Faking It With My Best Friend by Kate O'Keeffe: Book Review

 

 *Book received for consideration. All thoughts are my own.

The two of us have been best friends forever. But one of us is faking it.


Ryn
Gabe and I are the dynamic duo of Hunter’s Creek, the small town in Washington where we live. As best friends, our bond is as tight as a bungee cord. But even though he’s loyal, sweet, and totally hot in that flannel-wearing lumberjack way of his, he’s always stayed securely in the “friend zone”—despite the fact I was head-over-heals in love with him in high school.

Just as I’m complaining that nothing ever happens here, Hollywood comes to town bringing its over-the-top movie madness energy. Along for the ride is Hollywood hottie Joe Turner who turns my head in a big way.

Gabe does not seem pleased.


Gabe

Do you know what really gets under my skin? No good, full-of-themselves Hollywood guys named Joe Turner who hit on my best friend. Doesn’t Ryn know that she deserves so much better than that guy? He’ll use her up and spit her out when he leaves town.

Yet, no matter what I say, she goes for him anyway. And I’m not happy about it.

Who am I kidding? I hate it.

What’s more, the Hunter’s Creek Ladies Committee, aka a bunch of women with nothing better to do, have been trying to matchmake Ryn and me forever. They seem to think that the simple fact we’re both single means we’re perfect for each other. Listen up, ladies: it takes more to fall in love than to think your best friend is the most beautiful, clever, kind-hearted, and funny woman you’ve ever met.

Wait.

Could they be right?




Faking It With My Best Friend is a best friends-to-lovers romance set in the small town of Hunter's Creek, Washington. It's the second book in the Second Chance Café series. Each book follows a different sister's love story and can be read as a standalone novel or as part of a series.

USA TODAY Bestselling Author Kate O'Keeffe writes exactly what she loves to read: laugh-out-loud romantic comedies with swoon-worthy heroes and gorgeous feel-good happily ever afters. She lives and loves in beautiful Hawke's Bay, New Zealand with her family and two scruffy dogs. When she's not penning her latest story, Kate can be found hiking up hills (slowly), traveling to different countries, and eating chocolate. A lot of it.

Visit kateokeeffe.com to sign up to her newsletter and you'll receive a FREE romcom.

Faking It With My Best Friend is the second book in the Second Chance Cafe series. While I think you could enjoy this story as a standalone, there are definitely some spoilers for the first book if read out of order. I LOVED the first book in this series, and couldn't wait to read Ryn and Gabe's story. Thankfully, it did not disappoint. 

The thing I love most in a best friends-to-lovers story is that there is so much history there that makes the romance all that much sweeter... and that was certainly the case here too. I loved the friendship between these two and how everyone in the town, except for Ryn herself, knew that they were meant to end up together. This leads to some fun matchmaking moments from meddling townsfolk... and if there is one thing that makes small-town romances some of the best, it's those meddling townsfolk! This was definitely a bit of a slow burn, but so worth the wait when they finally get together. 

This is a closed-door romance- lots of chemistry, but nothing beyond kisses and no bad language. 

This was an absolutely fantastic read. If you're looking for your next small-town romance read, this book (and series) is definitely one to check out!