Asking Layla Mousavi to be my fake fiancé wasn’t the weirdest thing I had done this week. It didn’t even crack the top ten. Not when my days were filled with escaped pigs, radioactive casseroles, and cow-induced car crashes.
The population of Falls Creek, North Carolina, is a collective menace to society. Layla thought the first line of her orientation packet was a joke, but she soon realized it was all facts. After only a few hours on the job, the whip-smart flight nurse found herself flying headfirst into small-town drama.
Police Officer Callum Fletcher needs a fiancé, and he needs one fast.
His best option? The alluring nurse who had put him back together after one of his worst days on the force. She was the new girl in town and needed a place to stay. The elusive bachelor could handle a temporary roommate if she could handle a town full of gossiping busybodies, his meddling grandma, and a former date who still had her sights set on being the future Mrs. Fletcher. The only problem? Layla Mousavi doesn’t date cops anymore. Especially ones with commitment issues the size of a Ferris wheel.
I came across this series by accident, and I am so glad I did. What Hurts Us is one of those stories that gets under your skin and lingers for days. It’s emotional and a little raw, but also full of so much hope. It’s the kind of story that sticks with you long after you’ve finished. The small-town chaos and quirky cast of characters make the story feel alive, like you’re right there in the middle of it all, not just watching from the sidelines. And for those wondering, the spice is absolutely there. It adds just enough heat and intimacy to an already heartfelt romance.
Layla Mousavi is the kind of heroine you root for from the very first page. She’s strong, resilient, and quietly carries the weight of her past in ways that make her both guarded and deeply relatable. Her Iranian heritage is woven seamlessly into her character, adding richness and authenticity without ever defining her completely; it’s simply part of who she is, alongside her determination and quiet vulnerability. Starting over in Falls Creek as a flight nurse, she’s determined to prove herself and rebuild her life on her own terms.
What she doesn’t expect is Callum Fletcher, a stubborn, big-hearted police officer with his own hidden scars. Only hours into her first shift, Layla finds herself roped into posing as Callum’s fake fiancée, a plan designed to ward off nosy locals, meddling grandmas, and his persistent ex. In exchange, she gets a place to stay. It all seems perfectly practical. That is, until you remember that Layla swore off dating cops long ago, especially the kind with commitment issues the size of his.
“We met on my worst day. She picked me up and put me back together. I trust her with my life, and I would protect her with mine.”
From that moment on, their fake engagement starts to look a lot less fake. Late-night confessions lead to walls coming down and before long, real feelings begin to surface. What makes it so engaging is how authentic they feel as a couple; quirky, imperfect, a little messy, but absolutely full of heart. Together, they navigate Layla’s emotional wounds and Callum’s rough edges, all while trying, and often failing, not to fall completely in love under the watchful eyes of a small town that never misses a thing.
“I’m not perfect. I just like the way my broken pieces fit with yours.”
One of the things that makes this story so charming is the way Maggie Gates weaves in these wonderfully whimsical small-town moments. From Layla’s first week chasing runaway pigs, to casserole catastrophes at the hands of well-meaning neighbors, to an unforgettable cow-related car crash, there’s always something that keeps you laughing. Add in the countless times Layla and Callum are forced to “perform” their fake engagement for meddling grandmas and gossiping locals, and you can’t help but fall for both the humor and the heart threaded through their story. These moments of chaos don’t just entertain; they push Layla and Callum closer, blurring the line between pretend and something undeniably real.
“I trust you,” I said with every ounce of resolve in my body. “You told me you love me because you felt it and knew that I needed to hear it. So, please, honey—hear me when I tell you that I trust you. For me, trust is greater than love. You can love someone without trusting them. You can give them your heart only for it to be trampled and mistreated and rejected. But trust—trusting you means that I’m giving you the parts of me that have been hurt. It means that I’ve given you the vulnerable parts of me that I don’t want anyone else to see. And I’m putting them in your hands because I know you love me.”
At its core, What Hurts Us is more than just a fake-engagement romance. It’s a story about two people learning to trust again, learning that vulnerability doesn’t have to mean weakness, and that love can sometimes grow in the most unexpected places. Layla’s resilience, Callum’s hidden tenderness, the whimsical small-town chaos, and the ever-meddling side characters all come together to create a story that is equal parts funny, emotional, and deeply hopeful. By the end, I wasn’t just rooting for their happily-ever-after—I was completely convinced they’d earned it.
“You’re the piece of my heart that I didn’t know was missing,” I said as I pressed my forehead to hers. “I just got you. I can’t lose you for at least fifty more years. Even then, it’s too soon. Eternity is too soon.”