Never Fall for Your Fiancée by Virginia Heath: Book Review

Never Fall for Your Fiancée

By Virginia Heath

Rating: 4/5 
Genre: Historical Romance
Steam: Explicit!
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Pub Date: November 9, 2021
Thank you St. Martin's Press & NetGalley for an eARC of this novel!
Available: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop

Never Fall for Your Fiancée Synopsis: Hugh Standish, Earl of Fareham, is not in want of a wife. Ever. However, his mother is in want for him to have a wife. So, what is a gentleman who has no desire to commit himself to matrimony to do? Well, make up a fiancée to convince his mother who lives an ocean away to not bother him. It’s worked for two years, but now she wants to meet his bride-to-be. Only problem? There’s no Minerva. Cue Minerva Merriwell, a wood engraver that’s struggling to keep a roof over her and her two sisters heads after the death of her mother and abandonment of her father. When Hugh comes to the help of Minerva, he offers her a job she can’t reject. Forty pounds for pretending to be his fiancée with his mother’s impending arrival. While it might be ridiculous, she can’t pass it up. When Minerva and her two sisters arrive at Hugh’s country home, the plan is out the window as nothing goes accordingly. Surely, nothing can come of this fake engagement, right?

Never Fall for Your Fiancée Review:

I am so glad I requested to read this book! It is funny and adorable. When this is marketed as a historical rom-com it really is. I don’t think I’ve read a book quite like this one. The characters are endearing and it’s just sheer fun. Hugh and Minerva are wonderful together and make the book move along in such a great pace that you don’t want to put the book down. I don’t exactly know how to describe how quirky and cute this book was to read. It was absolutely perfect for a pick-me-up after finance and data analytics finals!

Loves:

Minerva and Hugh’s moments together were so freaking cute! Their banter was top notch and I adored the way that their relationship grew. Sure, there were many moments of miscommunication but with Hugh’s character I felt like it was more believable than so many other miscommunication tropes. I just enjoyed them together so much. They really do balance each other out and it’s so nice (although Hugh would have thoughts for me on the use of that word). Also their characters outside of their relationship were well developed and I couldn’t help myself but to root for them individually and as a unit.

The plot was incredibly entertaining! I mean a fake fiancée and finding a woman to fill in?!? It’s great. The whole ride of the book is captivating and there’s no really lagging area of the book. I found the plot twists to be surprising too. Like I did not see any of them coming, which was great as it’s been a while since that’s happened. There was so much that happened too that even if I tried to sit down and tell you a more spoiler-y synopsis I’d miss stuff.

And a special shout out to Hugh. I loved how self aware he was. I found him to be quite the gentleman and I’m quite besotted with him myself. 10/10 great male character even if he does make up fake fiancées.

Meh:

Hugh’s whole reasoning for being single for his entire life honestly got annoying. His whole thing about his blood and who his father and grandfather were for being him, just seemed so drug out and annoying. I wanted more from this line and perhaps for some more reasoning behind it than was given.

Honestly most of the secondary characters really, really annoyed me. Diana and Vee were absolutely childish and ridiculous. I know that Minerva tried her best to raise them, but I expected a more mature Diana as she was working and not such fanciful ideas from Vee. Plus I never really got why Hugh’s mother was so pestering. I understand she wanted happiness for her son, but some open conversation about why he was staying single would have worked! Jeremiah and Payne were the only reasonable humans in the entire household.

Long Story Short

Do I recommend this book? Yes. It was cute and a fun read. There were many laugh-out-loud moments! If you’re in the mood for some craziness and a fun historical romance I highly recommend reading this one. Overall I really liked this book and would have no problem suggesting it to a friend.

If You Liked This One…

For another historical romance I would do Not the Kind of Earl You Marry by Kate Pembrooke. They both have fake dating/engagement and the character arcs, although vastly different, bring out the best in the couple as well! It’s definitely more serious, but it’s just a pining and good! For a contemporary similarity I would look at The Roommate by Rosie Danan. The personalities of the characters are fairly similar as are the vibes from the book. Once again, fairly different stories but I feel like if you liked Never Fall For Your Fake Fiancée you’d like The Roommate.