#TBRChallenge: A Not So Meet Cute by Meghan Quinn

A Not So Meet Cute by Meghan Quinn
Narrator: Ava Erickson, Aaron Shedlock
Published by Hot Lanta Publishing LLC on 2021-11-02
Length: 404 pages
Length: 11 hours and 53 minutes
Reviewing Audiobook, Kindle from Audible, Kindle Unlimited
Rating:
Reading Challenges: 2022 Audiobook Challenge, 2022 Beat the Backlist, COYER 2022

From USA Today bestselling author of The Highland Fling comes a brand new romantic comedy about a desperate billionaire seeking to find a fiancée. This modern day take on Pretty Woman is brilliantly clever and hilariously page-turning.

How did you two meet?

The quintessential question asked to every couple. And the answer is usually some bubbly, lovey dovey tale of being struck in the bum by Cupid’s arrow.

My meet cute (well not so meet cute) is slightly different. I was trolling a wealthy neighborhood in Beverly Hills, searching for someone to take me as their bride, you know, to make my arch nemesis jealous who consequently just fired me.

He was stomping around the block like some sort of gorgeous ogre, mumbling about a business deal gone wrong and attempting to finagle his way out of it.

And that's when we bumped into each other.
There were no sparks.
Not even a hint of blossoming love.

But next thing I knew, I was scarfing down free chips and guac, listening to this man lay out all of his problems which led to his big ask . . . he wanted me to be his Vivian Ward, you know, from Pretty Woman--minus the frisky behavior.

We're talking about living in a mansion, intimate double dates, and pretending we were head over heels in love . . . and engaged. Can you imagine?

The absolute audacity.

But people do crazy things when they’re desperate. And I reeked of desperation. So, I struck up a deal.

My one big mistake, though . . . big . . . HUGE? I accidentally fell for the incomparable Huxley Cane.

I love a book that makes me laugh, and this one did often! A Not So Meet Cute by Meghan Quinn is a romantic comedy about two people who strike an unusual business deal. This is the first time I’ve read a book by Quinn, though her works have been on my radar for a long time. I was drawn to this one by the fake fiancé mention in the blurb and the modern day take on Pretty Woman, and it delivered.

The story opens with Lottie sitting in her boss/best friend’s office being fired. Why she is being fired is the real knife to the heart moment here though: her contract stipulates it’s time for a pay raise, and why raise her pay when they can hire someone to do the job for less? This was a rock bottom moment for Lottie. Her friendship has always been toxic, something she’s come to recognize over the last year working with her, and as a result there is a lot of shame Lottie feels for allowing herself to be in the situation. During a moment of drunken weakness, Lottie takes to the streets to find herself a rich husband.

Then enters Huxley Cane. Hux is a billionaire businessman, used to getting whatever he wants, especially in business deals. When a particular client passes on his proposal and needs time to think, Huxley doesn’t react well. And then he runs into the client and his pregnant fiancé, and before Hux can think of the consequences he claims to have the same. The problem lies in the fact he has neither. To save face, he comes up with a harebrained plan that is clearly doomed before it begins.

I really liked these characters. Lottie is bold in most things, stubborn to a fault, and fiercely loyal. She hates the position she has found herself in as lying is not something that comes easily, but how can she say no to Huxley when in return he is paying off her student loan debt. Huxley grew on me. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about him. He’s quite grumpy and standoffish to begin with, but when he opens up and allows Lottie to see the real him, the man who knows how to relax, I was head over heels for him. The banter is spot on. As they find common ground and Hux removes the stick from his nether regions, I found myself rooting for them to succeed.

I chose to listen to this one, and I am so glad I did. The narrators are fantastic, I loved the life they brought to the characters. I don’t typically listen to romance because sex scenes make me blush while reading them. You can imagine my reaction while listening. Pretty sure you could cook eggs on my face 😆

Overall, I really enjoyed A Not So Meet Cute. The chemistry between Hux and Lottie is off the charts, and I laughed out loud multiple times. They like to push each others’ boundaries 😉 Also, there are so many Pretty Woman references, I loved them all. If you are a fan of fake relationships, hate to love, and grumpy billionaires, I highly recommend it.

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