The things we do for our loved ones, or even pretend to be doing…

Synopsis

Sometimes, you have to fake it until you make it…

Ros is too busy for a boyfriend; between work and looking after her poorly father, there’s no time left for a relationship. But when she overhears her dad’s dying wish is for her to find love, Ros is determined to make it happen – or at least, make it look like it has.

Enter Cameron, a struggling mature student with a mountain of debt but a zest for life.

Ros, driven by love for her ailing dad, reluctantly agrees to the simple business transaction: paying Cameron to play the role of her boyfriend. Ros meticulously plans their fake relationship – but when Cameron decides to go off-script, chaos ensues.

As Ros and Cameron navigate the ups and downs of their faux romance, their differences drive each other crazy. But they may just need each other more than they think…

My review

Ros and Darla are best friends, even if they are complete opposites. While Ros lives by her flip charts, and doesn’t take any risks at all, Darla goes with the flow, hopping from one job assignment to another. But that is also thanks to her ex, The Wanker, who brought Darla in an awkward position, making her lie to her own parents…But also Ros finds herself lying to her own father. As his health is deteriorating, his greatest worry is that when the time comes, Ros will be on her own. Thus Ros, wanting to see her father happy and unworried, she and Darla come up with the perfect plan: to pay someone to be her boyfriend for the time being. Ros being Ros, plans everything to perfection, but Cameron, the man playing the boyfriend – part, quickly starts to go unscripted, making Ros freaking out the longer their pretence is going on. Meanwhile Darla’s latest job as a pet sitter turns out to be more challenging than expected. And the neighbour of her temporarily residence is only added more fuel to her frustrations…

Often in books we read how parents would do anything for their children. But often the feelings are reciprocated, and children would do anything for the happiness of their parents. Well, mostly adult children would, as I know for sure that adolescents have a mind of their own 😊

And in this book, we see how Ros would do anything for her dad… Her dad means the world to her, and his illness broke her heart. She enjoys every moment she has with Barry, even if she never stops worrying about him.

For years it has been just Barry and Ros, bringing father and daughter even closer. The love between the two is just so palpable…

While lying to your loved ones is never a good idea, I couldn’t blame Ros in her case… if with such a small white lie, she could put a smile on her father’s face, and it would make him stop worrying about her, why not?

Now, of course I truly liked Ros for that, but I have to admit, in other aspects, Ros would be occasionally frustrating me. Not that she is a bad person, but she keeps just everyone at distance. Once again, in one way I could understand her. Because her mother leaving Barry and Ros behind, why wouldn’t Ros have commitment issues? But on the other hand, she keeps everyone at such a huge distance… I know that you cannot be friends with every one of your colleagues, but if I wouldn’t have any friends at my work, interact with any of them, I would go totally crazy…

But back to the story… Luckily Ros has a great friend in Darla. Even in friendships, the rule that opposites attract is applicable. And it’s thanks to Darla that the perfect plan for Barry’s happiness come up. And that in the shape of Cameron.

Initially I thought there was a big age gap between the two, as Cameron is a student while Ros is already building a career. So I was happy to read that there was a logical explanation for it, not turning it into something creepy! 😊

Just like with Darla, Cameron is Ros’s complete opposite. He doesn’t play by Ros her rules, and it was hilarious and sweet at the same time!

Ros’s character would force her to plan everything beforehand, playing safe in every possible aspect. And Cameron not following any of her plans or rules, was the best thing that could happen to Ros!

We see obviously Ros getting frustrating and angry over Cameron’s behaviour, but we also see the influence Cameron has over Ros. And how well he fits in Ros’s life, and how he gets everyone’s approval, Barry’s and Gazza’s included!

Of course their (fake) relationship is one filled with trial and error, but the evolution of that relationship was just wonderful to read!

And then there is Darla… she is the kind of friend that will always have your back. But her life is in turmoil, as her ex – boyfriend for sure pulled a number on her and leaving her in a financial disaster…

It saddened me to read how someone that is supposed to love you, to be your partner can deceive you and abandon you when the net is closing in… With Darla only having two option, defeat or fight back, I was proud of her choosing the latter, even if she also was lying to her parents, for not showing how bad things are going…

But that also means that Darla has to take several jobs to pay of the debts. Bringing her in the situation she finds herself in, a pet – sitting job that isn’t exactly turning out to be what she thought it would be!

And that is for the readers the best thing! Because her struggling is not only with the animals, but brings her clashing several times with her neighbour Elliott.

But it’s in time of need that you see one’s real character. And while he may seem grumpy, and mock Darla, Elliott delivers when Darla needs help.

I found this a hilarious but at the same time a heart – warming book. We do not only see children wanting to protect their parents and not let them worry about their offspring. But we also see how two lovely characters are trying to find a way in their lives, messed ones or not. We see real friendship, but we also see how meeting a person can make you evolve, mature and see things in a different perspective.

This book is filled with love, strength, courage and friendship. This was absolutely an amazing story written by a wonderful author!