AmeliaKoen
For 23-year-old Emma Felter, post-college life was supposed to be a smooth ascent up the corporate ladder at a bustling design and marketing firm. But a single wedding invitation from her high school best friend threatens to derail everything, dragging her back into a world she swore she'd left behind. Among her old friend group, where "best life" is a competitive sport, Emma swore she'd never stoop to lying. Until the conversation turns to perfect boyfriends and fiancés, and a desperate "Of course, I have a boyfriend" tumbles out-the biggest lie of her life.
Meanwhile, 32-year-old Peyton Thatcher stands at the pinnacle of his meticulously crafted empire. Everything is precisely where it should be-until his mother issues an ultimatum: find a girlfriend, or she'll find one for him. His plan is simple: a convenient arrangement to appease her. But a snap lunch date means he needs a 'girlfriend' now.
When Emma's panicked lie unexpectedly aligns with Peyton's urgent need, a fabricated romance begins. What starts as a convenient pact to satisfy demanding friends and an insistent mother quickly spirals into something more, forcing them to confront the painful truths they've both tried to outrun. As their fake relationship blurs the lines between pretense and passion, Emma and Peyton must decide if a bond born of desperation can truly become the love of a lifetime-or if their carefully constructed charade is destined to shatter, exposing their deepest fears.
Artwork on the cover by the amazing Annelle Illustrations on Instagram!