Score: 3.75/5 Bookmarks

Steam Level: 🍆🍆

Thanks to Berkley for gifting me a review copy of The Love Con by Seressia Glass.

Kenya is competing in a reality TV show, Cosplay or No Way, and she’s made it to the finals. But for the next challenge she has to complete an iconic duo costume. When she’s put on the spot she announces to the judges (and the viewers) that her best friend is her ‘partner’ and going to be helping her with the final challenge. She doesn’t have time to give Cam a heads-up, but luckily he’s cool with both helping out and pretending to be her boyfriend for the cameras, their family and friends.

The two of them have been friends for years, and have been through thick and thin together. Cam tried to suggest they become more than friends back in college, but Kenya shot him down. Since then he hasn’t brought it up again, and doesn’t want to ruin their friendship, but his crush has never gone away.

The two of them start sharing a room and a bed to throw the camera crew off the scent of their fake dating, but that forced proximity, nightly spooning, and ahem…morning wood, has Kenya thinking all sorts of inappropriate things. When they start kissing for the cameras they start getting into dangerous territory, and honesty it’s only a matter of time before their fake dating turns into real feelings (of the heart and further-south variety 😉).

To complicate things further, Kenya’s parents don’t approve of her trying to make a career in cosplay instead of using her degree. Plus, Cam’s ex girlfriend is suddenly back on the scene. And one of the judges on the show has it out for Kenya.

I really loved the main characters and found them relatable and sweet. I did find the book a little repetitive in parts, and their reason for sharing a bed a little flimsy, but overall it was enjoyable read. I loved how the two main characters were together, and getting to see each of their POV let you see just how much they cared about each other. I’d definitely read more from Seressia Glass.

Synopsis:

He's cosplaying as her boyfriend but their feelings for each other are real in this romantic comedy from Seressia Glass.

Sometimes Kenya Davenport believes she was switched at the hospital--how else could a lover of anime, gaming, and cosplay come from STEM parents? Still, Kenya dreams of being able to turn her creative hobby into a career. She finally has a chance to make it big when she joins the reality show competition Cosplay or No Way.

There's just one catch: the challenge for the final round is all about iconic pairs, and the judges want the contestants' significant others to participate. Unfortunately, Kenya is as single as can be at the moment. Luckily her best friend, Cameron Lassiter, agrees to be her fake boyfriend for the show.
Roleplaying a couple in love will force them to explore what they're hiding under the mask of friendship. Can Kenya and Cam fake it until she makes it, or will she be real about her feelings, knowing it could cost her the best friend she's ever had?