A USA TODAY bestseller! One of O, The Oprah Magazine’s “22 Romance Novels That Are Set to Be the Best of 2020” and one of Goodreads’s “28 of the Hottest Romances of 2020” From New York Times bestselling author Lauren Layne, the “queen of witty dialogue” (Rachel Van Dyken, New York Times bestselling author), comes the final installment of the Central Park Pact series, a heartfelt and … final installment of the Central Park Pact series, a heartfelt and laugh-out-loud romantic comedy that’s perfect for fans of Sally Thorne and Christina Lauren.
Can guys and girls ever be just friends? According to Audrey Tate and Clarke West, absolutely. After all, they’ve been best friends since childhood without a single romantic entanglement. Clarke is the charming playboy Audrey can always count on, and he knows that the ever-loyal Audrey will never not play along with his strategy for dodging his matchmaking mother–announcing he’s already engaged…to Audrey.
But what starts out as a playful game between two best friends turns into something infinitely more complicated, as just-for-show kisses begin to stir up forbidden feelings. As the faux wedding date looms closer, Audrey and Clarke realize that they can never go back to the way things were, but deep down, do they really want to?
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Audrey finds herself in an unusual and heartbreaking situation, running away from her boyfriend’s funeral and bumping into Claire and Naomi, his wife and another mistress. Feeling devastated she makes a vow with her new friends to protect each other from men like Brayden Hayes. It’s been one and a half years, Claire and Naomi have both found love and Audrey’s content living her life as an Instagram influencer and spending time with her best friend Clarke. Lately, the rumors about Audrey and her personal life have been flying, fueled by one social media troll. Clarke’s ex-girlfriend Elizabeth is back in town and his mother wants nothing more than for them to get back together. Both needing a reprieve from the pressures of others Audrey and Clarke decide that a fake engagement will get the rumors to settle down and Clarke’s mom to take a step back. What they don’t plan on are some very not fake feelings.
I adore a good friends to lovers story, and this one did not disappoint (but confession, every time I read one I can’t help but picture the scene from When Harry Met Sally where they’re arguing over if men and women can be friends). I loved Clarke and was sorry for him when he confessed that he didn’t see himself getting married because of what happened with Elizabeth, he was trying to change and be what she wanted but it still wasn’t good enough for her. I could completely understand where Audrey was coming from feeling like she stole Claire’s happily ever after, but at the same time wanted to shake her for holding on to that for so long. Despite their baggage, which was justified, I love them as a couple, their banter, how easy the relationship (for the most part) was. This is a super sweet, slightly angsty with a fantastic ending. Definitely recommend.