Review: "(Not So) Famous in Paradise" by Brittany Larsen

(Not So) Famous in Paradise: A Fake Dating Sweet Romantic Comedy by Brittany Larsen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Design expert Georgia Beck is back in her hometown of Paradise, Idaho to chronicle the renovation of the lake resort she inherited from her late grandmother for a new reality show. Unfortunately, not everyone is happy about her plans to reopen the Little Copenhagen Resort, concerned about the impact of increased tourism on their small town. Fortunately, she has the support of her lifelong best friend, real estate agent Zach Thomsen, who's agreed to partner with Georgia to sell the updated cottages and develop the condos she plans to add to the resort. Zach and Georgia have never been more than friends, but the playful, flirty energy between them soon has her social media followers believing that they're an item. The network wants them to lean into the buzz and pretend that they're dating to boost the show's ratings. The only problem is that Zach thinks he's already found "The One" - and it's not Georgia, who's suddenly realized that her feelings for Zach are more than just pretend. Can she find a way out of this situation without risking her business or her heart?

Georgia and Zach were incredibly likeable, three-dimensional protagonists, and their story gave me all the feels. They were both hiding so many insecurities beneath the surface, and I couldn't help but sympathize with many of their fears. Zach, for example, worried that Georgia had chosen to partner with him only because they were friends, not because he brought much value to the table. He also had a tough time believing that she would ever see him as a potential romantic partner because he had chosen to stay behind in their small town, while she went away to college and built a successful career in Los Angeles. That couldn't have been further from the truth, though she did share some of his concerns about risking their friendship if they gave into their romantic feelings. Once they worked through their respective baggage, they finally realized that they were perfect for each other, and I loved cheering them on to their HEA.

Overall, I adored this funny, sweet, and heartwarming story and highly recommend it for all sweet/closed-door contemporary romance and romantic comedy fans. I can't wait for the next book in the series!

*Review copy provided by the author. All opinions expressed are my own.

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