Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Wilson's laugh-out-loud latest (after Cinder-Nanny) follows cosmetic chemist Anna Ellis, who's full of innovative ideas but can't get her company to take them seriously. Her boss is a creep and she isn't making progress talking to her boss's boss, Craig, because her massive crush on him makes her hopelessly awkward. Meanwhile, Craig's brother, Marco, the company's CEO, is bent on breaking up Craig's relationship with his newly announced fiancée. When Anna and Marco meet-cute in a bathroom--a conversation that inevitably touches on Anna's favorite subjects, The Lord of the Rings and Star Wars--Marco sees a solution to both of their problems. Craig has always been a jealous and competitive type, so Marco suggests that if he and Anna fake a relationship, it will drive Craig wild. Anna is game to play along, particularly as the arrangement comes with much desired chemistry equipment, but she gets confused when her feelings start shifting from Craig to Marco. After all, Marco speaks the language of Tolkien's Elves fluently and shows the appropriate amount of appreciation for puns. How could she resist? Abundant pop culture references and nerdy quips only enhance Anna and Marco's lively banter. This is utterly adorable. Agent: Sarah Younger, NY Literary. (Feb.)
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Review by Library Journal Review
Anna Ellis works at Minx Cosmetics as a chemist--or rather, she did before she threw her whole career away in what was supposed to be a grand romantic gesture aimed at her boss, Craig Kimball. A gesture which definitely didn't work since he's marrying someone else. She spills her heart out to Marco, who happens to not only be the CEO of Minx Cosmetics, but also Craig's half-brother. Marco offers her a deal: pretend to date him so his brother gets jealous and leaves his new gold-digging fiancée, and he will hire her as a consultant, allowing her to save the money needed to pay off debts and start her own cosmetics company. But it turns out Anna and Marco enjoy each other, and their relationship might end up being more real than they thought possible. In this adorable romantic comedy, the fake dating trope is taken to another level with banter and nerdy references Anna and Marco throw around. Adding to the fun, Anna's grandparents and their pet birds will have readers in stitches. VERDICT A fresh and fun romance from Wilson (Cinder-Nanny) and a recommended first-tier purchase.--Amanda Toth
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