Lights. Camera…Showmance!
From the moment Cleo met Lockie, her infuriatingly charming co-casting producer on hit reality show Welcome to Singledom, he’s been getting under her skin. Their job? Casting singles for the ultimate island romance. Their problem? They can’t agree on anything.
Now, the cameras are ready to roll, and the contestants—well, most of them—are en route. But when the threat of a tropical storm delays half the cast, launch night turns into a total disaster. With no Plan B, Cleo and Lockie are forced to step in as contestants. Just for 24 hours until the real stars arrive.
Simple, right? Except tensions are sky-high and sparks are flying for all the wrong reasons! All they have to do is couple-up and get voted off – but there’s a storm coming, so leaving the island might not be so easy. Cleo’s used to pulling strings behind the scenes, not falling headfirst into the drama.
But when the cameras stop rolling, will their fake fling fade with the credits—or could it be Cleo’s most unexpected plot twist yet?
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My Review
This is a warm, witty rom-com that delivers exactly the kind of escapism her readers have come to love. Set within the glossy, overproduced world of reality dating television, the novel cleverly pulls back the curtain on manufactured romance while still indulging in all its most entertaining tropes.
Cleo is very much a behind-the-scenes heroine—a capable fixer who values structure and control—making her forced on-screen pairing with Lockie, a charming yet infuriating co-producer, an inspired clash of personalities. Their dynamic begins with sharp banter and competitive tension, and when unforeseen circumstances push them into pretending to be contestants, the story fully embraces fake dating and forced proximity to great effect.
MacIntosh’s trademark humor shines throughout, landing in quick observations and throwaway lines that feel effortless and knowing. The island setting offers breezy escapism without overwhelming the story, allowing the focus to remain on character interaction and romantic development. Cleo feels refreshingly human, while Lockie fits the rom-com mold of a flawed hero learning as he goes.
Light, charming, and comfortably familiar, this is an enjoyable, fast-paced read that will particularly appeal to fans of workplace romance, enemies-to-lovers dynamics, and reality TV–inspired stories.
My Rating
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