Reader’s Notes:– this is part of a series, but can be read as a stand-alone– this is told from Ben and Allie’s points of viewReview:Dana, I am so glad that your muse has been giving us the Wonder Boys’ books so close together! I loved seeing more of all the Wonder Boys and seeing how each of them are with Ben! 😍 I loved Kit’s protectiveness of him (and that scene with all the boys being protective of him). I loved Ben’s sensitivity and willingness to help out wherever he could. I loved Allie and how she wanted to work on herself. I loved that Allie cried no matter what emotion she was feeling in the moment. I love Ben and Allie together and how they worked off each other and made each other better versions of themselves. Some of my favorite scenes from this story included: laser tag, clothes shopping, their collaboration, Allie’s family with Ben, Ben’s family, Cam’s slip-up, Madi’s friendship, and their getting back together.Allie decides she needs a break from dating. With all her past relationships, she changed herself to better fit with the person she was dating and now Allie doesn’t know what her own preferences are on things. Taking a break will help that…if only her mother would leave her alone and stop setting her up on blind dates with any available bachelor she found. Between that and an ex clearly trying to get back together, it’s no wonder Allie had to resort to claiming the cute guy from the grocery store as her boyfriend.Ben has been in love with a girl he saw at the grocery store, not that he’s ever talked to her. He even changed his schedule for shopping to match hers in order to catch a glimpse of her. But after months of this, Ben knows if he wants to see if there’s any chance of more between them, he’ll have to actually talk to her. When he finally works up the courage, Ben discovers that Allie isn’t looking to date anyone. Though she needs help getting people off her back for it and he is conveniently there when Allie decides to do something about it. That something being claiming that Ben is her boyfriend. Though the circumstances aren’t great and he knows her dating status, Ben willingly steps into the role in hopes that they could get to know each other and maybe she’ll want more when she’s ready for a relationship.As time goes on, both Allie and Ben begin to regret the start of their fake relationship. Not because the other is horrible, but because their feelings grew to desire more. A real relationship. Could the other person feel the same way?
