ABOUT THE BOOK
My stepbrother’s estate is fading fast. My resistance to him is fading faster.
When my marriage hits rock bottom, I escape to South Carolina to help my charming disaster of a stepbrother, Charlie—aka “the douchiest man in Manhattan”—fix up the decaying Southern mansion he’s just inherited.
But the house has other ideas. Doors slam, voices whisper, and something—or someone—wants us to be more than reluctant roommates. An old journal confirms it: Charlie and I seem to be mirroring every step of a love story that took place a century ago.
A doomed one.
With every soft moment and stolen glance, it gets harder to imagine ending up with anyone else. But all I’ve ever wanted is a family, and that won’t be happening with a man who once said he’d rather be murdered than father a child.
Our story was written long before we came to this house. But do we still have time to rewrite the way it ends?
MY REVIEW
The stepbrother and stepsister duo with hidden crushes makes a curious yet complex escapade. However, I almost DNF’d this story at first considering the FMC was married, albeit to a horse’s ass, and her desperation to find a man to give her a baby was distressing.
Charlie has known his stepsister for ten years, and the setup of them working together to fix up his recently inherited family home is a great idea. It feels as though this project should be a catalyst for deeper connection. Yet, I wanted Charlie to step up and just take charge and admit his feelings for her.
Maren is married to a douchebag and my heart broke for her need for love. I just couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at her quick pivot to figuring out who she could marry next to have a baby with after making her decision to part ways. It got a bit convoluted, and honestly, it felt like it detracted from the chemistry brewing between her and Charlie.
Ultimately, Charlie and Maren’s journey had so much promise with their undeniable chemistry, but I was left hoping for more. I wanted the story to peel back some layers and dig into their deeper struggles. You know, the kind of stuff that really resonates and keeps you invested. Instead, it lingered on the surface with most of the focus on Maren. The paranormal elements were kind of a letdown. I felt like they were just there to fill space, making the whole thing feel a bit convoluted. And let’s not even talk about that ending! Charlie’s abrupt change of heart felt way too quick and the ending was rushed.
Overall, this book has its charms and can entertain, even if it didn’t fully hit the mark for me. So, grab a cold drink, settle into your favorite spot, and get ready for a read that dances between lighthearted and heavy, even if it stumbles a little along the way.
Thank you to Ms. O’Roark for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
Favorites Series
1 My Favorite Bad Decision (2025)
2 My Favorite Lost Cause (2025)
3 My Favorite Fake Romance (2025)
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Elizabeth O’Roark has a bunch of degrees she does not use and gave up working as a medical writer to craft grumpy, alpha heroes and the flawed women who love them…
When not writing, she likes to spend time with her three kids, who are now teenagers and wish she’d find a different way to spend time. She can be found on Facebook feverishly debating whether or not “Die Hard” is a Christmas movie and telling people to read “The Hating Game”, which she did not write but wishes she had.
Follow Elizabeth on her website, Facebook, and Instagram.
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