Hi fellow readers, what’s one bookish thing that makes you deeply happy?

Comment your answer below

For me it’s receiving an ARC of a book I really want to read. I can feel happiness radiating in me when this happens.

When I saw that Sonia Hartl, the author of Heartbreak for Hire, is going to release a new book in August this 2023 called Rent to Be, I immediately hit the request button on NetGalley. Thank you Thai and Alcove Press for approving my request!

So now let’s talk about this romantic comedy book.

What is Rent to Be About?

Isla Jane has no place to live. She goes to her brother Seb’s condo because he is out of the country. But it’s not empty because his brother’s best friend Cade Greenley is staying there while his own condo is getting renovated.

She is house-sitting for one of the executives at her workplace until Cade spots her sunbathing and she reveals she can’t pay rent. She agrees to act as Cade’s girlfriend for his work events in exchange for Cade keeping her secret from her family. So begins the fake dating.

Rent to Be Review

I had no idea that Rent to Be has a fake dating aspect until I was reading it. And I love fake dating romance books! So I was deeply happy when I was reading it.

Sonia Hartl + fake dating = me a happy reader

Is it spicy?
Rent to Be is definitely spicy. My problem with hot and spicy books is I cannot read it continuously because I cannot handle the hotness and spiciness. There are a lot of hot and spice scenes here so it took me a while to finish this book.

This book reminds me of… Mr Wrong Number by Lynn Painter. It’s because of the little sister and brother’s best friend have a thing for each other part. And the brother and brother’s best friend live at the same place. But in Rent to Be, Cade lives at Seb’s place temporarily.

Is it a slow burn?
This is not a slow burn. At least for me. I didn’t have to wait to get to the second half part of the book to read exciting scenes. They were scattered all over the book.

Chapter one is already exciting. Thank you Sonia Hartl for delivering.

Am I satisfied with the ending?
It’s ok. Usual ending for a romance comedy.

Topics covered: issues with parents, financially struggling in life, making a new friend, childhood friends to lovers, fake dating, having a job you don’t like, having a job you enjoy.

What I didn’t like:
I didn’t like the author taking too much page time (screen time for books) to describe elements that are not necessary for me. Since this is just an ARC, I don’t think I can share the paragraphs written by Sonia Hartl to show my point.

Isla is house-sitting, right? Sonia Hartl describes the houses too much. I don’t care about the houses. Two or three sentences can suffice to describe the houses that don’t contribute to Isla and Cade’s love story.

I’m reading a romance comedy. I don’t care about what the houses look like.

Do I recommend this?
If you love reading fast burn and fake dating romance books, you will love Rent to Be! I must warn you though, it’s really hot and spicy.

It’s still February but you have to mark your calendar. Rent to Be’s publication date is on August 15, 2023.

The post Rent to Be by Sonia Hartl Review appeared first on Bookaholic Belle.