The View Was Exhausting

3.5 stars. This is the only “fake dating” book I've read that 1) has a genuinely good reason for the MCs to do so (not just “I want my ex to be jealous”) and 2) realistically portrays the very real hurt that it can cause to both participants in the ruse (besides “oh no, I've caught feelings”).

Bogs down a little too much in the middle, and neither Win nor Leo are always likeable (especially Leo, a “poor little rich boy” whose primary redeeming feature is his willingness to drop everything and help Win whenever she needs him). But the challenges of being a young British Indian actress trying to break into Hollywood, and the misogynistic, capricious nature of celebrity gossip (the very fact that Leo and Win need to be seen together anytime someone accuses Win of being “difficult) ring true.

Note: you can tell this book is “romantic fiction” rather than “contemporary romance” because there is no cute cartoon characters on the cover.