December 1, 2023
DEBUT After losing her job at a prestigious Houston event-planning company and breaking up with her long-time boyfriend, Amerie Price is trying to launch a solo venture and has absolutely no time for romantic complications. But when her ex and his new girlfriend show up at Amerie's favorite coffee shop, a random coffee-drinker (who happens to be very cute with a chiseled jawline) makes a convenient fake boyfriend. Vincent Price, a NASA astronaut, gamely plays along with Amerie's scheme in the moment, but she's shocked when he suggests they continue the ruse until he blasts off for a six-month mission to space. Vincent's meddling family is concerned they'll lose him, and Vincent hopes that having a doting (fake) girlfriend will help soothe their worries about his upcoming mission. Plus, Amerie can move into his apartment, leaving her free to focus on her new business, not making rent. What Amerie doesn't plan on is truly falling for the secretly sweet Vincent. VERDICT Easton's debut is perfect for readers seeking romance with excellent character development and STEM at its center. It's a good read-alike for Denise Williams and Ali Hazelwood.--Elizabeth Gabriel
Copyright 2023 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
February 1, 2024
An event planner and an astronaut fake a relationship for the holiday season in this romance debut. Amerie Price has a lot on her plate. Her relationship recently ended, she was let go from her job, and she's trying not to let her worries about her parents' health overwhelm her. To add even more stress, Amerie is trying to get her own event-planning business off the ground and is desperately searching for her first client. Vincent Rogers is an astronaut, which in Houston feels almost like a pickup line, but he's genuine...except for the fact that he's been lying for months to his family about having a girlfriend. Vincent and Amerie first meet at a coffee shop when she spills caramel latte all over him. Then, luckily, he turns up at the coffee shop again just in time to help her save face. Her ex is there with his new girlfriend, so Amerie, thinking quickly, introduces Vincent as her new boyfriend. Then Vincent's sister shows up, and when he introduces Amerie as the girlfriend he's mentioned, Amerie impulsively says she'd be happy to attend the family's black-tie New Year's Eve party. Amerie has no intention of going, but Vincent offers to make it worth her while by letting her live rent-free in his extra bedroom for a few months so she can save up money for her new business. Vincent's contacts could also prove useful to Amerie in building a roster of clients. All she has to do is play the part of his doting girlfriend until the new year. Amerie is snarky and acerbic in the best way, softening up in the face of Vincent's more cheerful, golden retriever-like energy. Amerie and Vinent's romance is quite a slow burn, and sometimes their communication styles and personalities feel disconnected. The space industry in Houston is a fun setting, though, leading to delightful space puns and general nerdery. A lively debut with a charming community setting and a slightly drawn-out slow-burn romance.
COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
March 15, 2024
In this adorable debut romance novel, Amerie Price runs into her red flag of an ex and his new girlfriend at her favorite Houston coffee shop. To make the situation even worse, she doesn't want to admit that she's a struggling event planner so broke she may lose her apartment as she attempts to put her life back together after using the last of her savings to pay for her mother's medical treatments. And then she spills coffee on a handsome stranger. But her luck turns when Amerie is able to convince this gentleman to pretend to be her new boyfriend. The thing is, Vincent Rogers is more than just a handsome face. He's an astronaut and he needs a fake girlfriend for his family commitments leading up to his next mission in three months. To clinch the deal, he offers her a rent-free room so she can save money to get her business back on track. Easton has created unique and lovable characters and a clever setup in this sweet, funny, and spicy fake-dating romance.
COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
April 8, 2024
Fake dating and Black joy animate Easton’s adorable debut. Houston event planner Amerie “Mimi” Price feels like her life is falling apart when she is fired from her job and left without a place to live after her boyfriend, Derrick, dumps her. Unwilling to burden her aging parents with her financial hardships, she doesn’t know where to turn. An unexpected solution arises after she spills coffee on Vincent Rogers, a quick-witted astronaut and all-around good guy. When this disastrous first meeting is interrupted by Derrick and his new girlfriend, a panicked Mimi lies and claims Vincent is her new man. Vincent goes along with the charade and asks Mimi if she wouldn’t mind keeping it up in front of his overly invested family in the months leading to his upcoming space mission. In exchange, Mimi can move in to the spare room in Vincent’s house. This fake dating scheme morphs into a cute, chuckle-worthy slow-burn romance. Easton takes her time building comfort and trust between the leads, making their love affair feel cozy and grounded, even as the plot around them moves at a fast clip. Easton is a writer to watch. Agent: Jem Chambers-Black, Andrea Brown Literary Agency.