A lovely enemies to lovers, one night stand turned fake dating, small town romance!

She’s a city girl coming to propose changes to the town, he’s a loyal small town family man with responsibilities that weigh on him. They connect, there’s spice and all sorts of townie opinions to add some drama to the mix.

🌸 Enemies to lovers
🌷 Small town
💐 Fake dating
🌻 Autistic rep
🌺 Found family

I so loved the fierce love he showed for his autistic sister, the pride he took in his role and how balanced this piece was in the book. The characters were relatable and authentic 🫶🏻

Definitely hit the right mood for me, loved it!

Elo my love I am once again asking for you to make me a Canadian husband 🤲🏻

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I was lucky to beta read this one (I did NOT get investigated by Google this time, but that is because my behavior has been determined to be normal [for me] not because it was any less enthusiastic) and 🥹🌺🙃🪻🥰😳🔥

I adore when a side character gets his own book and Matt is no exception!!! We love a soft lumberjack who owns his own flower shop and is delighted to be bossed around by a city girl who knows what she wants 😌

The very clear contrast between their family dynamics and how apparent it is even to them makes their own relationship a precarious dance. Zoe is desperate for approval that has been held just out of reach all her life. Matt has that approval - and the pressure that comes with trying to maintain it. She has found herself entirely alone, while Matt has never had a shortage of loved ones to support him. But both of them find a tenderness and a counterbalance that brings out the best in each other.

Pine Falls is a sort of character on its own; warm and welcoming with a side of well-meaning meddling. I want to go to there. I can already see the tendrils of future stories unfolding and I am following them with my magnifying glass like an old timey detective.

If you’re after a cosy feel good read this is definitely the one for you! A wonderful read with some really hard hitting parts! The approach towards the neurodivergent aspects was really thought out and approached sensitively. It was beautiful to read and Matt & Zoé really are a brilliant couple!! Such a great read!!!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

A feel good romance about a grumpy florist and the big city girl who comes to town in order to secure land for a new hotel.

I really enjoyed this novel. Both characters are likable and what really struck me was the open communication and trust between the two. Things start off rocky when Matt accidentally almost hits a distracted Zoey. Sparks fly and the pair cannot deny their attraction. The two agree to fake date in order to garner favor with the townspeople, but it quickly turns into something real. I liked that the two are open about their feelings fairly early in the novel. The fake dating trope doesn’t get dragged for too long. I also really appreciated the positive neurodivergent representation. Ms. Colliard handled it with such care.

This was a fun, cozy romance. My only critique is that it did feel like they got together a little too quickly, but it wasn’t a dealbreaker for me.

It took me a little bit to get into this story-- probably about the 25% mark. I think it's partially because of Matt's mom. She frustrated me so much in the beginning I could have actually hit her tbh.

I love how much Matt loves his family and friends, and how he would do anything for them, especially his sister Daphne. I love her so much and I think she deserves the world. I think the autism representation with Daphne was written really well.

Zoey came in SWINGING at the beginning of the book, but honestly with the kind of father she has and what she has to deal with from him, I kinda get it. I loved that Matt helps soften her up and I love her relationship with Daphne.

The cover really got me because.. I mean.. LOOK AT IT. It's so gorgeous. I also did tell Elodie that I am forwarding her my therapy bill because I was SOBBING by the end of the story.

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thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for my honest review. all thoughts are my own.

Hoax & Kisses felt like a warm blanket on a rainy day. So soft, comforting, and just the kind of slow, small-town story that sneaks up on you emotionally.

At its heart, this book follows Zoey, a city girl arriving in a quiet town to reconnect with her estranged father and, in many ways, with herself. She’s trying to make things right, trying to be seen, trying to find a version of belonging that doesn’t hurt. And then there’s Matt. A sweet, grounded florist whose emotional maturity honestly took me by surprise (and is such a rarity in romance heroes these days). What starts as a one-night stand quickly becomes a fake dating arrangement, and eventually, something much deeper.

Their relationship is tender and genuine. I loved how the book avoided unnecessary drama. No over-the-top third-act breakup, no explosive secrets. Just two people slowly learning how to trust themselves and each other. Zoey’s arc especially hit me. She carries so much quiet loneliness, and it was beautiful (and sometimes a little heartbreaking) to watch her slowly let someone in.

That said, I did feel the absence of deeper friendships around her. There were moments where it felt like Zoey was still floating. Still on the outside of the community she was trying so hard to enter. I kept hoping she’d find a confidant outside of Matt or her dad, just one person to remind her she didn’t have to carry everything alone.

One of the standout aspects for me was the autism representation through Matt’s younger sister. Her storyline was handled with care and compassion, and the way it explored overstimulation and social exhaustion felt so real, especially for anyone who’s ever felt misunderstood or overwhelmed by the world.

This book won’t hit you over the head with drama or huge declarations, but that’s part of what made it so special. It’s quiet, emotionally rich, and full of small, meaningful moments. It’s about seeing and being seen. About showing up. About how even the softest love can be transformative.

Would recommend if you’re craving something gentle and genuine, especially if you love found family, low-stakes romance, and emotionally vulnerable characters just trying to figure it out.

A charming fake dating small town romance!

Matt and Zoey are too adorable. I fell hard for these two. Firstly, Matt is a perfect book boyfriend. He's emotionally mature, communicates and just an overall cinnamon roll. Plus the way he took care of his autistic younger sister made my heart melt! Zoey was a wonderful heroine. She's goes through a lot trying to connect with her estranged father while also trying to win over a skeptical townsfolk. Hence the need to fake date a local. The fake dating trope was well executed here and was so cute. I really enjoyed Zoey and Matt's chemistry and slow burn romance (after their one night stand). I found their love story full of emotional depth and sweetness (the spicy scenes certainly didn't hurt though).

I really loved the small town here. Very reminiscent of Sleepy Hollow. It's cozy and makes you wish you were there.

Would highly recommend!

Elodie Colliard doesn't miss. Hoax & Kisses, just like the series it's spun off from was such a sweet and emotional story that felt as real as catching up on a friend's whirlwind romance. Matt and Zoey felt very real and relatable throughout the story and watching them never fully give up on each other was just the thing I needed after the past few books I've been reading (lol). When this book comes out I cant recommend it enough if you want a story that's equal parts emotional, sweet, and spicy!

Thank you to NetGalley, Elodie Colliard, and Victory Editing for the advanced copy!
Rating: 4/5

What I liked: I am a sucker for small town romances. This had so much heart in it you can't help but cheer for them. Also a huge fan of the autism representation you see in Matt's sister, Daphne. You can see it has shaped Matt to be the person he is, and it just makes you love the characters more. I love that both Matt and Zoey grow together throughout the book, and they aren't trying to change each other. They see the other for the person they want to be, and don't shame the other.

What I struggled with: The relationship Zoey has with her parents. Sometimes it felt disingenuous what is revealed, but again, sometimes we have blind spots that aren't seen until it's too late. Daphne and Matt's mom struggling with Daphne and who she is.. that shit hurted. It felt like Matt had to be another parent to Daphne because his mom was willfully ignorant of what her daughter needed.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book! The cover definitely drew me in.. you can't tell me Matt doesn't look like Chris Hemsworth! I am excited to see where this series goes!

Elodie Colliard unexpectedly balances a light-hearted romance with complex themes in the novel, Hoax and Kisses.

Matt Becker is stretched thin, juggling his flower shop and caring for his teenage sister. Zoey Delacroix, an aspiring hotel mogul, arrives in Matt’s small town with hopes of purchasing a piece of land to develop a hotel. Although her intentions are positive, the town's been burned before, and when a crucial town vote turns south, Zoey doesn’t know what to do. Matt proposes a fake relationship: he'll help her regain the town's trust, and she'll include him in her investment program. However, their pretense soon gives way to authentic feelings, compelling them to re-evaluate their carefully planned futures in favor of a genuine romance.

Matt was the ultimate cinnamon roll MMC. Although, he had times where he absolutely frustrated me - who’s going to tell him public embarrassment is NOT it. I loved the representation of Autism, and how Matt was so intune to his sister and her needs. It shows the real life strains that can happen when the people around you don’t understand how disabilities impact people.

Zoey was cut-throat with a secret soft side. A girl on a mission, who also has a reawakening that what she’s currently doing, might not be working for her life. I loved her character development and how her vulnerability grew as she grew more comfortable in Pine Falls.

Overall, the book was well written, steamy at the most appropriate places, and navigated complex themes in an appropriate way. Thank you Elodie and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review Hoax and Kisses!

*ARC provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op


If you’re in a search for a cozy small town romance with swoon worthy vibes then look no further.

This was my first book by Elodie Colliard and I was really enjoying her writing style so I will be returning for more.

Hoax & Kisses is a story about big city girl Zoey who came to this quaint small town on a mission to secure a land for her father’s business. The minute she steps on the town’s ground she has a heated meeting town’s bachelor and florist Matt which surprisingly ends up as a one night stand.
The attraction is inevitable and after some difficulties to secure the land thanks to the man himself, he proposes a deal to benefit them both and start fake dating to sway the town folks. But soon they discover there’s nothing fake about the feelings they’re developing which was really a great thing and it showed characters’ maturity.

Both having burdens to carry in their lives it was such a beautiful thing to see them opening up to each other and showing vulnerability. Zoey learned from a very young age she’s all on her own and Matt showed her what is to have someone to lean on. Matt was such a big sunshine, with his love and support not only for Zoey but for his very much younger autistic sister. I also appreciated the approach to autism and showing how some generational differences can affect how people deal with these issues.

Besides being a really good balanced romance story of sweet and spicy, it was a story of self discovery and how it’s never too late to take your life in another direction that fulfils you and makes you happy.

I wished that side characters were more included into creating friendships and tight community especially with Zoey, which is something I always expect from a small town romance.

✨ARC Review✨

Small town? Check. Hot single man the town loves? Check. City girl with an agenda not wanting to stay in said small town with said small town boy? Check.

Was that wordy? Yes it was but it’s true.

I was actually really scared to read this book. Everything about this book drew me in. The cover is gorgeous and the blurb really intrigued me. So my biggest fear was being let down or reading just another small town romance. BUT LET ME TELL YOU!

The plot was amazing. It was very different to what I was expecting and really kept me entertained! There were definitely parts that’s I’ve seen on other small town romances but Elodie gave everything her own flair!

My man, Matt is a walking talking sexy green flag. I mean he is literally a florist like seriously how bloody cute! But he is a complex character with a deep emotional understanding and alignment. Zoé just so happens to be amazing. I fell in love with her from the beginning. Elodie wrote her so well, and I often felt what Zoey was feeling.

The way they work as a couple is *chefs kiss*. Although a rocky start Matt would move mountains for Zoé and Zoey is just as supportive. I absolutely love these 2!

Set in a fictional small town of Pine Falls, British Columbia, Zoey Delacroix has three weeks to convince the town to back her hotel proposal and convince her dad she is ready to take over his hotel empire. The first day she arrives, she meets an angry but very attractive man, and one thing leads to another... Flower shop Matt Becker remembers her dad's prior attempt at selling the town and wants nothing to do with Zoey when he finds out who her dad is. After Matt pushes too hard and accidently gets the whole town to hate her at a disastrous town meeting, he reaches out with a proposal: fake date to win back the town in exchange for a spot to pitch his flower shop in her small business investment program. But these two both remember their one night stand. Their sizzling chemistry won't just stay in the background, especially as they find out more about each other. As Zoey and Matt attend town activities together, they find more in common and begin to picture a life together just as the town gets ready for their final vote.

Once these two get to the fake dating, I was all in. I didn't love the one night stand aspect (though I rarely do), but their instant chemistry leapt off the page.

I appreciated the author's care around Matt's role as secondary caretaker for his thirteen year old autistic sister. We also see the variety of responses to caring for and loving Daphne, including the contrast between their dad and mom.

I enjoyed this small town and am looking forward to reading more! I wanted to see Zoey make some solid friendships in the town, so hopefully we see that in later books. Since her mom isn't located nearby and her dad... isn't great... we don't have any supporting people in Zoey's life except Matt. I wish her dad's assistant (butler?) showed up again, since it sounds like he had played a supportive role in her life.

Overall, a fun and spicy read!

This romance features:
💐 Meet Hate
💐 Fake Dating
💐 Canadian Small Town
💐 One Night Stand
💐 It's the family you choose
💐 Neurodivergent representation

Open door / spicy!

4.25 / 5 stars

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for this eARC!

This was everything my little tired brain needed.

Set in cozy Pine Falls, this small‑town romance follows florist Matt Becker and corporate heiress Zoey Delacroix. Matt’s balancing running his flower-shop and looking after his teenage sister while their parents are away. Zoey, on the other hand,’s tasked with securing a major land investment to prove herself to her father’s shareholders. When her plan backfires and the townsfolk turn against her, Matt proposes a fake‑dating scheme: Zoey pretends to be his partner, boosting his social standing and earning her a spot in his local business network.

Small town romance? Fake dating? Eugh, give me it all… this was a gorgeous and utterly sweet, heartwarming read that delivered on romantic comedy tropes with sincerity and charm. I loved Zoey and Matt, and LOVED Daph and the role her character played. I do wish some of the secondary characters had been fleshed out a little more to further enhance the town’s dynamic feel but overall I loved this. Yes it was predictable, but isn’t that why we love to read these books so much?

4.25 stars

I love me a grumpy man who’s secretly a softy 😍
Zoey and Matt have an almost comically bad first impression of each other. Zoey is the stereotypical big city girl who doesn’t fit into the small town and Matt is the small town man who dresses like a lumberjack and hates outsiders (at least from Zoey’s perspective). Despite this they had undeniable chemistry and could not stay away from each other.
I loved how Matt tried hard not to fall for Zoey but he kept finding little ways to show her he cared. From checking on her when she was upset to making her a bouquet that showed her saw her to defending her in front of the town, he was so obviously head over heels for her.
Zoey had a little bit of that fish out water trait but deep down she definitely belonged in the small town. Matt was so supportive of her figuring this out and made sure she knew she belonged.
I also really loved how the author handled Matt’s sister’s autism. I felt like there was so much care there and she was such a great character. I also loved how Zoey understood her and the bond that they had. Matt’s role as a caretaker for his sister was so sweet and I’m glad Zoey understood how he prioritized her and never held it against him.
This was such a fun, sweet book and I loved the romance between Matt and Zoey.
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC!

Great representation, cute 🇨🇦 small town village vibes and and absolute golden retriever boyfriend. Who can ask for more? I’m not even a huge fan of romance but the characters were so fantastic and individual. Fiiiine I mean who doesn’t love « looks like they can kill you, is a cinnamon roll » partners?

Loved Zoey’s character so much and honestly even if it was a tough journey to get there she ended up where she needed to be. I mean, who doesn’t love a florist!

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

I loved this book and could put it down! It’s a very cute and comfy small town romance that had me hooked the whole process. Zoey and Matt are an adorable pair I love their banter and their chemistry it’s so sweet and got me through the stress and anticipation of what’s to come. Highly recommend!

LOVED IT!

I’m a sucker for a small town romance at the best of times but I knew within the first few chapters this would be a good one. Zoë seems like the quintessential city girl on the surface but I loved how much depth she was given during the narrative. As the layers are peeled back we get to see more and more of the “real her” which made the story so much more enjoyable. Then Matt. Sweet, grumpy, protective florist Matt. I adored him every step of the way even when he was making stupid mistakes.

I think what really made this for me though was the neurodivergence rep. From the explicit autism in Daphne to the implications in other characters it felt so well done without stereotyping. Matt and Daphne’s relationship really touched me as I acutely understood the feeling of wanting to protect someone from outside judgement.

And of course last but never least. The spice was PERFECTION!

Hoax & Kisses is a warm, comforting read that gave me strong Gilmore Girls energy. Think rainy-day small-town charm, a swoony florist love interest, and a fake dating setup that quickly becomes real.

The story follows Zoey, a city girl trying to reconnect with her estranged dad and win over a skeptical town, and Matt, a local florist looking to grow his business. Their one-night stand unexpectedly turns into a fake relationship arrangement, and what unfolds is a tender, low-angst romance that surprised me in the best way.

I loved Matt! He was refreshingly emotionally mature and communicative, and I especially appreciated that the story avoided the third-act breakup trope I was bracing for. Zoey’s arc brought more emotional weight than I expected. She really just needed someone to see her, and thankfully, she finds that in this slow-burning love and a town that eventually opens its arms.

What held this back from a full five stars for me was the lack of a strong supporting cast. Zoey felt incredibly isolated — she had no real friends in the story, which created a noticeable gap in her character development and the richness of the small-town setting. I would’ve loved to see her build relationships beyond just Matt and her family, especially since that sense of community is a big reason I read books like this. Also, her father… not a fan (but I suppose that was the point)…

There is some autism representation in this story through Matt’s younger sister. Her storyline was treated with genuine sensitivity and explored some of the real-world challenges neurodivergent people face — including overstimulation and social overwhelm (very relatable).

This is a comforting, romantic read. It was full of flowers, tension, and found family energy. Would recommend for fans of a low stakes romance in small town settings, and emotional softness.

*4.5

This was really cute. I love how with only a tony bit of effort she really fit into the town. Zoe wanted what was best for all the residents. Matt was actually so smitten from their first interaction despite the fact that he was mad at her. He encouraged all of her dreams and let her in on his. They are just adorable.

I received an arc from love notes pr.