About the Book

Childhood friends turned high school rivals fall into a small-town fake dating scheme in this sweet, spicy, and utterly irresistible romance from the author of Give Me Butterflies.

Fable Oaks never planned to return to Fern River. But after a string of failures, here she is, living in her parents’ backyard, watching her beloved late grandfather’s A-frame crumble around her. She can't seem to find her direction, and to make matters worse, Theo Nikolaou, her ex-best friend, has also resurfaced, distracting dimples and charming grin in tow.

Theo knew it was only a matter of time before he came back. The demons of his past once drove him to leave, but Fern River always seemed meant to be. So, when Theo’s boss, Arthur, announces he is selling his veterinary practice, it feels like the perfect opportunity. He just needs to show Arthur he’s sticking around for good. And when Fable—Fable, with her smart mouth and sexy curls—quite literally falls into Theo's lap, an idea forms.

If they can convince the town that they're madly in love, it could solve all their problems. Theo can prove to Arthur he's settling down, and Fable can get some much-needed help fixing up the A-frame, a task she is determined to see through.

The only problem is, the more time they spend together, the blurrier the line gets between fake dating and falling hard.

She’s lost her way. He’s finding his path. Together, they might discover there's no place like home.

Review

No Place Like You had an unfortunate slow start, and I had some issues with the reason for Fable and Theo’s friendship ending. Specifically, the event being broadcast nationally and commented on by television news reporters felt a bit much. The one thing that did work was Theo’s part in the incident. More on that later. I’m grateful that I stuck with the book. About midway, the story settled into a strong, engaging pace as Fable and Niko’s relationship deepened.

I especially loved the personal arcs for both characters. Fable's struggles with being the best at everything, and then, once she graduated, not being able to find her footing, felt painfully realistic. As did her losing her grandpa, with whom she was deeply connected. She had to learn to live without, and in turn, she found her passion. The quiet emotional weight was well portrayed through her character. As it is with Theo.

He was haunted by his father’s actions and believed that he didn’t deserve happiness. It was absolutely heartbreaking. His fear of becoming like his father—despite being the complete opposite— and the prominent anger in his youth added depth and vulnerability to his character. Additionally, watching Fable and Niko find their way back to each other in such a beautiful, emotional way made the journey worth it.

I also appreciated that both Fable and Niko had supportive families, and I loved seeing their relationships with their siblings woven into the story. It is worth noting that the minor plot of their families secretly pushing them together and having their own group chat felt too corny to me.

Final Thoughts

Despite the slow beginning, No Place Like You ultimately found its footing and delivered an emotionally rewarding story. The book's strength lies in its deeply personal character arc. While some elements could be too corny, the emotional payoff and characters’ journeys made the book worth it. Thank you to Netgalley for providing this arc! No Place Like You will be released on March 10, 2026