About the Book

He swore never to fall for a city girl again. She's on a mission to charm his small town.

MATT BECKER is stretched thin. Running his flower shop solo is a full-time job, but now he’s also tasked with caring for his teenage sister while their parents are away. With her expensive new school draining his savings, Matt’s barely keeping his head above water. He needs money—and fast.

Groomed to inherit her father’s hotel empire, ZOEY DELACROIX is finally poised to take the reins. But first, she must convince shareholders she’s got what it takes and silence her own doubts. Her plan? Secure a piece of land in the town where her father once failed. Falling for a local? Definitely not part of it.

When a crucial town vote spirals into disaster and her reputation takes a hit, Zoey finds an unexpected lifeline: Matt. He suggests a fake relationship to win back the town’s favor in exchange for a spot in her small business investment program. It’s strictly business… until it isn’t. Matt never expected the spoiled city girl to fit so easily into his world. And Zoey never questioned the future set for her until she began picturing a life that looked a lot more like his.

As lines blur and real feelings get tangled in their fake romance, Matt and Zoey must find the nerve to rewrite their future or risk losing the one thing they never saw coming: a shot at love.

In this cozy small-town romance where The Holiday meets Gilmore Girls, HOAX AND KISSES explores the path to self-discovery and the unexpected connections that bloom along the way. Steamy and soul-stirring, this story is a tribute to the kind of love that sneaks up on you and never lets go.

Review

I severely enjoyed Hoax and Kisses. A fake dating romance that feels charming, heartwarming, and cozy. Colliard’s writing was beautiful, and I had to stop often to admire what I had read. It was clean and flowery in the right places. This book has easily been engraved in my heart and is by far one of my favorite contemporary romances this year.

Matt and Zoey were perfect in every way. From getting off on a rocky foot to becoming each other’s everything, I enjoyed every moment of their story. Zoey, a character who has been conditioned to please her father and hide her true self, and Matt, a character who loves his sweet sister with all his heart and has been living in the dark, have so much depth. Zoey, especially. She’s such a complex character, with a beautiful transformation in the book. A character-defining moment for her was her final interaction with her father. It was such a full-circle moment when she confronted him.

At first, I was skeptical of Matt. His behavior was questionable, especially at the first town hall meeting. It was rude of him to call her out in front of everyone. Yes, he had a bad interaction with her dad, but he did not know her. He was unfairly judging her from the jump. Matt did eventually redeem himself by being sweet, protective, and there for Zoey.

One of my favorite moments between them was when Matt told Zoey he’d be her support system. I found that incredibly sweet, and I swear I had to wipe a few tears. For years, Zoey only had her cold father. I also loved how great Zoey was with Daphne, Matt’s sister. Daphne was another great character. A subplot in the book was about Matt and Daphne’s mom's incompetence in handling Daphne’s autism. Daphne had support from her father and her older brother; however, her mom didn’t know how to handle it. Daphne deserved better, and the side plot is wrapped up with their mom trying.

The one tiny complaint I have is that I didn’t love the book ending. It felt a little too perfect and convenient, very Hallmark movie about a small town. Don’t get me wrong, I loved what became of the land, but I didn’t love how it was obtained. With a few more town interactions, the end gesture would have packed a stronger punch.

Final Thoughts

Although Hoax and Kisses has some flaws, it was, for the most part, an enjoyable read, a charming fake dating romance set in a small, cozy town. Zoey’s the standout in this one, with her self-discovery journey feeling beautiful and authentic. I'm excited to dive into Elodie Colliard's catalogue to discover more gems.

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