Synopsis

Ellie Greco wishes she weren’t stuck in Milborough. For a few brief, shining years, she escaped her hometown to pursue her dream career—designing beautiful, elaborate costumes for theater—until her father’s death five years ago called her home to run the family’s decades-old deli. Yes, she loves the place, but she’d always thought she was meant for more exciting things than stocking the right tinned fish. But when Ellie hears that a local landlord is planning to rent to Mangia, the glitzy gourmet food department store, Greco’s Deli’s very existence is suddenly in jeopardy.

She tries to plead her case to Theo Taylor, scion of the property management firm about to put her out of business, but their meeting goes from bad (it’s not her fault he’s infuriating) to worse (no one expects the ceiling to literally fall in).

With Theo out cold, Ellie panics and claims to be his fiancée… and almost passes out herself when amnesia means Theo seems to actually believe her. Soon, the effects of the head injury wear off, but Theo proposes that their “engagement” stick around. If they manage to convince enough people they might both get what they want: an end to the Mangia deal. Ellie doesn’t trust him (after all, if Theo Taylor wants it, how can it be good for her?) but seeing no other option, reluctantly agrees.

And miraculously, the fake engagement seems to be working—even Ted, Theo’s shrewd, cold father seems convinced—that is until Sam, Theo’s ex-fiance, reappears on the scene. Not only does she see through their ruse, she proposes an arrangement of her own, forcing Ellie to decide between blossoming friendship, her family legacy, and the burgeoning romance she frankly never asked for.

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Review

If you are looking for a fun lovin’ romance novel with an enemies-to-lovers trope, check this one out.

Ellie has come back to this small town to help run the family deli. She has talents in other areas, but family means everything to her. So when the deli is threatened, she does what she needs to do to save it. What she doesn’t expect is to fall in love and find her happily ever after.

Ellie is likable, and we might see something of ourselves in her. She is loyal to her family, but she is still something of a loner with few friends. Her journey in this novel helps her realize that she needs to learn to trust and seek out others that will enrich her life. When she ends up in a fake relationship with Theo (aka Trip from high school), she learns more about herself and what she needs to do to become a better person.

I loved Ellie and Theo’s interactions. It is obvious that they both have trust issues at different times, but they do make a surprisingly fun couple. And their relationship does sizzle at times.

I will admit that it took me some time to get into the groove of the story. But once I did, I enjoyed the banter, deception, and strong family ties. I really liked how Ellie wasn’t afraid to speak her mind, even when she should potentially curb her tongue. Considering who was on the receiving end, it was actually probably a good thing.

I liked Sam and Everett’s characters. I don’t know if they are going to get a book, but maybe they should! Their competitive nature draws them together despite Sam’s desire to get back with Theo.

I enjoyed reading about Ellie’s clothing designs. I am not talented in this area, but reading the descriptions of what she designed for herself allowed me to envision it in my head.

Despite the bumpy start to the book (for me), we give this 4 paws up.

About the Author

Jilly Gagnon is the author of the young adult novel #famous and the suspense novel All Dressed Up. Her work has appeared in Newsweek, Elle, Vanity Fair, The Toast, The Hairpin, The Huffington Post, and McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, among others.

She lives in Salem, Massachusetts, with her two cats. She loves terrible television and well-crafted Manhattans.

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