Publisher: Harlequin Trade Publishing, June 7th, 2022

Format: ebook

Pages: 336

Rating: 5/5 stars

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Natalie Caña turns up the heat, humor and heart in this debut rom-com about a Puerto Rican chef and an Irish American whiskey distiller forced into a fake engagement by their scheming octogenarian grandfathers.

Kamilah Vega is desperate to convince her family to update their Puerto Rican restaurant and enter it into the Fall Foodie Tour. With the gentrification of their Chicago neighborhood, it’s the only way to save the place. The fly in her mofongo–her blackmailing abuelo says if she wants to change anything in his restaurant, she’ll have to marry the one man she can’t stand: his best friend’s grandson.

Liam Kane spent a decade working to turn his family’s distillery into a contender. Now he and his grandfather are on the verge of winning a national competition. Then Granda hits him with a one-two punch: he has cancer and he has his heart set on seeing Liam married before it’s too late. And Granda knows just the girl…Kamilah Vega.

If they refuse, their grandfathers will sell the building that houses both their businesses. With their futures on the line, Kamilah and Liam plan to outfox the devious duo, faking an engagement until they both get what they want. But soon, they find themselves tangled up in more than either of them bargained for. 

My Review:

Read if you like: fake dating, enemies to lovers.
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Kamilah and Liam’s grandfathers are best friends and the two grew up together as their families also have businesses in the same building. Kamilah wants to upgrade her family restaurant and Liam is working hard to make sure his family’s distillery wins a competition. But when their grandfathers insist they get married or they’ll sell the building, they acquiesce to their request, hoping they will eventually find a way out of the scheme.
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This book was super cute and fun. I loved the characters and their development, the romance, and the pacing was quick. I really loved it!
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CW: sexual content, racism, sexism, cancer, drowning, death of a parent and spouse.