Friends help each other out, even by faking

Synopsis

One romantic getaway. Two friends. Seven days just pretending…

When Nina Copeland’s mates try to match her with the guy next door, she needs a plan. Because Matthew’s just a friend, and Nina has a secret she doesn’t want him to discover – not until she’s tidied her messy life.

After his divorce, physics teacher Matthew Gilchrist has kept his heart locked safely away. So why do people keep pushing him to date his chirpy neighbour? He and Nina are fine just as friends. Aren’t they?

Nina hatches a solution to get everyone off their backs: fake a relationship at a family reunion, then stage a break-up so life can go back to normal. What could go wrong?

Stuck together at a romantic highland lodge, new feelings lure them out of the friend zone. But if love is to find a way in, Nina must confront her past, and Matthew put his heart on the line.

My review

Nina Copeland may seem to have it all, but looks can be deceiving. With a famous brother, she is more used to people getting close to her because of him and not because they are actually interested in Nina.
With her real friends all finding their own happiness, Nina feels more alone and lonely than ever. But luckily she can always count on her neighbour for a chat, and why not, to make her garden look better again.
But Matthew Gilchrist is not the same man after his divorce… He does not want to start dating again, even if everyone around him is pressuring him.
So when Matthew is going to the annual reunion, Nina comes up with the perfect plan: to fake a relationship, to get everyone of their backs. What could possibly go wrong?
But in the romantic setting in the Highlands, are their feelings shifting to something deeper? Can there grow something between these friends, even if Nina has a past she is afraid to confront? 

When I started reading this book, I was all set for a funny, sweet and romantic escape, for both the main characters, but also for myself.
Yet the more I got into the book, I realized that while indeed this was a wonderful romance, it also handled some more serious issues, like the ones Nina is facing, but also Matthew… 

First of all, there is Nina. It may seem that she has it all, and doesn’t (need to) work, but when we take a closer look at her life, we can see that things aren’t that easy for her.
It saddened me on several occasions to see how people come to her only because she is ‘the sister of…’ and not because they want to know Nina for who she really is.
And I also felt that her own friends don’t understand her, it even frustrated me how they somehow didn’t see Nina’s true emotions, the turmoil she was and still is going through.
Plus the problem she got into because she felt useless, made It even more clearer that she is a young woman who doesn’t know how she fits in life, despite/ thanks to the help of her brother. 

Now, it may seem that Nina is a very dark character, but the opposite is true. Yes, she obviously is still having several issues, but she is also a very bright persona.
Because of her volunteering, she has learnt to listen to people around her, and even hear things that are not being said. That lakes her able to understand people better, and even offer help in several occasions, by making them see what they are not seeing. 

She is also a great friend, especially to Matthew. Yes, she had a huge crush on him years ago, but could you blame her?
But that’s not the point… she truly cares about Matthew in a genuine way, she wants to help him, even if that means to be in a fake relationship with him.
And slowly she is able to let Matthew understand that he truly is an amazing man, no matter what his ex said. 

Because Matthew truly is amazing, even if he is a bit awkward at moments! My heart broke when his story was being told, how his hideous ex managed to turn him into an insecure boy, doubting himself in every possible way…
Even at moments he makes a total fool out of himself, I couldn’t stop liking him. His awkwardness touched a soft spot in my heart and no matter what he did or say, he is the kind of guy who can be easily forgiven, because he is just so real… 

Nina and Matthew have very different backgrounds, but that doesn’t stop them from being more than just friendly neighbours. They are the kind of friends that can count on each other no matter what, they will always have each other’s’ back, even if that means going on a family reunion fake – dating. 

And that is what frustrated me in this book… because these two characters are just perfect for each other. hey are what the other person needs. But why does it take so damn long before they finally see that??? 😊
If even Matthew’s family can see that, why can’t they? 

I have to say, Thistle Lodge sounds so amazing. Of course there is the setting, in the Highlands, it already made me dream away. But no matter how great a setting is, it’s mainly the company that can make or break the whole reunion.
And Matthew’s family for sure is a gem, each member adds an ‘amazingness’ to this story in their unique way!  

Reading this story was not only great, but it went even beyond. It was marvellous to see how these broken main characters, who already have each other’s back, discover that together they could find their inner peace, and chase away their demons.
And with the both of them being so caring and understanding, they truly and absolutely deserve every inch of happiness, together. 

This book was funny, hilarious, romantic but also bittersweet at moments. It was the perfect mishmash that made me finish it way too quickly as I just couldn’t put it away!