love, unscripted

by Denise Hunter

The “fake boyfriend/girlfriend” trope is a popular one, but it has never appealed to me. When Denise Hunter, an author I like, published one, I decided to give it a try. 

In love, unscripted, Chloe has just published her first novel and it is a huge success. So successful that she already has sold the movie rights. Having been hurt and rejected by several men, including her father, Chloe has written a protagonist into her book who is heroic and “exhibits all the qualities that every woman yearns for in a partner.” Unfortunately, Liam, the actor chosen to play that role in the movie has a reputation as a handsome and charming lady’s man who moves quickly from one romantic interest to another. The tabloids love to use him for their headlines, and not everything they print is true.

Chloe’s first encounters with Liam are not positive, but they make a deal with each other. Her publisher wants her to increase her social media presence, and Liam’s publicists want him to shine up his image to fit the wholesome character portrayed in the movie. She agrees to pretend to have a relationship in exchange for his committing to work with her on his lines to better understand the character she created.

It’s easy to guess the direction the plot will take, but it is entertaining to watch their relationship develop. The hiccups along the way are caused by the paparazzi and by their own individual pasts which make it hard for them to trust others. Misunderstandings arise causing some hard lessons in forgiveness. Although this fake dating trope will never be my favorite, I did enjoy this clean romance with characters I liked. Most of the characters grew during the story, but realistically a few were unable to admit past mistakes or make good choices.

The events in the book take place over the course of three months showcasing how a movie is filmed, and I enjoyed participating vicariously in that process.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Romance, Women’s Fiction

Notes: no inappropriate language or sex

Publication:   March 12, 2024—Harper Collins Christian Publisher/Thomas Nelson

Memorable Lines:

“When you reach a certain level of success, people often want something from you other than friendship. Sometimes it’s hard to tell who’s genuine and who’s not.”

She’d felt closer to him since their illnesses. There was something about seeing a person at his weakest—and being seen at your most vulnerable—that lowered a person’s walls.

“You’ve gotta get good at forgiving. “Cause believe me, you’ll be the one needing it the next time.”