You and Me, For Real by Hayley Elliott: Book Review

 **ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own. 

The Book

She swore she'd never be in front of the camera again, but now she's falling for a Hollywood heartthrob with a tabloid-worthy secret.

Former child reality star Ashton Reid is done with fame and dreams of a quiet life and finally opening her own animal rescue. But establishing a non-profit requires funding and, therefore, publicity. For Ashton, this means facing her crippling anxiety anytime a camera is pointed in her direction. Despite her best efforts to avoid all things Hollywood, when celebrity Griffin Ford rushes into her shelter carrying an injured dog-with his impossibly muscled arms and notorious abs-she's helpless against those almond eyes. The dog's eyes, that is.

Actor Griffin Ford is desperate for his first meaningful role. Tired of being seen as nothing more than washboard abs on an angsty teen drama, he's agreed to a fake relationship with his co-star to guarantee the lead in her father's next movie. But when the contract requires more than he's bargained for, he begins to question the future he always imagined. To take back some ownership of his life, Griffin adopts a new dog-despite being clueless about pet ownership.

Drawn to Ashton's authenticity, Griffin recruits her to train his new rescue. In return, Griffin helps her navigate publicity and social media for her foundation. Outside the glow of Hollywood, it doesn't take long for Ashton to see that Griffin is more than the hunk he portrays on TV. As their professional and personal lives intertwine and their attraction grows stronger, their chemistry becomes undeniable. But when the heat of the spotlight threatens to expose Ashton's past and Griffin's secret, the two must decide: fight for what's real between them, or risk becoming another casualty of fame.

Perfect for fans of:

Celebrity trope romance

Friends to more

Opposites attract

DUAL POV

Dog lovers

Sweet, feel-good romance

The Author

Hayley’s always loved love. Exhibit A: her writing career began in journalism (ahem—diary entries) chronicling her crushes. Writing lighthearted romance stories was a natural transition. It gives her great joy to create fun, sweet escapes for readers with guaranteed happily-ever-afters. She refills her creative writing well by reading (duh), doing photography, and occasionally drawing or painting. Hayley also loves taking naps, doing embroidery, and crocheting like a seventy-year old. More than anything, she enjoys spending time with her husband, two daughters, and beloved Goldendoodle in their Oklahoma hometown. You and Me, For Real is Hayley’s debut novel. You can connect with her on Instagram @Hayley_Elliotts_Books where she keeps the content real and fun.

Book Review

Celebrity romance meets dog rescue with this sweet story, and I found myself enjoying every single minute. Griffin and Ashton both have some experience with being in the spotlight... but after growing up on a reality television show, Ashton escaped that spotlight for a private life helping animals. That is, until a TV heartthrob shows up to her shelter with a dog he'd rescued from the side of the road. I mean, with a meet cute like this, how could you just not love these characters and their heart for animals already? They had a really sweet chemistry between them... but some pretty major obstacles in their way too. I loved seeing them grow and learning from their unique family dynamics throughout. And with all the puppy love, this is definitely one that dog lovers are absolutely going to go crazy for. Their story also introduced us to a fun variety of side characters that I loved just as much and hope to see more from in the future! With a debut novel like this one, I cannot wait to see what Hayley Elliot is going to do next! 

You and Me, For Real is a closed-door romance with kisses only. It does have very minimal minor language. 


You can purchase your copy here: https://amzn.to/455K4o7