Love You, Mean It
A Novel
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3.8 • 4 Ratings
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- $12.99
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
A playful romantic comedy featuring dueling delis, fake dating, a shockingly awesome ex, and just the right amount of amnesia
“[A] delightfully tropey rom-com . . . This is a sweet confection.”—Publishers Weekly
Ellie Greco wishes she weren’t stuck in Milborough. For a few brief, shining years, she escaped her hometown to pursue her dream career—designing beautiful, elaborate costumes for theater—until her father's death five years ago called her home to run the family's decades-old deli. Yes, she loves the place, but she’d always thought she was meant for more exciting things than stocking the right tinned fish. But when Ellie hears that a local landlord is planning to rent to Mangia, the glitzy gourmet food department store, the very existence of Greco’s Deli is suddenly in jeopardy.
She tries to plead her case to Theo Taylor, scion of the property management firm that is about to put her out of business, but their meeting goes from bad (it’s not her fault he’s infuriating) to worse (no one expects the ceiling to literally fall in).
With Theo out cold, Ellie panics and claims to be his fiancée . . . and almost passes out herself when amnesia means Theo seems to actually believe her. Soon, the effects of the head injury wear off, but Theo proposes that their “engagement” stick around. If they manage to convince enough people, they might both get what they want: an end to the Mangia deal. Ellie doesn’t trust him (after all, if Theo Taylor wants it, how can it be good for her?) but seeing no other option, she reluctantly agrees.
And miraculously, the fake engagement seems to be working—even Ted, Theo’s shrewd, cold father seems convinced—that is, until Sam, Theo’s ex-fiancée, reappears on the scene. Not only does she see through their ruse, but she proposes an arrangement of her own, forcing Ellie to decide between a blossoming friendship, her family legacy, and the burgeoning romance she frankly never asked for.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
With this delightfully tropey rom-com, Gagnon (Scenes of the Crime) introduces Ellie Greco, who returns to her hometown of Milborough, Mass., from New York City to run her family's decades-old deli after the death of her father. Upon learning that Taylor Property Management is planning to make a deal to entice an upscale Italian grocer to town, Ellie sets out to stop the scheme before it can put the deli out of business. Her meeting with Theo Taylor, son of the property management firm's CEO, ends in disaster, however, when a freak accident lands Theo in the hospital with a head injury. A panicked Ellie tells the EMTs that she's his fiancée so she can stay with him—only for Theo to wake up with amnesia and believe her lie. Theo's memory soon returns, but he proposes they maintain their fake engagement to stop his father from going through with the grocery deal, believing that Ellie will have more sway as Theo's fiancée. Fake dating gives rise to attraction and intimacy, and Gagnon expertly combines humor and tenderness as this unlikely couple discovers hidden depths in each other. This is a sweet confection.
Customer Reviews
An Entertaining Read!
Ellie moved home to help operate Greco’s Deli when her dad died 5 years ago, leaving her dream job behind. Greco’s Deli is threatened by a gourmet grocery store, Mangia, wanting to buy the space of a camping store, owned by Theo’s family. When Ellie is meeting with Theo about this buyout, a metal cage falls from the ceiling and hits Theo on the head, causing amnesia. In order for Ellie to be with him in the hospital, she had to be family, so she told the nurse that she was his fiancée. Theo is first confused and then believes her. He starts to question their relationship, but Ellie plays it off by saying you need to rest. Will this be the way she can convince Theo not to sell to Mangia or will this plan backfire?
A highly entertaining read that will have you turning the pages to find out who wins in the end? Is it Ellie saving her family’s deli or Theo selling their store to Mangia? The characters are fun, entertaining, and will make you laugh! If you need a fun light read, then I highly recommend it!
3 Stars!
3 Stars! Such a cute young adult romantic comedy. The main characters were Ellie Greco & Theo Taylor. I liked Theo but Ellie had a lot of growing to do and I only really liked her at the end. She was kind of a jerk. This is the first time I’m reading this author. I enjoyed reading this one and would read her work again. This book had amnesia, fake dating, harsh words, coming to terms with lost dreams, realizing new dreams, an ex fiancé, making friends, dueling businesses and stuck up rich people. All in all, it was an entertaining, interesting book with lots of love and a HEA ending. A few ‘sexy times’ that were hot but not too long & you can easily skim through if that’s not your thing. The beginning few chapters were a bit slow but it picks up about a quarter of the way through.
*I received this book at no charge & I voluntarily left this review.*
Endearing characters, hilarious storyline!!
Coming from an Italian family myself, I know all too well the importance of attending Sunday dinner, cooking together in the kitchen and dropping everything when you are needed. Ellie’s life changed five years ago when her Dad died and she returned home to run the family deli. This kind of small business is the cornerstone of any Italian neighborhood, not only as a place to shop but also as a place to gossip, try out new recipes or complain about big business running amok in their close-knit community. Ellie Greco was ready to take on Theo Taylor, the heir apparent to the biggest real estate company in town. Good thing for her that her cousin Bella still had Theo’s number so with a quick text, she set up a meeting with the enemy!
What ensues is a fake engagement/business relationship that would hopefully save Ellie’s beloved deli from becoming just a memory to all who shopped there. Ellie wasn’t impressed with Theo’s fancy car, trendy clothes or his abrupt attitude toward her plight. Thanks to an errant ceiling tile that rendered Theo unconscious, Ellie quickly became his adoring fiancee so she could accompany him to the hospital. Their meet cute created a whirlwind of social events to introduce Ellie to Theo’s father’s elite group of pompous friends and business associates. Ellie would rather spend the day handing out salami samples at the deli than mingle with rude people who thought she wasn’t good enough for Theo. What happens when the lines between business and pleasure are crossed? Will Ellie and Theo find what they are both looking for or will their pasts complicate their future desires?