Two friends. One bed. A big Italian Wedding.Nico Amato is in trouble.He’s in love with his roommate. Who’s hung up on his ex.This so isn’t part of his summer plans. Luke’s an all-American jock, a jeans and t-shirt kind of guy. The kind of guy who thinks Nico is too much.That doesn’t stop Nico from pretending to be Luke’s boyfriend, once, twice, thrice . . .A friend does what a friend does to make … thrice . . .
A friend does what a friend does to make an ex jealous.
Just . . . How many favors before Luke gives up on his ex?
Lucas DeRosa has a problem.
His roommate pushes every one of his buttons. Every. Damn. One.
This so isn’t part of the script. Nico is flamboyant, a tight jeans/purple blazer kind of guy. The kind of guy who thinks Lucas is boring.
That doesn’t stop Luke from pretending to be Nico’s boyfriend again, and again, and again . . .
A friend does what a friend does to repay a favor.
Just . . . How many favors before he wins Nico’s heart?
“Better Be True” is a roommates to lovers, fake-boyfriend, slow burn M/M romance with a HEA. This New Adult, college, opposite attract novel can be read as a standalone. The Harrison Campus series can be read in any order
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They had me at hello. I loved the Jerry Cruise and Tom McGuire conversation that Nico and Luke had. In fact, I enjoyed all of their banter.
It’s unfortunate that Nico and Luke were brought together as a result of their recent breakups. Who knew they were gonna be exactly what the other needed? As much as I liked Nico and Luke, I despised Tomas and Kent. Tomas faded into oblivion, and seeing Kent get his comeuppance was incredibly satisfying. Needless to say that this book has a HEA.
As it’s predecessors, this book was well written. I sat down and read it in one sitting. I tried to go to bed at 1 am, when I was at 80%, but I just picked it back up and finished it off. No way could I have waited until morning to find out what happened! I can always take a nap. Anyways…I love how the storyline progress in this series. YES, it is a slow burn, but at no time was I frustrated about it. It fits so effortlessly into the story that it’s natural. I’m as invested in their relationship, as they are, by the time they do the deed.
Can I give a shout out to Nonna? She’s feisty, and I’m here for it. I wish I could’ve sicced her on Kent. Nico channeled her a few times, when dealing with the dumb jerk.
This is book three, and while we do see Isaiah and Darren again, this book can easily stand in its own. For a feel-good, low angst, high humor, and fun read, I’d definitely recommend this book. If you have the time, I recommend the entire series. Reading in order isn’t necessary, but it could enhance your experience. Book one is connected to book two, but not book three, and book three is connected to book two. Connected, but not dependent.
***Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure. A review wasn’t a requirement. ***
They both have some business to do in Philadelphia, Nico promised to plan his sisters’ wedding and Luke follows an internship.
Two guys, both dumped by their ex-boyfriends, are willing to share a one-bedroom apartment, just for three months. Also, they do each other a favor by pitching in now and then, as fake boyfriends.
They get along very well. Nico doesn’t want to get involved with another jock and Luke can’t seem to block his ex’ Kent, who keeps popping in at unwanted moments. Ugh.
Even after some hot encounters that name still is spoken out loud. Nico is already too invested, he has to quit this, it hurts too much.
Pinpricks of hurt are palpable throughout this story. Hurt brought by others about who or what they are or shouldn’t be. It dimmed someone’s sparkling personality or feel inferior.
I’m always amazed by stories with a lot of conversations, here we have a lot of enjoyable ones.
Nico his Italian family and their delicious family bakery business was a more than wonderful and entertaining addition to this story.
The storytelling was engaging, Nico and Luke were well-characterized, sweet, and lovable, the plot well thought out. Altogether a lovely story.
4.5 stars. A good start to the book as Nico’s sister is in a mad panic about getting married. Its not a secret I love this series everyone of them is fantastic.
I loved the texting messages to the build up meeting. There first actual meeting wasn’t a good but and arwkquid second meet was kinda funny for them both.
The next 3 months for them would be interesting. The bad case of the Ex’s between then especially Kent kept showing up for Luke.
• fake boy-friend
• hot sexy scenes
• laugh-out-loud moments
• secrets or little white lies from Italian family members.
A great ending for the finish. This one got the feelings going with characters both good and bad.
Nico was with his boyfriend, Tomas of 3 months until the dreaded talk.. A favor to his sister to help with wedding plans he goes to Philly.
Luke has broken up with boyfriend and was in a stumped situation with an apartment room
Nico and Luke are roommates. Nico is out there, wild, and flamboyant. Luke is the opposite, he’s a jeans wearing kind of guy. They get a long surprisingly well being so different. I love how they muddy the waters by pretending to be boyfriends. I loved the close proximity of roommates, the slow burn, and fake boyfriends. This a super sweet, cute story. I am sorry the series is ending. I really enjoyed it.
I am voluntarily leaving a review form an ARC that I was gifted by the authors. My reviews are solely based on my thoughts and opinions.
I really enjoyed this book! Fake boyfriends and only one bed!! Need I say more?!
I adored Nico and Luke. They are total opposites with amazing chemistry.
They hit it off right from the start. It’s a great slow burn and I loved Nico’s family, especially his sister. The only thing that irked me a bit was the misunderstanding near the end but overall it was a cute and fun read.
This is written in dual POV and can be read as a standalone. I love Anyta Sunday’s works but Andy Gallo was a pleasant surprise. I definitely plan to check out the previous books in the series. Definitely recommend this one!
*ARC provided by the author via A Novel Take PR in exchange for an honest and unbiased review
I am a HUGE Anyta Sunday fan, and now I can add Andy Gallo to that list!
This book was awesome. I have a bad habit of starting in the middle of series, but honestly that didn’t take away from anything. I got a brief look into a previous book, but it was so minor that I don’t think it will spoil anything when I go back and read it.
I am discovering a love for the trope opposites attract. Poor Nico has been walked all over, and made to feel like who he is is so over the top that he is unlovable. Lucas is just getting out of a terrible relationship with a no good man, who screwed him over, and now he needs a roommate for the summer pronto!
Even though both are starting with some really terrible miscommunication, a misunderstanding, and a general case of stereotyping, they are ultimately brought together by a single bed, a terrible case of faulty amazon shipping, and some major attraction.
This was super cute, super fun, and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series!
Thanks you to the authors and A Novel Take PR team for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are entirely my own.
Best of the series so far! And so very sweet and full of heart and humour. Nico and Luke have a slow bun, opposites-attract romance that has an incredible build up. The writing and pacing are exceptional, so much so that I was almost jumping out of my skin watching them slowly fall for each other. There is angst, but it’s fairly low, and more in the nature of “please, can they finally just be together already”. I absolutely loved it!
Edited 12/30/20 to add my comments on the audiobook:
Audio review:
Performance – 5
Story – 5
Overall – 5
This might be my favorite of the series!
Nick J. Russo once again gave a captivating performance of this third story in the Harrison Campus series.
Original review below:
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Another fantastic book from this duo!
I have loved every book in this series. While each of them totally stands alone, I’ve been looking forward to Nico’s story since I finished Better Have Heart. This is a nice slow-burn story but once things heat up it gets very sexy!
Both Nico and Luke, unbeknownst to each other, are insecure about their appeal as boyfriends. Nico has been told that he’s too much: too flamboyant, too out there, too much on display. He likes wearing colorful outfits but after his last boyfriend told him he was too much he decides to tone things down a bit. Luke has also been told he’s too…: too boring, too steady, too organized. His last boyfriend dropped him for someone more exciting – and rich.
I love the fake-boyfriend trope and this is a really good one. I felt bad for Nico that he thought he had to change his personal style in order to be more appealing as a boyfriend. Luke found him attractive when he was dressed as his usual colorful self but he never really tells Nico that (which puzzled me just a bit).
You know that it’s inevitable for Luke and Nico to end up together. What kept this story so interesting was the way Nico’s family was brought into play and the way that Luke’s snake of an ex-boyfriend causes problems. That ex-boyfriend was rotten to the core and I was so happy that he got what was coming to him.
I don’t know if there are any more books planned for this series but a new character was introduced near the end and the fantastic epilogue seemed to set the stage for a more books or maybe a spin-off. I hope I’m not wrong as I’d love to read more stories like the ones in the Harrison Campus series.
A copy of this book was provided to me but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author.
***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com***
Better Be True was an entertaining combination of well written roommates, slow burn, great dialogue, cuteness, meddling side characters, sexual tension and true love.
Nico and Luke together were incredibly sweet, funny and hot. I adored learning about them as they discovered each other, watching them fall in love and in a relationship.
Recommended.
Adored this book and Nico and Luke! This is the second book in the series for me. I still have to go back and read book one. Each of the books stand alone but the characters do cross over and I always have FOMO when I haven’t read all the books in order! Plus, they are wonderful books so what is there to lose?
Nico and Luke are students at Hampton College. Nico is the roommate of the MC from book two, Isaiah, so we got to know him a little bit in that book. Both Nico and Luke are dumped by their boyfriends as the book begins and Luke finds himself in desperate need of a roommate for his summer internship in Philadelphia. Nico gets a desperate call from his sister who just so happens to be getting married in Philly and whose wedding planner has quit. She wants Nico to take over and Nico doesn’t want to go home to NY and face his family after the breakup so he says he’ll do it. Now he needs a place to stay. Cue the set up…
I was on board with these MCs right off the bat. Nico just pulls at your heartstrings and Luke makes you want to wrap him up in a warm hug. The fake boyfriend trope is one I almost always enjoy, especially when it quickly becomes apparent how NOT fake it is. I love the way the authors did the gradual build, not quite a slow burn but close. The antagonist was appropriately douchey and you really pull hard for his downfall.
As readers we can predict the crisis situation from the moment the wheels are set in motion and you just want to scream at the page. The resolution is sweet and then, one of the most satisfying comeuppance moments I’ve read in a while. I went back and re-read it just for the joy it gave me. The epilogue is wonderful and I have such great visions of Nico and Luke’s HEA.
This was a terrific read that I nearly did in one sitting except I forced myself to go to bed at 4:30 am! Highly recommend.
**I voluntarily read an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion.**
Ok I think I fall in love with this series more and more with each book. At this point, I could read 50 books about Harrison college boys and not get bored!
Nico and Luke have double the trope fun, maybe triple. Roommates, forced proximity, fake boyfriends? Check check check! They both need a roomie for the summer, but there’s only one bed! UH OH. AND both need fake boyfriends for events. I mean, nothing ever happens in these situations, right?!
They are both so freakin sweet and adorable. Easy to root for and easy to love. They might be my fave couple out of the series.