Dolly All the Time

Dolly is thirty-nine and independent, a woman used to handling life on her own. But when her family home suffers a setback, she moves back to her hometown for the summer to help it. There, she meets Stewart, a wealthy local guy who just went through a messy public breakup. He's also trying to appear stable and confident for career reasons. The two strike a deal: they'll fake-date each other. It helps Stewart save face, and it helps Dolly with some of her own problems.

The best part of this book is the relationship between Dolly and Stewart. Their chemistry is clear from the beginning. They joke with each other, challenge one another, and gradually open up. Stewart is charming but a bit reserved. Dolly is strong and independent, perhaps too much so. Watching her learn to let someone else in is the main focus of the story.

While contemporary romance is not my usual go-to genre- as I generally prefer historical fiction-I found Dolly All the Time to be an engaging and heartwarming read. What elevated this beach read for me was Dolly's compelling role as a chronic caretaker; her desperation to save her family's home to protect her brother's mental health gave the fake-dating trope some much-needed emotional pull.

This is a great beach read. It's light, funny, and warm, with just enough emotional depth to keep you invested. If you like fake-dating stories, small-town settings, or romance with grown-up characters instead of twenty-somethings, this one is for you.