just a few pages from the end. The book started out with a wedding and a runaway bride and from there it went completely downhill. I hate giving books a one star, but sadly this one gets one.