I love a book that makes me laugh, and this one did often! A Not So Meet Cute by Meghan Quinn is a romantic comedy about two people who strike an unusual business deal. This is the first time I’ve read a book by Quinn, though her works have been on my radar for a long time. I was drawn to this one by the fake fiancé mention in the blurb and the modern day take on Pretty Woman, and it delivered.

The story opens with Lottie sitting in her boss/best friend’s office being fired. Why she is being fired is the real knife to the heart moment here though: her contract stipulates it’s time for a pay raise, and why raise her pay when they can hire someone to do the job for less? This was a rock bottom moment for Lottie. Her friendship has always been toxic, something she’s come to recognize over the last year working with her, and as a result there is a lot of shame Lottie feels for allowing herself to be in the situation. During a moment of drunken weakness, Lottie takes to the streets to find herself a rich husband.

Then enters Huxley Cane. Hux is a billionaire businessman, used to getting whatever he wants, especially in business deals. When a particular client passes on his proposal and needs time to think, Huxley doesn’t react well. And then he runs into the client and his pregnant fiancé, and before Hux can think of the consequences he claims to have the same. The problem lies in the fact he has neither. To save face, he comes up with a harebrained plan that is clearly doomed before it begins.

I really liked these characters. Lottie is bold in most things, stubborn to a fault, and fiercely loyal. She hates the position she has found herself in as lying is not something that comes easily, but how can she say no to Huxley when in return he is paying off her student loan debt. Huxley grew on me. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about him. He’s quite grumpy and standoffish to begin with, but when he opens up and allows Lottie to see the real him, the man who knows how to relax, I was head over heels for him. The banter is spot on. As they find common ground and Hux removes the stick from his nether regions, I found myself rooting for them to succeed.

I chose to listen to this one, and I am so glad I did. The narrators are fantastic, I loved the life they brought to the characters. I don’t typically listen to romance because sex scenes make me blush while reading them. You can imagine my reaction while listening. Pretty sure you could cook eggs on my face