To find someone unexpected to rely on

Synopsis

From the outside, Olivia Macomb looks like she leads a charmed life. She’s an up-and-coming influencer who is an heir to the Macomb family fortune, and about to start a lifestyle brand with her childhood sweetheart, Jeff. Then her world gets blown apart by her longtime boyfriend leaving her the morning of their website launch. Not only has he left, but the business she created is all in his name and she’s been left with nothing to show for all her hard work. Now she has to pick up the pieces and find out who she is on her own.

Enter Walker Vinton, the indie pop star who used to date Olivia’s close friend, Paige. When their school throws a big event, Paige asks Walker to be Olivia’s date to give to the gossip bloggers something else to talk about other than Olivia’s broken dreams.

Walker ends up coming to Olivia’s rescue in more ways than one at the party, and a twist of events leads to the two embarking on a fake relationship. Walker and Olivia wind up becoming best friends and she realizes he’s the boyfriend of her dreams. 

He helps her build both her brand and her self-esteem back up. Walker even helps her start a new business. However, the lines begin to blur as Olivia’s feelings for Walker are very real. The two share intimate conversations and dreams, but what’s real and what’s fake in this starry world?

My review

Olivia Macomb was so close to have it all. Not only is she the heir to the Macomb family fortune, but she is also gaining success as an influencer. Until her boyfriend and childhood sweetheart Jeff not only decides to break up with her, but also taking the business that they have been building together and was ready to launch with him. Now it’s up to her to pick up the pieces of her broken heart, and show people who she truly is. If only she knew that herself… The last thing she needs, is the pity of people or them having gossiping about her. So when her school throws a party, Olivia’s best friend Paige ask her former boyfriend and rising indie popstar Walker Vinton to be Olivia’s date, to let everyone see that Olivia isn’t pining over Jeff. But there is more to Walker than Olivia initially thought, and she for sure didn’t expect Walker to become close friends. And when Walker helps Olivia out on several occasions, they don’t stop the rumours of them being an item. The more their pretend continues, the more Olivia realizes that her feelings for Walker aren’t only pretend. But Walker cannot possibly feel the same about plain Olivia, right?

This lovely authors writes stories that perhaps are for a younger public than that I am, but that doesn’t mean that I cannot enjoy reading them.

Olivia in this book for sure shows her age. And I mean this in the kindest possible way. She still has this innocence over her, not having experienced yet how the real world works, and that in some matters, people don’t always play nice.

But at the start of this book, she learns already that valuable lesson. And it was so understandable why she is so taken aback by Jeff’s actions, and how it dented her own confidence. Who wouldn’t feel betrayed in her situation? And who wouldn’t feel just like Olivia, not knowing who is genuine and who not.

Not only now is her confidence down, but by being an influencer, and a well – known heir, whatever she does or doesn’t, is seen by everyone. Everyone that has an opinion ready to share. And that angered me, because yes, everyone has freedom of speech, but often we forget that when we spill our guts about someone, it can and will hurt that person.

Olivia for sure finds it difficult to let it all go, and all those gossiping literally behind her back don’t help. Luckily she has her friends that have her best interest at heart, and living in that same world, they are ready to help Olivia however they can.

And that is how Walker enters Olivia’s life. Not that he is a complete stranger, as their paths have crossed before, him being Paige’s ex.

I have to admit that I didn’t have this great opinion of Walker, as I knew him from a previous book in this series. But I also knew that Walker would get his redemption in this book. And he for sure proved me right!

What perhaps started as a favour, quickly evolves to something more, something more important.

It was sweet to see how Walker is able to not only help Olivia in several occasions, but he is also able to see who the real Olivia is. He sees who Olivia truly is, and doesn’t want to change her in any way. He isn’t ashamed or feels awkward with her around, he truly enjoys being around her.

And we also see a complete other side of Walker. He is clearly showing the public a façade, and he doesn’t let anyone see his own doubts, fears and turmoil.

Seeing the relationship between Olivia and Walker evolve was just amazing. Olivia and Walker in this book start a bit awkwardly, but slowly, they not only help each other, they understand each other in ways that nobody ever did. They also make each other understand that it’s their lives and that they should not let anyone dictate them or pull them in a direction they don’t feel comfortable with.

When Olivia starts to understand that what she feels for Walker is more than just pretend, it is normal that she doesn’t know what to do. They have established a connection, yet she doesn’t want to break the friendship that has become so important to her. And most important, how could someone like Walker, who could get any girl in the world, could possible feel the same for her?

And it saddened me, because of course Olivia is a great person, and why shouldn’t Walker fall for someone like her? Olivia has a lot to work on in this book, and with Walker’s help, she slowly understands herself and dares to stand on her own two feet.

Of course there are several ups and downs in this book, just it is in real life. But there is also an innocence in it, that fits perfectly the characters. Yet that innocence doesn’t diminish the level of seriousness the characters go through.

I absolutely enjoyed reading this next chapter in a series that perhaps is far from my own world, yet managed to grasp the issues and struggles of life, but also the good and the hopefulness and warmth of it perfectly.