love, within reason by everalda ocampo

published: June 18, 2024
source: ARC 
rating:★★★★✩

from goodreads:

Sometimes pretending to be in love can lead to the real thing.

Marcos Lopez has loved Mari Ortega since they were kids. Friend-zoned forever, he's used to secretly pining for her. As a landscape architect, he understands that beautiful things blossom over time. So, when Mari begs him to pretend to be her fiancé and make her ex, Javy jealous, Marcos agrees. Mari's always seen Marcos as quirky, maybe even annoying. He's just too much - too smart, too happy, and way too intense for her. But she knows he likes her and that is a weapon she can wield against Javy. One glimpse of Marcos by her side and Javy will come crawling back, begging for another chance. It's a manipulative plan, but "all's fair in love and war," right? Except, the more time Mari spends with Marcos, the less "annoying" he becomes.

Suddenly, the lines between pretend and reality blur. What if the jealous act ignites a real spark between them? And what if this game ends up costing them more than they're willing to pay? this book contains flower bouquets, possessive partners, and a cute dog. 'Love Within Reason' is a STEAMY "fake dating" romance. It's Book 3 in the Pilsen series. Each story in this small-town series is stand-alone and ends in a happily ever after. Yet they are all intertwined.

my review:
thank you to everalda for letting me read this arc for an honest review!! i REALLY liked this book!! it was an easy, playful, and interesting read. i loved mari, she was a great main character. i loved her energy and her determination to be the best in all things she set her mind to. i was irritated with her in the beginning with the whole javy situation but that panned out the way it should have! marcos is like the dream boyfriend, will do anything to make his woman happy. i love that he stuck up for what he believed in and didn’t let his family dictate his life. javy was just a stick in the mud the whole time, i wanted him to disappear every time he got mentioned. i love the final interaction between mari and javy and love that he got to see that she got what she truly deserved while he’s rotting away!! the tias and tios and family intervening makes this story so much more accurate, who doesn’t have meddling family members? it’s relatable as a latina! 

i wish we would have gotten more of mari and marcos relationship instead of skipping to the end but the way the book played out kind of made up for it. it would have been nice to see what developed in between the year time jump but i still loved them together. it seemed like a fake love the way it happened so fast but i guess when you know, you know. but it also shows us to never settle for less especially when you know you deserve more! 

i will definitely be diving into more of everalda's books. i love the fast pace of them and how they she keeps you entertained the whole way through. thank you for allowing me to review and read your arc! 

favorite quotes:
“people might smile in your face and then stab you in the back, but that’s not me. i’m direct. i say what i mean.”

“the nice thing about people hating you is that you didn’t have to waste energy getting them to like you.”