About the Book

From bestselling author Jennifer Chipman comes a spicy new spinoff of the Best Friends Book Club series, about a boss and assistant who agree to a contractual marriage–all while trying to resist the pull they feel for each other.

It was only supposed to be a contract marriage with my boss…

Zofia Narayan

Being an executive assistant was never a part of my plan–not until Nicolas Larsen practically begged me to be his, insisting I was perfect for the job. Working closely together meant seeing a side of him I’d never seen before, and it was hard to ignore the spark between us. After a year of denying ourselves, we spent one incredible night together, agreeing that nothing would change between us. Except two months later, we’re signing a fake marriage contract. Suddenly, the man who had been my boss for the last year was now my husband. I know I shouldn’t get attached, even though the tender way Nicolas holds me and cares for me doesn’t feel like it’s just for show at all.

Until I’m staring down at two pink lines, and our contract marriage suddenly feels a lot less fake.

Nicolas Larsen

Taking over as the CEO for my father’s company was everything I’d ever worked for. Yet, when the board voiced their concerns that I wasn’t settled and stable enough for the role, I proposed what might have been the craziest scheme of all: asking Zofia to be my wife. I needed her more than I could ever admit: as my assistant, my friend, and my everything. It would all be for show, but I couldn’t help wanting her to wear my ring, to call her mine, even if she never truly would be. I’d take whatever I could get when it came to her, because I wanted more than just one night with Zofia. I wanted forever. I just needed to prove to her that this could work—that we were meant to be together for real.

Review

Unfortunately, Contractually Mine did work for me. The romance lacked chemistry and meaningful relationship development. It was truly hard to invest in Nicholas and Zofia as a couple. I just didn’t see it. From the start, I was already put off by Nicholas asking Zofia to be his assistant. I never fully understood that decision, especially given that she was the head of the HR department. The book didn’t do a great job of selling why being his assistant would be such an upgrade. By the time they got married, they already felt like an established couple; however, it lacked emotional buildup to make their connection feel earned.

Both Nicholas and Zofia felt underdeveloped, though Zofia’s character suffered the most. Her character often felt like a stand-in whose main role was agreeing with whatever Nicholas wanted. She lacked agency, personal direction, and a strong sense of individuality outside the relationship. I also didn’t love how her career storyline turned out because it never felt fully explored or thoughtfully developed. Nicholas, meanwhile, came across as childish and immature more often than charming.

Final Thoughts

Contractually Mine was not the book for me. The story moved way too quickly and relied heavily on tropes without any emotional depth or substance. There were no real stakes or conflicts to keep me invested. When I finished, I felt disappointed and disconnected from the characters and the romance.

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