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Beyond Compare

Penny Jordan

192 pages

A deliciously angsty fake-dating romp where a scheme to win back an ex sparks an entirely unexpected, all-consuming romance.

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What it feels like

This classic romance delivers the quintessential fake-dating experience, wrapping the reader in a cozy yet emotionally charged atmosphere of simmering tension and delicious angst. The narrative moves at a brisk, engaging pace, driven entirely by the characters' internal turmoil and their stubborn refusal to see what is right in front of them. The prose is earnest and emotion-forward, focusing intently on the shifting dynamics between two people who think they are in control of a simple scheme, only to be blindsided by genuine chemistry. It is a deeply satisfying read for anyone who loves the delicious irony of watching two brokenhearted people accidentally fall head over heels for each other while trying to win back the wrong partners.

Mood
  • angsty
  • emotionally charged
  • tense
  • cozy
Tone
  • earnest
  • dramatic
  • romantic
  • playful
Pace
brisk
Themes
fake relationship · moving on from the past · unexpected attraction · jealousy · self-discovery
The writing
Emotionally direct and heavily focused on the characters' internal turmoil and simmering chemistry.
The arc
Begins in stubborn denial and heartbreak, shifting through simmering tension into a sweeping realization of genuine love.
Who it's for
Readers who devour classic fake-dating tropes and love watching characters slowly realize they are pining for the wrong person.
Content notes
  • mild emotional manipulation
  • past infidelity

About the book

It was a mistake. It just had to be Surely Howard would come to his senses and realize Holly was the one for him. When he did, she'd be waiting.

Meanwhile, though, Holly Witchell was determined to make Howard Neston

appreciate what he had lost in jilting her for her glamorous schoolmate, Rosamund. And who better than Drew Hammond to help her--after all, Rosamund had jilted Drew to become engaged to Howard.

It seemed logical for Holly and Drew to pretend to be lovers while theywaited for their real loves to change their minds....

Description from Open Library.

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