Connie is an aspiring writer who is going to attend a writing retreat thanks to her best friend's boss, and Connie's oddly cheerful neighbor, Beck. This would all be fine, if Connie didn't think Beck was hiding a sinister interior behind his seemingly naïve exterior. But when Beck confides in Connie that his colleagues think he's married--a lie he told to cover personal insecurities--she impulsively offers to be his fake wife for the duration of the retreat.

This book loves playing with tropes, particularly the fake dating and only-one-bed scenarios, with the dial turned up to 11. Connie is equal parts entertaining and exasperating. Her initial reluctance to interact with Beck, borne of Connie's previous bad dating history, definitely tends toward the latter. There have been plenty of characters in other stories who are understandably cautious, without defaulting to the belief that their innocent neighbor is a serial killer because he makes her baked goods. But when Connie finally starts opening up and using some of her protective instinct for Beck's benefit, she becomes a more fully realized protagonist and someone far more interesting.

As for Beck, I started off thinking no one could possibly be this goofy and awkward to wanting to protect him at all costs. No harm should come to this delightfully gentle giant! His desire to be loved and accepted was so disarming that I was entirely on his side no matter how many ridiculous things he said or choices he made along the way. And when Beck finally leans into his wants and desires with Connie? Holy moly, I was *SHOCKED* (in a good way!) at the hotness!

This is a very entertaining audiobook, but I will say that the narrator's American accent sometimes faltered in ways that were extremely noticeable, but she did a good job of capturing Beck's happy-go-lucky characterization.

I have to admit that I started this book without knowing it was the second in the series, and I absolutely did not clock it as a Ted Lasso-inspired story until I was halfway through When Grumpy Met Sunshine. In retrospect, that knowledge informs so much about Beck's personality, and made me adore him that much more. And

the basketball scene at the end inspired me to go watch the darts episode from season 1 of Ted Lasso

. But you don't have to be a fan of the show to appreciate the charm of this story.

Be curious, not judgmental indeed.