330 pages 4/5
Library loan, romance, book series, fiction, women’s fiction
Ten Rules For Faking It, book 1
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3701083745
How to Love Your Neighbor, book 2
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59050146
This is part of a series which can be read alone as each book focuses on a different couple's relationship. The other books provide context as the characters cross over into each book since they are brothers.
The conclusion of the Jansen Brothers series covers the story of the oldest brother, Wesley Jansen. He was the last brother to break away from their controlling father in Boston. The brothers have been gradually building their own empire with the help of their mother. Wes finds he isn’t the only newcomer to San Verde, CA when he meets Hailey Sharpe, who opened By the Cup salad shop.
Hailey is laser focused on making her specialized salad shop a success but finding it difficult to market her salads next to the wonderful pastry shop owned by Tara. Over time, Hailey befriends the other shop owners in the area who meet to discuss cross marketing ideas. Hailey needs all the help she can get since the only other person she knows here is her cousin Piper. You can't live in this town without meeting the Jansen brothers who are slowly rebuilding their family empire away from their controlling father's influence.
Wes finally decides to leave Boston to join his brothers Chris and Noah in CA. Wes is the oldest Jansen and took on the burden of keeping the stress of their parent's divorce from them. It also jaded his view of marriage and commitment. His focus is primarily to develop a strategic plan for the company's future. When he meets Hailey there is an attraction that is unfamiliar to both of them. They eventually find themselves together where they learn more about each other and their future goals. Ultimately, they decide that they can be just friends as neither wants a relationship the career ambitions to distract them from career ambitions.
Of course, this sort of arrangement is bound to fail. The road of their friends to lovers story is bumpy and often frustrating. Both characters have annoying personalities which creates obstacles until they learn to communicate. Wes comes from a wealthy family and has no problem with wanting to "fix" Hailey's problems with money. Hailey who was raised to work hard to succeed is offended by Wes's gestures. He doesn't "get it" and feels she is pushing him away and she doesn't "get it" that it's okay to not take on the burden alone.
It is an amusing story which leaves all three Jansen brothers finding their happily ever after.
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