When my ex strolls back into town looking good enough to ruin my life twice and claiming he wants me back, I panic and blurt out that I’m seeing someone.
The only man available is Nick Banks, the ex-hockey star with a smirk that should be illegal and commitment issues as legendary as his abs. Surprisingly, he agrees to play along if I help him figure out why his relationships keep going up in flames.
We make rules: fake date without feelings, trade relationship advice, and hook up. For research purposes only. Obviously. It’s a temporary arrangement, with the goal of becoming better partners for whoever comes next in our lives.
But the snuggles get cozier and the kisses last longer. Lines blur, and I can’t tell what’s pretend and what’s real. We’re having fun, fooling everyone in my small town—and maybe ourselves too.
Then the paparazzi snap pictures of us, and the gossip sites explode. Now I’m fake-dating a billionaire in the headlines while falling for him in real life. And the only thing more terrifying than the spotlight is losing him when autumn ends.
This was my very first Lyra Parish book (and yes, I have a bad habit of jumping into series out of order), and the second I finished it, I immediately binged three more. It checked off so many of my favorite tropes: fake dating, friends-to-lovers, EXTREME spice with a side of bedroom lessons, and all the cozy small-town fall fun you could possibly pack into September and October.
Julie Masters just wants to avoid another round of heartbreak when her charming, but awful, ex shows up back in Cozy Creek. In a panic, she blurts out that she’s already seeing someone. The only problem? She’s not. Cue Nick Banks: ex-hockey star, current billionaire, and walking green flag with a jawline sharp enough to cut glass. He’s only back in town for six weeks, but somehow ends up agreeing to fake date Julie to keep her ex at bay. Their deal is simple: no feelings, just fake dates, a few hookups, and a clock that runs out when October ends.
“Clear rules, clear boundaries, clear end date. It’s just faking dating, I remind myself. Really elaborate, PowerPointed, multi-phases fake dating.”
I’m not kidding. He creates a PowerPoint presentation to outline their fake-dating plan.
“What’s yours is mine, dating rules.”
“I don’t remember that in my PowerPoint.”
“Slide 9, Section 2. Look it up.”
But what starts out as a lighthearted arrangement quickly becomes something deeper. Julie has a spicy little “f-it list”, a naughty wish list of things she’s always wanted to try in the bedroom but never trusted anyone enough to explore. Nick doesn’t just agree to help her check those boxes; he turns it into a way of showing her how much he sees and values her. Every steamy scene felt equal parts passionate and tender.
“It’s you, Jules. You make every space I’m in feel like sunshine.”
I loved watching Nick absolutely fall first, and boy did he fall hard. He’s steady, patient, and quietly determined to show Julie that she’s worth so much more than the heartbreak she’s endured. Julie, on the other hand, is strong, funny, and fiercely loyal, even if I occasionally wanted to shake her and yell, Girl, he’s in love with you! Their chemistry is electric, their banter is playful, and every stolen glance feels like a little spark waiting to ignite.
“You sound like a walking red flag.”
“You’d better run.”
“Actually, red is my favorite color.”
Nick is her protector, the one who makes her feel seen and treasured. She’s fire and sass, a bright spirit who brings laughter back into his life. He shows her how a woman, his queen, deserves to be respected, cherished, and loved. In return, she softens his edges, turning his brooding moments into laughter. And that banter? Truly some of the best I’ve read.
“Your enthusiasm for pumpkins is borderline concerning.”
“Says the man who literally graphed our relationship.”
“We agreed never to speak of the PowerPoint again.”
“I don’t remember agreeing to anything.”
Of course, Cozy Creek isn’t all pumpkin patches and cozy nights. Julie’s slimy ex refuses to let go, crossing boundaries and pushing past lines that make her feel unsafe. Those moments gave the story real weight, reminding me why Julie guards her heart so fiercely. And it made me love Nick even more. He doesn’t just play the role of fake boyfriend. He makes it clear that absolutely nothing will happen to Julie now that she’s with him. Watching him balance fierce devotion with gentle patience was everything I could ever want in a book boyfriend.
“What parts are real, and what parts are fake?”
“When we’re alone. All real. The way I look at you. Real. How I feel when I wake up next to you. Real. The panic I experienced when I saw those photographers getting near you. So damn real.”
This story is full of autumn charm: pumpkin carving, apple orchards, flannel, and cozy nights. There’s also a hint of found family, small-town drama, and the kind of fairy grandmother shenanigans that keep Cozy Creek feeling magical. Lyra Parish balanced the swoon and spice with just enough emotional weight, grief, loss, manipulation, and messy pasts, that grounded the story without bogging it down. And yes, the spice delivers—body shots, dirty talk, praise, toys, FaceTime fun, and that unforgettable corn maze scene.