March into spring with 7 romances to usher in the new season

If I Never Met You by Mhairi McFarlane

Who doesn’t love the fake relationship trope? Two people joined in a fauxmance where the inevitable conclusion is developing feelings. It’s absolutely delicious, and Mhairi McFarlane has put her spin on the trope in If I Never Met You.

Laurie just got dumped by her boyfriend of over a decade. And to add insult to injury, they work at the same law firm, where news of his girlfriend’s pregnancy has taken the office by storm. Laurie’s life is in shambles, and it’s become water-cooler talk, the kind of humiliating office gossip that people thrive off of, but Laurie refuses to be counted out. If her colleagues want a show then she’ll give them a show. Enter: Jamie Carter, notorious playboy.

By the grace of serendipity, Laurie and Jamie end up on the same broken-down elevator together, and they discover they can be of use to one another. Laurie needs a hot fake boyfriend to show the office that she’s not a jilted, lovelorn ex. Jamie needs to show his bosses that he’s serious, and the best way to do that is to take up with a respectable woman and show that he can commit. Their partnership is a win-win.

But the thing is, pretending to be in love can lead to actually being in love, and that’s a problem when said love affair has an expiration date. Falling in love in full view of the office and social media was definitely not a part of the plan.

If I Never Met You is available March 24 in print, audio, and e-format.