Every February, I make it my mission to read as many romance books as possible, and this year's One Woman Book Club pick was the perfect rom-com read that I didn't know I would need. It's definitely got a Pretty Woman vibe to it; in fact, the author cheekily slides references to the movie into the plot. Can you break the fourth wall in a book? If so, I feel like Meghan Quinn did it.

This book, while technically novel length at 418 pages long, was not a long read for me. I finished this book over a weekend in exactly two sittings. So not quite a gulp but also not a seven-course meal. I thoroughly enjoyed this quickie meal, though. It was a pretty typical rom-com and had me literally laughing out loud more than once. It's told in dual point of view, so that you get both perspectives, although the POVs did not always alternate chapters.

To avoid spoilers, skip to the end of this post.

Lottie has spent the last year working for a lifestyle blog run by a woman she's known since high school. Their friendship is the definition of toxic. Lottie grew up in Beverly Hills, but unlike most of her classmates, Lottie's family was struggling to make ends meet, so when popular-girl Angela showed interest in being friends, Lottie jumped at the opportunity. Except, Angela was a fickle friend, flitting from one person to the next, only sticking around as long as her current bestie was useful to her in some way. Despite recognizing that their friendship was toxic, Lottie would jump back into it every time Angela came back around.

When Angela asked Lottie to work for her -- at an insultingly low rate and with a terrible contract, I might add -- Lottie's parents and sister urged her not to take it, warning Lottie that Angela would do the exact same thing she did in high school. Sadly, they were right. At the end of Lottie's first year, right when she's supposed to be promoted and get a huge increase in pay, Angela fires her with intentions of hiring someone else to work for the same or an even lower rate. Just like that Lottie's plans go up in smoke, and her bank account is shrinking by the moment. She needs to do something and fast.

Cue desperation. In a plan that isn't really thought through, Lottie decides to stroll through the affluent neighborhood that borders her family home in search of a single, wealthy man. By the time she comes to her senses, she's good and lost and literally runs into Huxley, a well-known real estate investor who's not only single but looking for an unattached woman to help him out of a jam of his own making.

Huxley has had his eye on a specific property for awhile. He and his brothers have plans to develop it, but the owner, Dave, seems to have no interest in selling to the Canes. In fact, he won't even agree to a meeting with Huxley. Then fate intervenes. One day while he is out picking up lunch, Huxley crosses paths with Dave and his pregnant fiancé. In an attempt to make a connection, Huxley, not thinking, blurts out that he's also engaged and his fiancé is pregnant. His lie works, and Dave invites Huxley and his nonexistent fiancé to dinner with him and his bride-to-be. Huxley knows that if he admits he lied, his reputation, and that of his brothers, could be ruined.

Then, while taking a walk to clear his head, he meets Lottie, who tells him all about her crazy plan to find a rich, single husband. It seems like their meeting is meant to be, especially when Lottie agrees to have dinner with him. He proposes the two fake an engagement and pregnancy, and after some convincing, Lottie agrees. What follows is a hilarious, romantic, frustrating tale of two people who have undeniable chemistry but are determined not to act on it for the sake of business and professionalism. 

Of course there are bumps along the way, and like with all rom-coms there is a break-up over a misunderstanding. Turns out, Dave and his fiancé figure out pretty quickly that Huxley and Lottie are faking it and decide to have a little fun with them including a really awkward Lamaze class, an uncomfortable trip to a breast pump store, and a totally insane parenting class. Dave lets the secret slip to one of Huxley's business associates who then brings it up in a meeting with all three Cane brothers, saying that Dave's fiancé is the one who told Dave. Of course she could have only learned the truth from one person: Lottie. You can guess what happens next.

There's also a serious plot arc. While Lottie and Huxley are dancing around their feelings for each other, Lottie is finding her place in the business world. Thanks to Huxley paying off her student loans and letting her stay in his house, Lottie can help her sister with her start-up professional organization business. Working with her sister is Lottie's dream, and she's confident she can help her take the next step to making it big.

This was a fun read. I enjoy romantic comedies, and this one hit all the right marks. I was not exaggerating at the beginning of this post when I said it had me literally laughing out loud. Lottie is pretty funny, but I would be lying if I didn't said that she's also a bit irrational, childish, and annoying at times. Huxley, meanwhile, acts like a jerk and grade-A alphahole. He eventually chills out, but his attitude, especially toward Lottie, while understandable, is a bit insufferable.

There are some side characters in this story that I think are noteworthy. Not Angela for obvious reasons, although she does get her comeuppance. But Lottie's sister, Kelsey, is a great character. She's a good balance for Lottie. She was what I would consider to be the voice of reason for most of the book, and although she's the younger sister, Kelsey acted almost like Lottie's compass. Huxley's brothers are also fun, though they got much less page time than Kelsey. Not to worry, though, because Meghan Quinn is not done with this trio. There are two more books: So Not Meant To Be and A Long Time Coming. And yes, I plan to read them both.