“You don’t need to hold my hand without an audience.”
“Maybe I like the way your hand fits in mine.”
Lauren Asher is one of my favorite authors for a reason, she never disappoints. This book was yet another solid 4-star read from her. I know this series isn’t everyone’s favorite, but I personally loved it. The characters, the emotions, the way she tells a story… it all worked for me. Lauren did it again, and reminded me why I keep coming back to her books.
Five months. Two people “in love”. One fake relationship with an expiration date.
Sounds simple enough.
The problem is, Lily Muñoz and I have history.
So, when she volunteers to date me so I can improve my public image, I should say no.
Our past complicates everything, but since my future depends on her, I agree to her plan.
Faking it for the public is expected, but falling in love in private?
That isn’t part of our arrangement.
LILY
Using a dating app sounded like a great idea, up until I discovered Lorenzo Vittori was my match.
My sister’s boyfriend hates him. My mom is wary of him.
And me? I’ve spent the last year avoiding him.
But when my business is threatened, I’m forced into teaming up with Lorenzo to save it.
All I need to do is help him win the mayoral election, and he promises to protect my shop.
It doesn’t take me long to learn that I’m not cut out for fake relationships, but Lorenzo?
He isn’t capable of a real one.
Review of Love Arranged by Lauren Asher
The fake relationship is one of my favorite tropes, and when it’s done right, I eat it up every time. Love Arranged by Lauren Asher was no exception. This book honestly had the potential to be a 5-star read, but unfortunately, some things didn’t quite work out for me. So let’s dive into my review!
Plot Analysis of Love Arranged by Lauren Asher
Lily Muñoz is desperate to save her business from Lorenzo Vittori’s competitor, who is trying to buy out the building she works so hard to keep. On the other side, Lorenzo is running a political campaign and needs a boost for his public image. Their solution? Entering a fake relationship that’s supposed to last five months.
Lily, the town’s princess, and Lorenzo, the outsider everyone has an opinion about, suddenly have to act like the perfect couple. On paper, it sounds simple enough, but in reality, it’s messy. Lily has been avoiding Lorenzo, burying her emotions and keeping her distance, while Lorenzo struggles with his inability to truly open up and be vulnerable.
As they fake their way through events, business deals, and public appearances, the line between pretend and reality starts to blur. What began as a mutually beneficial arrangement slowly turns into something real, but their unresolved history and personal issues threaten to get in the way of their happily ever after.
Characters of Love Arranged by Lauren Asher
Lily Muñoz : Lily was a mix of badass and girl, really? moments. On one side, she was strong, stubborn, and absolutely determined to protect what mattered, her business, her family’s trust, and her own heart. I loved seeing her push back against Lorenzo instead of getting swept up in his charm. She challenged him, stood her ground, and showed just how practical and grounded she could be.
But then there were times she veered into childish or inconsistent behavior, and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. She was all, “I want to build myself, I don’t need help from anyone”… and then turned around and accepted a G-Wagon from Lorenzo. Like, pick a lane, girl! Still, those contradictions did make her feel more like a messy, complicated human than a perfectly polished heroine, frustrating at times, yes, but also real.
Lorenzo Vittori : Lorenzo was the kind of character who grabbed my attention right away. I really liked seeing the OCD rep woven into his personality, and from the start he carried that presence of someone you know you shouldn’t trust but can’t look away from. He’s slick, calculated, and carries himself with this air of arrogance that’s both infuriating and oddly magnetic. He’s the type of man you roll your eyes at, but secretly want to lean closer to. On the outside, it’s all politics, control, and image, but the cracks in his walls show eventually and when they do, you see the loneliness, the fear of loving too much, and the vulnerability he tries so hard to hide. That’s when he became the most compelling for me.
But then we hit the possessiveness. And honestly? That part didn’t land. The whole bracelet tracker thing felt like the only “evidence” of it, and it wasn’t handled with enough depth to make it feel authentic. Instead of showing layers or complexity, it came across flat and undercooked. With a character who had so much potential, that side of him deserved better development than it got.
The romance : Lorenzo and Lily together? Chaos in the best way possible. Every time they were in a scene together, I swear the tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Their banter was sharp, the chemistry was chemistry-ing, and their shared history gave everything this slow-burn ache that I couldn’t get enough of. They were messy and stubborn, constantly pushing each other’s buttons, but that’s exactly what made their relationship so addicting to read. When they finally let their walls down, it wasn’t just heat, it felt like release, like they’d both been holding their breath for years.
That said, the possessive part didn’t work for me at all. It felt out of place, like it belonged in a darker romance, not here. The whole tracker bracelet thing? Weirdly unnecessary. Their connection was already intense enough without throwing in a controlling subplot that didn’t add anything meaningful. Sometimes less really is more, and in this case, I wish it had been.
Pacing & writing style
Lauren Asher’s books are an auto-read for me. There’s just something about her writing that ticks something in my brain, in the best way. As a slow reader, I usually take my time with books, but with hers, I fly through them. It literally takes me half the time compared to most others. She just knows how to write and nail the tropes every single time. The small-town romance vibes were immaculate, the slow burn was slow burning, and the fake dating? So, so good.
The OCD representation really stood out to me too. It’s the first time I’ve read about it in a romance, and it felt different from the usual “flawless MMC” formula. You can tell she did her research, and it added depth to Lorenzo’s character.
That said, I did have a few issues with this one. The length started to feel like too much, which doesn’t usually bother me with her books (except Final Offer). If it had been a bit shorter, I think my rating would’ve been higher. And the possessive element? It felt underdeveloped and unnecessary. The story was already strong without needing that added in.
The pacing in Love Arranged by Lauren Asher was mostly solid. It only started to drag a little toward the middle, where it felt a bit too long and lost some of its momentum. I’ll admit, I got slightly bored at one point, but the story still managed to hold my attention overall. I just personally don’t think a contemporary romance needs to be that long, sometimes a tighter story hits even harder.
Tropes and Trigger warnings of Love Arranged by Lauren Asher
Tropes of Love Arranged by Lauren Asher
Fake dating
Found family
Billionaire romance
Small town romance
Forced proximity
OCD representation
Grumpy x sunshine
Trigger warnings of Love Arranged by Lauren Asher
Grief
Some quotes I enjoyed
“I’ve wished for so many different things in my life because to wish is to hope, and that’s the one thing no one can take away from you.”
“If my actions said anything, it was that I liked you too damn much, Lily. That was my problem. Never you.”
“I can’t get angry at them for something I’ve been guilty of. So let them look. Let them stare. Let them wish they were going home with the most beautiful woman in this bar—in this town—for all I care. I’ve been there. Many times, in fact, when it comes to you. So if anything, I sympathize with them because they can want you, but they’ll never truly have you.”
“Because I’ll never be able to give you what you want. I can’t. I’m incapable of loving someone else, and if anyone deserves the happy ending they want, it’s you.”
“You don’t talk about other men while wearing my ring.”“Let me solve that problem, then.” I reach to remove it, but he grabs both my hands and pins them above my head.“Take that ring off and I’ll superglue it to your finger.”
““Don’t.”“Don’t what?”“Make me think this is real.” Her voice drops, and I feel guilty for being responsible for that doubt. “What if I want it to be?” I ask, surprised by my own outburst.“Or what if it has been real between us for a while but I was too stubborn to accept it?”
“You say that, and I do believe you’re sorry, but it doesn’t take back the hurt you caused.”
“I never understood why my father gave up his entire life for my mother, but right now, I can see it clearly. Because when you find the one person in the world who sees you—who takes the time to collect every broken piece of your spirit and helps you put it back together—you don’t let them go.”
“So long as you love your parents, you’ll never stop grieving them, so the best way you can help yourself is to learn to coexist with the feeling.”
“Because Lily Muñoz is mine, and I’ll stop at nothing until I become hers.”
“I love the way she has turned my home into her own without knowing it, and I love how easily she fits into my life like she’s always had a place in it.”
“You’re my fiancée, Lily,” he replies, as if that’s supposed to answer any lingering doubts.“None of this is real.”He drags two fingers through my wetness before bringing them to his mouth and sucking on them. “Tastes pretty fucking real to me.”
“I mourn their absence and the time that was stolen from us, and I mourn the future they’ll never be a part of.”
Final Thought
Love Arranged by Lauren Asher was exactly the kind of contemporary romance I wanted to read, full of tension, slow-burn chemistry, and that irresistible fake dating setup that always gets me. The small-town vibes, found family moments, and heartfelt emotions were everything I hoped for, and once again, Lauren’s writing reminded me why she’s an auto-read author for me. Her pacing, humor, and character depth always keep me hooked, even when the book runs a little long.
That said, this wasn’t a perfect read. The middle dragged a bit, and I felt the story could’ve been tighter without losing its heart. The possessive subplot didn’t add much and honestly felt unnecessary, the romance was already strong without it. But despite those small hiccups, the emotional payoff, the character growth, and the connection between Lorenzo and Lily made this story worth it.
Overall, Love Arranged delivered everything I look for in a Lauren Asher romance: great tropes, heartfelt emotion, and characters that stay with you even after the last page. It might not have hit the five-star mark for me, but it was a solid, satisfying four-star read, and another reminder of why I’ll always pick up whatever Lauren writes next.
About the author
Lauren Asher is a Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author of contemporary romance, including the beloved Dirty Air, Dreamland Billionaires and Lakefront Billionaires series. She enjoys writing about flawed yet relatable characters you can’t help falling in love with and fictional worlds you wish were real. Her favourite activities outside of writing include DIY projects, binging old episodes of Parks and Rec, and searching Yelp for new restaurants before choosing her trusted favourite. She works best after her morning coffee and will never deny a nap.
Practical Information for Readers
Love Arranged by Lauren Asher Book Formats
Love Arranged by Lauren Asher is available in various formats to suit every reader’s preference:
Paperback: Ideal for readers who enjoy the tactile experience of holding a physical book.
eBook: Convenient for on-the-go reading, available on all major e-reader platforms.
Audiobook: Narrated with emotional depth, available on platforms like Audible.
PDF Love Arranged : While some may search for a PDF version, it’s recommended to opt for legal eBook options to support the author.
Where to find Love Arranged by Lauren Asher PDF
Amazon Kindle: Offers a user-friendly interface with customizable reading settings.
Barnes & Noble Nook: Another popular platform with a wide selection of e-books.
Apple Books: Provides seamless integration with Apple devices and a smooth reading experience.
Love Arranged by Lauren Asher Age Rating
I’d recommend Love Arranged by Lauren Asher for readers aged 17+ due to explicit sexual content and themes of grief and loss. The book deals with the death of parents, which could be triggering for some readers, so keep that in mind before diving in.
