Synopsis
Briana is a tough-as-nails ER Physician. She has been through the wringer over the past year. First, her husband of 10 years left her for another woman, and then her brother is in kidney failure and needs to be on dialysis. She cannot catch her breath or break, a person can only handle so much.
Then there is Jacob. He is the brand new ER Physician who struggles with anxiety and a broken heart. His girlfriend of two years left him for his own brother. So, Jacob’s year is not going so well either.
When these two finally bump into each other, and I do mean that literally, it is not love at first sight. It could be classified as, ‘I-find-you-very-beautiful-but-have-crippling-anxiety-and-don’t-know-how-to-talk-to-you,’ from Jacob. From Briana, it is definitely, ‘who-is-this-rude-as-hell-person-coming-into-my-sick-brothers-room.’ However, sometimes we let our judgments get the best of us, and they can negate us from seeing her a person really is.
As time goes on, Briana realizes that Jacob is not who he seems. He is a man that cares deeply, and would literally give the shirt off his back to help someone else.
As their friendship builds, Jacob needs someone to pose as his fake girlfriend, so he can face his family and ex-girlfriend, without looking like a lost puppy. Come in Briana. She wants to help out her friend, and very quickly agrees to be his fake girlfriend.
Jacob and Briana soon realize that maybe this ‘fake’ relationship isn’t so fake after all. Through mutual attraction, a loveable three-legged dog, and a beautiful harmless friendship, comes a love that outshines every hardship in their lives.
Review
There are too many good things to say about this book. I could talk about the witty banter and honest conversation between characters that made for the most refreshing read. I could talk about the love that came from these two characters being built on a friendship that thrived off accepting the other person for exactly who they were. However, what I loved the most was two people just wanting to be ‘harmless’ to the other. They wanted to be a safe place for one another to come back to after a long day. This book showed me that a person who is willing to stick with you through the hard times in life, always be in your corner, and always make you feel that you are enough, is a person who makes you realize what the saying, “my home is wherever you are.”
It was very refreshing to see a mental health rep done so well in this book. I have read many books that claim to have a mental health rep, but the main character is essentially ‘cured’ after the two characters get together. I struggle with anxiety, as well, and this book may have one of the best interpretations of what it feels like to deal with anxiety. However, the greatest accomplishment was having these two characters love each other through all of their insecurities and mental health struggles. It was so refreshing.
I loved absolutely everything about this book. For anyone who is a fan of witty romantic comedies, with a love story for the ages, this is the book for you!
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