Love You, Mean It by Jilly Gagnon
A playful romantic comedy featuring dueling delis, fake dating, a shockingly awesome ex, and just the right amount of amnesia.
Ellie Greco wishes she weren’t stuck in Milborough. For a few brief, shining years, she escaped her hometown to pursue her dream career—designing beautiful, elaborate costumes for theater—until her father’s death five years ago called her home to run the family’s decades-old deli. Yes, she loves the place, but she’d always thought she was meant for more exciting things than stocking the right tinned fish. But when Ellie hears that a local landlord is planning to rent to Mangia, the glitzy gourmet food department store, Greco’s Deli’s very existence is suddenly in jeopardy.
She tries to plead her case to Theo Taylor, scion of the property management firm about to put her out of business, but their meeting goes from bad (it’s not her fault he’s infuriating) to worse (no one expects the ceiling to literally fall in).
With Theo out cold, Ellie panics and claims to be his fiancée… and almost passes out herself when amnesia means Theo seems to actually believe her. Soon, the effects of the head injury wear off, but Theo proposes that their “engagement” stick around. If they manage to convince enough people they might both get what they an end to the Mangia deal. Ellie doesn’t trust him (after all, if Theo Taylor wants it, how can it be good for her?) but seeing no other option, reluctantly agrees.
And miraculously, the fake engagement seems to be working—even Ted, Theo’s shrewd, cold father seems convinced—that is until Sam, Theo’s ex-fiance, reappears on the scene. Not only does she see through their ruse, she proposes an arrangement of her own, forcing Ellie to decide between blossoming friendship, her family legacy, and the burgeoning romance she frankly never asked for.
This was cute. I really liked both Ellie and Theo.
Ellie returned home from NYC after her father passed away. She took over the family deli that had been running for generations. It wasn’t her ideal career path, but being there makes her feel closer to her dad. And she’s good at it. But if this new superstore opens, that will be the end of the deli. There’s no way they can compete. She makes a deal with Theo (who helps run his father’s company) to pretend to be engaged. His father is obsessed with appearances, so he can’t possibly sell to a business that would hurt Ellie. But it’s not a sure thing. It’s all about money for him, but Theo just wants to preserve the old building. Ellie and Theo spend a lot of time together and she finds out that he’s not what she expected. They are very Pretty In Pink though. Ellie doesn’t have money at all and Theo’s family is the rich country club type. Theo’s ex Sam comes back into town and also tries to make a deal with Ellie. It complicates things even more.
I gave this book 4 1/2 stars.
Thank you to the publisher for sending a Netgalley link.
Have you read this? Is it on your TBR?
