ARC Review: To Have and To Fake by Veronica Adler

To Have and To Fake by Veronica Adler

"To Have and To Fake" by Veronica Adler, is a marriage of convenience that unfolds between two rivals. Kassius Sutherland, known as Kash, finds himself trapped in a web of familial obligations, compelled by his father to marry someone he has no interest in, and is finding a way out of this. Enters Naina, who is now dragged back into her past when her dad’s death thrusts her into a desperate fight to save her family's Inn, a legacy she never wanted to take ownership of.

"To Have and To Fake" talks about the impact of an abusive father, and the weighty expectations that come with inherited legacies. Naina grapples with her own childhood trauma because of which she never wanted to return to her hometown, further complicated by the looming presence of Kash both due to the guilt she carries for playing a part in his recent million-dollar lawsuit, and because of his family’s legacy which put her family’s legacy in debt. Kash offers Naina, to marry him for six months in exchange for paying off her debts and helping her rebuild her Inn. Will Naina accept his offer? If she did accept the offer because the book obviously is about marriage of convenience, will their union born out of necessity blossom into something genuine, or will the guilt of Naina keep them apart?

Let’s dive into what drew me to this book, starting with the elements I absolutely loved before touching on the less impressive bits (though honestly, there’s not much to criticize). The chemistry between Kash and Naina is what really steals the show! Kash, with his grumpy demeanor and the weight of his family reputation on his shoulders, pairs perfectly with Naina, the quick-witted firecracker who never misses an opportunity to throw a sarcastic jab at him. I also loved the relationship between Kash and Sami, Naina’s younger sister. Sami being the adopted daughter of Kash and Naina. Sami runs to Kash for help, the way Sami trusts Kash gives the reader a sense of feeling that Kash is the brother Sami never had. I also loved how the author included Naina’s Indian culture in the book, it gave me a sense of relatability. Reading about Kash and his childhood traumas, I just wish that if he was a real person, I could hug him because that man has been through a lot because of his waste of space father.

On another note, Reid’s character, although he plays a minor role, gives off those irresistible "golden retriever guy" vibes. However, if the tension between him and Vera stems from some past betrayal, namely cheating, I might just end up disliking him. The source of their animosity remains a mystery, do I smell a potential spin-off series focused on their rocky relationship? 

Now, onto the one sour note of my experience with this book: its length. I found myself taking frequent breaks, which led to diving into two other books before finally circling back to this one. I even pulled an all-nighter in a desperate bid to finish, only to realize I still had a staggering 50% left to tackle!

Rating 4.5/5 (The .5 only because I felt the book was lengthy)

Overall, this book made me feel things a romance book normally would. Veronica, you have no idea how much I wanted to feel something while reading a book. So, thank you for that. Despite it being a lengthy book, I very much enjoyed reading this book. As I sit here, writing the review, I can’t seem to find anything to criticize apart from the slow pacing. If you’re someone who would jump into a marriage of convenience, a grumpy millionaire who turns soft for his girl then this book is something you would love reading!

Happy Reading!♥️

Thank You Love Notes PR and Veronica Alder for this opportunity.♥️