Book Review: Just for Show by Julie Hamilton

Posted December 20, 2021 by WendyW in Blogging, Book Review / 13 Comments

Just for Show
by Julie Hamilton
Publication Date December 28, 2021
Published by Carina Press
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Genres: Fiction / Romance / Contemporary, Fiction / Romance / General, Fiction / Romance / Romantic Comedy, Fiction / Women
Pages: 235
Format: ARC

#Twitterbae forever…

They'll fake a relationship for the social media exposure, but can they be more than a hashtag?

Here's how things are going so far for me in Chicago:

  1. Messed up my attempt at asking out the gorgeous woman next to me on the plane.
  2. Couldn't catch up to her at O'Hare.
  3. I'm hoping she finds me on Twitter.
  4. Maybe if she sees this, we can split another cheese plate sometime.

It doesn't take long for Luke Murphy's tweet to go viral. So it also doesn't take long to reconnect with Audrey. Nailed it. But at what cost? His network has put his whole career as a TV home renovations carpenter on the line. A midair meet cute is exactly what they want.

After recovering from the shock, Audrey Whitaker can see the benefits of faking a relationship for social media exposure. She'll get the publicity to launch her photography business—her lifelong dream—and she'll get to spend time with a man who can, as his fans say, "really fill out a plaid shirt."

Luke and Audrey agree to spend the summer together to get what they each need, then say goodbye. And to keep it professional, they'll follow all the rules…except the "no kissing" one. And maybe the "no sex" one, too! But with so much on the line, they definitely can't fall in love.


My Review:

Just for Show by Julie Hamilton is a contemporary romance novel set mostly in Chicago.  It’s a lovely story of a chance meeting, and then a social media frenzy that kept the two main characters together. 

Audrey Whitaker is flying home to Chicago from Boston after a fairly stressful work trip as a conference event planner.  She impulsively decides to upgrade her seat to first-class and ends up sitting next to a very handsome carpenter.  They fill the time during the flight with talk and they spend the time getting to know each other.  But, when the flight is over, Audrey walks away before they get a chance to exchange phone numbers.  

Luke Murphy is a carpenter for a television show on HomeTV and is flying to Chicago, his home, to visit family and to film a pilot for a show about renovating victorian homes in Chicago.  When he spends his flight sitting next to a gorgeous woman, he’s disappointed after they land and she flees the aircraft before he is able to get her phone number.  

Disappointed that he lost his chance with Audrey, Luke sends out a tweet to his fans that says “Here’s how things are going so far for me in Chicago:

1) Messed up my attempt at asking out the gorgeous woman next to me on the plane.

2) Couldn’t catch up to her at O’Hare.

3) I’m hoping she finds me on Twitter.

4) Maybe if she sees this, we can split another cheese plate sometime”

The tweet goes viral and causes problems for both Audrey and Luke.  Audrey has always dreamed of starting a photography business and she realizes that Luke and his popularity on Twitter can help her find clients.  And Luke’s producer has suggested that he use his social media presence to help promote his new show.  So, Audrey and Luke decide to team up and fake date in order to help promote Audrey’s photography business and Luke’s new DIY show.  

I thoroughly enjoyed Just for Show and loved the chemistry between Audrey and Luke. I liked that this book uses a lot of social media references and illustrates both the negatives and positives of social media use both for personal and professional uses.  It neither glamorizes nor demonizes the use of social media, but instead gives a fairly realistic look at how it can help, and hinder relationships.  

I recommend Just for Show to anyone who enjoys contemporary romances. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book.  The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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