Artificial Sweethearts, Julie Hammerle

Netgalley copy in exchange for an honest review. 

The Blurb 

It’s not chemistry between Tinka Foster and Sam Anderson that made them agree to fake date. With her parents trying to set her up with an annoying student golf coach, and intentionally single Sam’s family pressuring him to bring a date to his brother’s wedding, they could both use a drama-free summer.

So it’s not his muscular arms and quick wit that makes Tinka suggest they tell everyone they’re both taken. Definitely not. And it’s not butterflies that makes a kiss for appearances during the lake party go on way too long—so long that Sam wishes it were real.

But Tinka keeps people at arm’s length—she’s always been second best, even to her parents. And her relationship-for-show could crush everything when she realizes she’s done with fake, pretend, and second-best.

Disclaimer: This Entangled Teen Crush book contains bikinis at the lake, a lot of making out in dark theaters, and a meet-cute you’ll read twice.

My Thoughts 

A few months ago, I got to read and review the first book in the North Pole, Minnesota series by Julie Hammerle. You can read my review here.  

So when I was sent the second book, Artifical Sweethearts, for review, I may have squealed very loudly, as I had loved the first book.

This book is as good as the first one. You find all the elements you loved before: the great characters, the fun aspect of the story, the more dramatic one, the heart and the writing.

I loved it all.

The characters were gorgeous. Sam and Tinka are truly good people, ones that I would love to know in real life. I LOVED their story, as well as how much they evolve (on their own and together) from the beginning until the end. Their development was well-paced and believable. That's the most important thing for me: they all feel very real and flawed, which is the best way to portray real life. 

The story had me cringe and bite my lips in frustration at how much I wanted to know how it would end. This is a very good point, in my opinion.

All in all, as I said, I found everything I loved in this book, and I always found myself wanting more. Julie Hammerle is one of the new authors on my list that I know I can trust for a good time and quality story-telling. Can't wait for what's to come next!

Selected Quotes 

• "You're not horrible for feeling the way you feel. I know that for sure." 
• "Can we hug? I think we need to hug."

★★★★★  

Links 

Goodreads 
Author's website 
Twitter