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One Little Lie
Adam Oliver 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 me. Loathed my very existence. He had every right to, but that didn’t make my life any easier the afternoon I had to rescue him on the side of the road.
But worse than rescuing a guy who hated me to his core was the lie I told my parents.
Because I’d just told them that my long-term boyfriend was finally back in town.
My long-term boyfriend who didn’t actually exist.
The one named Adam Oliver—the guy I’d crushed on all through high school.
So the real Adam had no idea that he and I were engaged in a years-long, committed, serious relationship.
And, somehow, some way, I needed to convince him to play along with my one little lie.
But worse than rescuing a guy who hated me to his core was the lie I told my parents.
Because I’d just told them that my long-term boyfriend was finally back in town.
My long-term boyfriend who didn’t actually exist.
The one named Adam Oliver—the guy I’d crushed on all through high school.
So the real Adam had no idea that he and I were engaged in a years-long, committed, serious relationship.
And, somehow, some way, I needed to convince him to play along with my one little lie.
430 pages, ebook
First published June 25, 2019
About the author
Whitney Barbetti
17 books1,344 followers***Please message me via my website - I am almost never on Goodreads! Thank you!***
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I am the author of new adult and contemporary romance novels. Please visit my website to see all of my current novels.
Join my Facebook fan group (not a street team) for first looks at upcoming books, exclusive cover reveals, and giveaways!
I am the author of new adult and contemporary romance novels. Please visit my website to see all of my current novels.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 169 reviews
June 27, 2019
ONE LITTLE LIE: Is a full length, standalone, romance, novel by Whitney Barbetti. In this we meet Adam and Hollis. Spoken in ‘Dual Perspectives’
Even though my arcs were combusting off my kindle one look at this cover and I hunted down this book like the shameless cover hoe hussy I am!! 🙈Thank god the pages within lived up to this gorgeous cover, once I'd started I couldn't put it down.
It all started with a note in high school...
This was really easy to get into, it starts off in high school, eighteen year old Hollis has harboured a secret crush on the bad boy musician Adam for years. When she learns that he's going to some party she decides to tag along with her best friend Tori, she ends up chatting with Adam for sometime, their banter and flirtatious behaviour flowed freely, things seemed to be going really well between them, when within a blink of an eye things go back to how they used to be. Him hating on her.
Years later
It all started with 'One Little Lie' what do you do when your mother keeps trying to pressure you into going out with nice boys she wants to set you up with, you lie, and say that you've been dating someone for years.
Problem solved..
But what happens when your very best friend opens her mouth in front of your parents and says the guys name is Adam and that he's a musician.. And the only guy you know is that guy..The guy that hates you.. The one you've had a crush on since forever.
And now he's back in town..
Now you have to convince him to become your fake boyfriend for however long it takes for your parents to get off your back. How hard could it be?
This was so much more than I could've hoped for, Hollis was like an eighteenth century virgin, never wanting to step on anyone's toes, the yes girl who was too afraid to say no, controlled by overbearing parents who dangled her inheritance over her nose. It was hard not to connect with her character.
Adam on the other hand I found it a bit slower to connect with, a chip on his shoulder that he carried with him for many years, but when it came to family he stepped up when no one else would and that's where I started loving him. His sister was his weakness, there's nothing he wouldn't do for her. So heartwarming to read.
June 27, 2019
I know these kinds of reviews are just your absolute favorites. So, I am starting this review off with my infamous bullet points that I want to discuss all throughout this review:
-Secondary characters that jump right off the page.
-Fun banter.
-Tension & angst.
-Whitney's writing.
The secondary characters. If these people in this book do not put a smile on your face at one point (or eighteen points, looking at you Tori) then you just need to go and get yourself a sense of humor. Literally these secondary characters jump off of these pages and feel like he realest group of people you will ever meet. From Casey, to Navy, to Tori, you will never, ever feel alone when you are reading this book.
Fun banter. Back to the secondary characters for a second-- the fun banter between Adam and Hollis was nice, sure but lets be honest here for a second: the real fun was between Adam and Hollis and the multiple secondary characters we see all throughout.
Tension & angst. Do I need to say more? I mean seriously? If you love tension and angst (I know you do, we all eat that stuff up) THIS BOOK WILL BE LIFE FOR YOU. Every time you turn the page, Whitney creates this slow burn that burrows itself inside of you and builds until you feel like you will literally combust. But her pacing is perfect. The timing is perfect. It was all just perfect for me. Everything in this novel happens for the right reason and at the right time.
Whitney's writing. It's effortless. That is the only word that I can come up to describe it. Whether she is writing the serious stuff or writing the fun stuff, it's effortless. And each time she writes a new book she only gets better and better. Not many authors grow and progress like that, but it's my absolute favorite when I get to witness it first hand.
Adam... Hollis... hell, even Tori! Whoever you choose to navigate towards more, I do not think you will be disappointed. They are both two great characters who are not at all who they come across as. The depth they had was mesmerizing. They never bored me and they never angered me. They were slowly transitioning into the two people they were meant to be and it was truly beautiful.
As I close up this review I want to end it with this: do not sit there and say "oh, Whitney is one of Talon's good friends of course she loves this book!" That is not me. If you know me even at all, you will know that that is not me. I will never play you or any one else like that. This book was a complete package. It was heartfelt, funny, tension-filled, and all around a superb read. Living in Adam and Hollis' world filled my world with joy. Their little moments together were such huge moments to me.
DISCLAIMER: If Adam Oliver isn't you're new fave book boyfriend, you're a damn liar. His growth, redemption, and all around character was just ugh. I said what I said.
-Secondary characters that jump right off the page.
-Fun banter.
-Tension & angst.
-Whitney's writing.
The secondary characters. If these people in this book do not put a smile on your face at one point (or eighteen points, looking at you Tori) then you just need to go and get yourself a sense of humor. Literally these secondary characters jump off of these pages and feel like he realest group of people you will ever meet. From Casey, to Navy, to Tori, you will never, ever feel alone when you are reading this book.
Fun banter. Back to the secondary characters for a second-- the fun banter between Adam and Hollis was nice, sure but lets be honest here for a second: the real fun was between Adam and Hollis and the multiple secondary characters we see all throughout.
Tension & angst. Do I need to say more? I mean seriously? If you love tension and angst (I know you do, we all eat that stuff up) THIS BOOK WILL BE LIFE FOR YOU. Every time you turn the page, Whitney creates this slow burn that burrows itself inside of you and builds until you feel like you will literally combust. But her pacing is perfect. The timing is perfect. It was all just perfect for me. Everything in this novel happens for the right reason and at the right time.
Whitney's writing. It's effortless. That is the only word that I can come up to describe it. Whether she is writing the serious stuff or writing the fun stuff, it's effortless. And each time she writes a new book she only gets better and better. Not many authors grow and progress like that, but it's my absolute favorite when I get to witness it first hand.
Adam... Hollis... hell, even Tori! Whoever you choose to navigate towards more, I do not think you will be disappointed. They are both two great characters who are not at all who they come across as. The depth they had was mesmerizing. They never bored me and they never angered me. They were slowly transitioning into the two people they were meant to be and it was truly beautiful.
As I close up this review I want to end it with this: do not sit there and say "oh, Whitney is one of Talon's good friends of course she loves this book!" That is not me. If you know me even at all, you will know that that is not me. I will never play you or any one else like that. This book was a complete package. It was heartfelt, funny, tension-filled, and all around a superb read. Living in Adam and Hollis' world filled my world with joy. Their little moments together were such huge moments to me.
DISCLAIMER: If Adam Oliver isn't you're new fave book boyfriend, you're a damn liar. His growth, redemption, and all around character was just ugh. I said what I said.
July 2, 2019
3 STARS
Whitney Barnetti is a new to me author, and after a taste of her writing in this book, I already know I want more. There's something very natural and fluid to her story telling that just clicked with me. And while I really wanted to love this story, try as I did, I ultimately never clicked with it fully. That's not to say that others won't love it because this was most definitely my own personal biases at play here. But before I get to those, let's talk about the things I loved.
Surprisingly, Hollis, turned out to be one of those. I'm shocked! SHOCKED I tells ya. And not because the author didn't do a great job writing a relatable heroine. But because Hollis is usually the type of heroine that makes me cringe. A little naive, a lot of a pushover, shy and sweet type of girl that's barely said no to anyone in her life. Not her parents that try to railroad her life, not the students at her college that try to use her for her tutoring skills. She's a yes man. Or a yes woman, as you will. And normally that's the exact antithesis of my preference, but there was just something so incredibly endearing about her. I couldn't help but feel for her and her plight. As the daughter of the most influential man in their small town, she had no hope of making many friends in high school. Most were afraid she'd tattle on them to her dad and get their parents fired. And as years go on and she's in college, not much has changed from her high school years.
Now here's also where things began to turn dicey for me. The pacing. Man, the pacing. It took me a while to get into the story. There's so much that happens outside of the main relationship development, so much dialogue (some feeling unnecessary) and so much backstory that I struggled to connect to the romance. Considering the amount of back and forth that happens with Hollis and Adam, I found the pacing to be too slow for my taste.
Adam is usually the exact type of hero I gravitate towards in books. He's a complex character with plenty of broken pieces stemming from his relationship or lack thereof with his alcoholic father, the impending passing of his beloved sick grandmother, and trying to take care of his 13 year old sister, there's a lot more to Adam than just a brooding and tatted musician. But then there was the judgmental almost to the point of juvenile side of him that I struggled with immensely. Adam set a high expectation for Hollis back in high school, and to be quite frank, the amount of animosity that he carried for her based on those was difficult to understand. I just didn't get it. Yes, she was a shy girl that stood by while he got bullied by kids in high school, and didn't say anything. But to carry that hate through the following years and let that set the tone for their relationship in their 20s? Yeah. Didn't click for me. There's even a part where he gets pissed at her because he didn't feel that she treated their relationship adequately because she didn't post pictures and personal stuff on Facebook. That just made me want to reach through the book and punch him in the nuts, no matter how much emotional turmoil he was going through at the time. It was so ridiculous to me, that I couldn't understand it.
The romance was a slow build, and I do mean, slow build. But it also had it's share of cute and swoony moments. Ultimately it was just one of those middle of the road books that I didn't dislike but I just didn't love either. It was an entertaining albeit somewhat forgettable sort of read, but I still enjoyed it. It hit the spot at the time and I definitely need more books by this author in my life. You can't love every book you read, but just because it didn't tick every box for me, doesn't mean it won't for you. Different strokes for different folks and all that jazz.
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Did something just change between us?”
He waited a long beat before reeling. “Not something. Everything.”
Whitney Barnetti is a new to me author, and after a taste of her writing in this book, I already know I want more. There's something very natural and fluid to her story telling that just clicked with me. And while I really wanted to love this story, try as I did, I ultimately never clicked with it fully. That's not to say that others won't love it because this was most definitely my own personal biases at play here. But before I get to those, let's talk about the things I loved.
Surprisingly, Hollis, turned out to be one of those. I'm shocked! SHOCKED I tells ya. And not because the author didn't do a great job writing a relatable heroine. But because Hollis is usually the type of heroine that makes me cringe. A little naive, a lot of a pushover, shy and sweet type of girl that's barely said no to anyone in her life. Not her parents that try to railroad her life, not the students at her college that try to use her for her tutoring skills. She's a yes man. Or a yes woman, as you will. And normally that's the exact antithesis of my preference, but there was just something so incredibly endearing about her. I couldn't help but feel for her and her plight. As the daughter of the most influential man in their small town, she had no hope of making many friends in high school. Most were afraid she'd tattle on them to her dad and get their parents fired. And as years go on and she's in college, not much has changed from her high school years.
Now here's also where things began to turn dicey for me. The pacing. Man, the pacing. It took me a while to get into the story. There's so much that happens outside of the main relationship development, so much dialogue (some feeling unnecessary) and so much backstory that I struggled to connect to the romance. Considering the amount of back and forth that happens with Hollis and Adam, I found the pacing to be too slow for my taste.
Adam is usually the exact type of hero I gravitate towards in books. He's a complex character with plenty of broken pieces stemming from his relationship or lack thereof with his alcoholic father, the impending passing of his beloved sick grandmother, and trying to take care of his 13 year old sister, there's a lot more to Adam than just a brooding and tatted musician. But then there was the judgmental almost to the point of juvenile side of him that I struggled with immensely. Adam set a high expectation for Hollis back in high school, and to be quite frank, the amount of animosity that he carried for her based on those was difficult to understand. I just didn't get it. Yes, she was a shy girl that stood by while he got bullied by kids in high school, and didn't say anything. But to carry that hate through the following years and let that set the tone for their relationship in their 20s? Yeah. Didn't click for me. There's even a part where he gets pissed at her because he didn't feel that she treated their relationship adequately because she didn't post pictures and personal stuff on Facebook. That just made me want to reach through the book and punch him in the nuts, no matter how much emotional turmoil he was going through at the time. It was so ridiculous to me, that I couldn't understand it.
The romance was a slow build, and I do mean, slow build. But it also had it's share of cute and swoony moments. Ultimately it was just one of those middle of the road books that I didn't dislike but I just didn't love either. It was an entertaining albeit somewhat forgettable sort of read, but I still enjoyed it. It hit the spot at the time and I definitely need more books by this author in my life. You can't love every book you read, but just because it didn't tick every box for me, doesn't mean it won't for you. Different strokes for different folks and all that jazz.
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June 29, 2019DNF - 78%
The slowest of the slow burns, and in my opinion, for no real reason. I didn’t connect with the characters. I liked Adam’s story, but he was still just a one note character. Same with the heroine. The trope has potential and the cover was sent from the gods, but the story didn’t do anything for me. 🤷🏽♀️
The slowest of the slow burns, and in my opinion, for no real reason. I didn’t connect with the characters. I liked Adam’s story, but he was still just a one note character. Same with the heroine. The trope has potential and the cover was sent from the gods, but the story didn’t do anything for me. 🤷🏽♀️
July 19, 2019
3.5-4 ⭐'s
“There she was, my rose; blooming for me again.”
On the surface, this book appears to be a simple high school crush turned more but it goes deeper than that.
Adam and Hollis share a connection at a high school party but then he's totally turned off by his misconstrued perceptions of her and they don't see or talk to each other for three years.
She is not necessarily introverted but she definitely doesn't stand up for herself. This has a lot to do with her always trying to please her powerful father and what he demands of her. And that has bled over into many facets of her life making her miserable.
Adam shows back up in her life and she sees that she can make a difference by helping him. It's a touchy subject since money isn't a factor for her but a huge one for him.
They are able to make a deal that hopefully helps both of them and brings them together more in each other lives...which isn't always a good thing. What is good is they spend more time together getting to know each other and lose those misconceptions.
Overall, I enjoyed Adam and Hollis and their relationship. I just didn't care for all their struggles. I felt it bogged the story down and was a bit too depressing.
I was happy with the way things wrapped up but I was left with some unanswered questions even with the epilogue.
“There she was, my rose; blooming for me again.”
On the surface, this book appears to be a simple high school crush turned more but it goes deeper than that.
Adam and Hollis share a connection at a high school party but then he's totally turned off by his misconstrued perceptions of her and they don't see or talk to each other for three years.
She is not necessarily introverted but she definitely doesn't stand up for herself. This has a lot to do with her always trying to please her powerful father and what he demands of her. And that has bled over into many facets of her life making her miserable.
Adam shows back up in her life and she sees that she can make a difference by helping him. It's a touchy subject since money isn't a factor for her but a huge one for him.
They are able to make a deal that hopefully helps both of them and brings them together more in each other lives...which isn't always a good thing. What is good is they spend more time together getting to know each other and lose those misconceptions.
Overall, I enjoyed Adam and Hollis and their relationship. I just didn't care for all their struggles. I felt it bogged the story down and was a bit too depressing.
I was happy with the way things wrapped up but I was left with some unanswered questions even with the epilogue.
June 28, 2019
❤️4 STARS❤️
Such a fun and sweet story, it has the great amount of angst and drama to keep your interest and keep you with a smile on your face.I find the story heartwarming and I enjoyed the storyline!The romance it was so great, it has slow burn and some steamy moments!
I adored Hollis and Adam, there is humor,sweetness and fun moments between them.Adam was something else I loved him, he stole my heart!
If you are looking for a fun read with fake relationship and a swoon worthy hero this is great!
Such a fun and sweet story, it has the great amount of angst and drama to keep your interest and keep you with a smile on your face.I find the story heartwarming and I enjoyed the storyline!The romance it was so great, it has slow burn and some steamy moments!
I adored Hollis and Adam, there is humor,sweetness and fun moments between them.Adam was something else I loved him, he stole my heart!
If you are looking for a fun read with fake relationship and a swoon worthy hero this is great!
January 9, 2020
4.5 stars
Thank you to the author for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion
When I saw this book on Instagram, I immediately knew that it was a book I needed to read. It meets all my requirements for a good romance and the storyline was so good.
1. Slow burn
2. Enemies to lovers
3. New Adult
4. Amazing background character storylines
One Little Lie follows Hollis and Adam in dual POV. Hollis is in her final year of college, trying to carve her own path away from her parent's expectations. Adam has been dealt a tough hand of cards and when he moves back to his hometown, finds himself leaning on the one person he loathes. Hollis.
For me, this book was EVERYTHING.
Slow burn romance is my absolute favorite. I loved feeling the sexual tension between Hollis and Adam. Insta-love is something I find extremely unrealistic and kills any storyline for me. I love feeling the sexual tension between the characters. I want to feel the pull between the characters, go along on their journey of finding love. When they finally get together I want to feel everything explode. I could've used a little more sex scenes in the book, but I'm a whore for them so I understand not every book will meet that expectation for me. The lack of sex didn't in any way make this book less amazing.
Enemies to lovers are one of my favorite tropes. It ties in extremely well with my love for a slow burn. When the characters finally stop judging each other long enough to realize they are perfect for each other, it gives me all the feels. One thing I didn't like about Adam is I feel like he was so judgemental about Hollis without even knowing her. In high school, he judged her because of who she was friends with and who she hung around. He didn't like that when bullies were picking on people she didn't step up and say anything. Now I know that this is extremely situational, but I feel like in the situations he was judging her on, it wasn't appropriate for her to do anything. This was pretty much my only problem with any of the characters. Sometimes people are just mean, and instead of blaming other people for not fixing the situation for you, you just need to understand some people suck and just move on with your life. I also feel like the reason Hollis was "upset" with Adam was subpar and I was expecting a little more from the situation because of the build-up to them talking about it.
I love a good background character. This book has multiple and I love every single one of them. I feel as though secondary characters can add so much to a story and help you get to know/understand the main characters so much more. I absolutely loved Hollis's best friend Tori. She was funny and a ride or die kind of friend and added a lot of comedy to the book. Navy and Keane, Hollis's other good friends had such a unique relationship and seemed like genuinely nice people. I would love to see a book on them because their relationship is so unique. Gram and Casey, Adam's family, were amazing. I love when authors include a non-messed up family dynamic.
I loved the fake relationship dynamic. I have only read a couple of books with this dynamic and I really like them. Obviously, you know that they will end up together in the end, but the author did it so tastefully. Everything that surrounded their fake relationship was fun and unique and I loved every minute of it.
Personally, I don't think that this book had any of the typical cliches that a lot of romances have. A book could be a 5 star read during the first half, but end in a typical cliche and it just immediately ruins the book for me. One Little Lie didn't have any of that. The author created an amazing storyline and kept me captivated until the end. She writes beautifully and it was an extremely well-written book. I started this book on a road trip and got about halfway through before we got to our destination. I literally jokingly (but not really) asked my friend if we could keep driving so I could keep reading. I tried to find any excuse I could to get back to the book. If it wasn't for other distractions, I would've read this book in one sitting because it was that freaking good.
This was my first Whitney Barbetti book and I will without a doubt be back for more. I think I am going to go down a Barbetti rabbit hole and I am zero percent mad about that. Any new adult romance lover will be obsessed with this book and you need to go read it RIGHT NOW. It is free on KindleUnlimited. Now go read it and then come thank me after :D
Thank you to the author for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion
When I saw this book on Instagram, I immediately knew that it was a book I needed to read. It meets all my requirements for a good romance and the storyline was so good.
1. Slow burn
2. Enemies to lovers
3. New Adult
4. Amazing background character storylines
One Little Lie follows Hollis and Adam in dual POV. Hollis is in her final year of college, trying to carve her own path away from her parent's expectations. Adam has been dealt a tough hand of cards and when he moves back to his hometown, finds himself leaning on the one person he loathes. Hollis.
For me, this book was EVERYTHING.
Slow burn romance is my absolute favorite. I loved feeling the sexual tension between Hollis and Adam. Insta-love is something I find extremely unrealistic and kills any storyline for me. I love feeling the sexual tension between the characters. I want to feel the pull between the characters, go along on their journey of finding love. When they finally get together I want to feel everything explode. I could've used a little more sex scenes in the book, but I'm a whore for them so I understand not every book will meet that expectation for me. The lack of sex didn't in any way make this book less amazing.
Enemies to lovers are one of my favorite tropes. It ties in extremely well with my love for a slow burn. When the characters finally stop judging each other long enough to realize they are perfect for each other, it gives me all the feels. One thing I didn't like about Adam is I feel like he was so judgemental about Hollis without even knowing her. In high school, he judged her because of who she was friends with and who she hung around. He didn't like that when bullies were picking on people she didn't step up and say anything. Now I know that this is extremely situational, but I feel like in the situations he was judging her on, it wasn't appropriate for her to do anything. This was pretty much my only problem with any of the characters. Sometimes people are just mean, and instead of blaming other people for not fixing the situation for you, you just need to understand some people suck and just move on with your life. I also feel like the reason Hollis was "upset" with Adam was subpar and I was expecting a little more from the situation because of the build-up to them talking about it.
I love a good background character. This book has multiple and I love every single one of them. I feel as though secondary characters can add so much to a story and help you get to know/understand the main characters so much more. I absolutely loved Hollis's best friend Tori. She was funny and a ride or die kind of friend and added a lot of comedy to the book. Navy and Keane, Hollis's other good friends had such a unique relationship and seemed like genuinely nice people. I would love to see a book on them because their relationship is so unique. Gram and Casey, Adam's family, were amazing. I love when authors include a non-messed up family dynamic.
I loved the fake relationship dynamic. I have only read a couple of books with this dynamic and I really like them. Obviously, you know that they will end up together in the end, but the author did it so tastefully. Everything that surrounded their fake relationship was fun and unique and I loved every minute of it.
Personally, I don't think that this book had any of the typical cliches that a lot of romances have. A book could be a 5 star read during the first half, but end in a typical cliche and it just immediately ruins the book for me. One Little Lie didn't have any of that. The author created an amazing storyline and kept me captivated until the end. She writes beautifully and it was an extremely well-written book. I started this book on a road trip and got about halfway through before we got to our destination. I literally jokingly (but not really) asked my friend if we could keep driving so I could keep reading. I tried to find any excuse I could to get back to the book. If it wasn't for other distractions, I would've read this book in one sitting because it was that freaking good.
This was my first Whitney Barbetti book and I will without a doubt be back for more. I think I am going to go down a Barbetti rabbit hole and I am zero percent mad about that. Any new adult romance lover will be obsessed with this book and you need to go read it RIGHT NOW. It is free on KindleUnlimited. Now go read it and then come thank me after :D
April 15, 2020
When I was looking for a book to complete a challenge for the Romanceopoly board and I came across this one, I knew I had to read it. This cover is absolutely stunning and it promised me the fake dating trope and lots of giggles. However, it only delivered on one.
The book starts out with our couple in high school. Hollis leaves her crush, Adam, an encouraging secret admirer note about his speech in class and telling him she will see him at an upcoming party. That is a bold move for Hollis as she's a shy introvert who doesn't typically attend anything social. Fortunately Hollis' best friend is involved Adam's best friend, so they are forced to interact at the party. They have instant chemistry - until something disastrous happens. It makes them see each other in a different light and they part on bad terms before Hollis can reveal she is the one that left him the note.
Years later, Hollis is still the smart introverted girl she was in high school. She still bows to everybody's wishes and is tired of it. Her parents want her to pursue a career that she's not interested in. However, they won't give her the funds to do what she wants until she is engaged. Hollis has been telling him for years that she has a boyfriend to avoid all the marriage talk. One night, her bestie stupidly tells her parents that it is Adam Oliver. Now Hollis has no idea how she will ever receive her inheritance.
Adam escaped his hometown to pursue his music and leave his demons behind. But when his grandma falls ill, he returns home to take care of her and his little sister. He never expected to run into Hollis. The girl that turned out to be just like everybody else. When he finds out that her parents think they are in a serious relationship, he decides he can use her too. It sparks a business transaction that evolves into a slow burn romance.
This is my first book by Whitney Barbetti and it definitely will not be my last.
I will say that this is marketed as a rom-com but, in my opinion, it is far from that. It's more of an angsty new adult. We get to see these characters grow from teenagers to young adults. They are forced to deal with the crappy hand life has dealt them. However, it's not super serious. The side characters really bring some comic relief to the book. I loved the best friends! They were quirky and entertaining.
And while this is - what I call - angsty new adult, it's also a enemies-to-lovers slow burn romance thanks to our couple. Adam really has it out for Hollis in the beginning. It is a tad dramatic, but it worked out in the end. It kept him from falling for her instantly once they reconnected and added beautifully to the slow burn. It also helps Hollis come out of her shell which I appreciated. She wasn't the average goodie-two-shoes that most heroines with her traits are. I found it admirable that she decided to face her fears and stand up to her parents.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I can't wait to read more by Whitney in the future!
This review was originally posted on Sincerely, Whitney
The book starts out with our couple in high school. Hollis leaves her crush, Adam, an encouraging secret admirer note about his speech in class and telling him she will see him at an upcoming party. That is a bold move for Hollis as she's a shy introvert who doesn't typically attend anything social. Fortunately Hollis' best friend is involved Adam's best friend, so they are forced to interact at the party. They have instant chemistry - until something disastrous happens. It makes them see each other in a different light and they part on bad terms before Hollis can reveal she is the one that left him the note.
Years later, Hollis is still the smart introverted girl she was in high school. She still bows to everybody's wishes and is tired of it. Her parents want her to pursue a career that she's not interested in. However, they won't give her the funds to do what she wants until she is engaged. Hollis has been telling him for years that she has a boyfriend to avoid all the marriage talk. One night, her bestie stupidly tells her parents that it is Adam Oliver. Now Hollis has no idea how she will ever receive her inheritance.
Adam escaped his hometown to pursue his music and leave his demons behind. But when his grandma falls ill, he returns home to take care of her and his little sister. He never expected to run into Hollis. The girl that turned out to be just like everybody else. When he finds out that her parents think they are in a serious relationship, he decides he can use her too. It sparks a business transaction that evolves into a slow burn romance.
This is my first book by Whitney Barbetti and it definitely will not be my last.
I will say that this is marketed as a rom-com but, in my opinion, it is far from that. It's more of an angsty new adult. We get to see these characters grow from teenagers to young adults. They are forced to deal with the crappy hand life has dealt them. However, it's not super serious. The side characters really bring some comic relief to the book. I loved the best friends! They were quirky and entertaining.
And while this is - what I call - angsty new adult, it's also a enemies-to-lovers slow burn romance thanks to our couple. Adam really has it out for Hollis in the beginning. It is a tad dramatic, but it worked out in the end. It kept him from falling for her instantly once they reconnected and added beautifully to the slow burn. It also helps Hollis come out of her shell which I appreciated. She wasn't the average goodie-two-shoes that most heroines with her traits are. I found it admirable that she decided to face her fears and stand up to her parents.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I can't wait to read more by Whitney in the future!
This review was originally posted on Sincerely, Whitney
November 25, 2019
Hollis had a secret high school crush on Adam. Unlucky for Hollis, Adam seemed to hate her because of the crowd she hung around with. But at a high school party, the two shared a fleeting moment where Hollis thought something might happen between them, but the moment disappeared in an instant.
Now 3-years later, Hollis is attending college, feeling the pressure from her family to head off to law school, even though she doesn’t truly want to be a lawyer. Her parents adjusted the stipulations for her to receive her trust fund. Instead of Hollis receiving it upon graduation, she will only receive it once she’s engaged. And her parents have been led to believe that for the past several years, Hollis has been dating someone: yet another one of her little lies.
Adam is a musician and was a keyboarder in a band in Colorado, but when his grandmother becomes ill, he comes back home to take care of his little sister, Casey, and their grandmother is her primary guardian. Now Adam is feeling the stress of finding a job and providing for Casey. And now that he’s back in town, Adam runs into Hollis. The two of them decide to strike a deal: he’ll pretend to be her boyfriend in exchange for her helping him with Casey.
What started as a for-show relationship transforms into something real. But the rocky past that Hollis and Adam share could prevent them from going all-in with their feelings. And Hollis’s little white lie may blow up everything that truly matters to her.
One Little Lie is the first book in the start of a companion series by Whitney Barbetti. I enjoyed the premise of this story, but I feel like the inclusion of the fake relationship was just used as an excuse to get Hollis and Adam together. It wasn’t very prevalent and I thought the pacing of their romance was a little off. I sometimes felt really invested in their story while other times I felt disconnected. I liked the ending and I do want to continue with the next book in the series. 3.5/5 stars.
Now 3-years later, Hollis is attending college, feeling the pressure from her family to head off to law school, even though she doesn’t truly want to be a lawyer. Her parents adjusted the stipulations for her to receive her trust fund. Instead of Hollis receiving it upon graduation, she will only receive it once she’s engaged. And her parents have been led to believe that for the past several years, Hollis has been dating someone: yet another one of her little lies.
Adam is a musician and was a keyboarder in a band in Colorado, but when his grandmother becomes ill, he comes back home to take care of his little sister, Casey, and their grandmother is her primary guardian. Now Adam is feeling the stress of finding a job and providing for Casey. And now that he’s back in town, Adam runs into Hollis. The two of them decide to strike a deal: he’ll pretend to be her boyfriend in exchange for her helping him with Casey.
What started as a for-show relationship transforms into something real. But the rocky past that Hollis and Adam share could prevent them from going all-in with their feelings. And Hollis’s little white lie may blow up everything that truly matters to her.
One Little Lie is the first book in the start of a companion series by Whitney Barbetti. I enjoyed the premise of this story, but I feel like the inclusion of the fake relationship was just used as an excuse to get Hollis and Adam together. It wasn’t very prevalent and I thought the pacing of their romance was a little off. I sometimes felt really invested in their story while other times I felt disconnected. I liked the ending and I do want to continue with the next book in the series. 3.5/5 stars.
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July 13, 2019
July 11, 2019
4.5 STARS!
“This fake relationship would be easier if he didn’t hate me so much.”
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This was one of my FASTEST one-clicks to date! I adore Whitney’s writing, and One Little Lie reminded me why. Her characters are complex, yet totally relatable. I saw high school me in Hollis. Shy in expressing feelings, especially when it came to guys. Also smart, but what I related to was how she contributed her “preparedness” to her “smart.” That was totally me. School didn’t come easy, but staying on top of things helped me tremendously.
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And Adam—talk about character growth! I wasn’t sure about him at first. I completely understand the horrible hand he was dealt, and his stance on bullying, but I wasn’t sold on him at the beginning. However, the more he embraced his circumstances, and began to shed some of that hard exterior, the more I grew to love him.
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One Little Lie was an incredibly slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance, but recently I’ve come to realize that I don’t necessarily need “the heat” to enjoy a love story. Especially in Hollis and Adams case: where the story and its characters are so multi-layered, and the author delivers heart fluttering moments within the dialogue or smallest of touches between them. I’m still swooning over this one. ♥️
“This fake relationship would be easier if he didn’t hate me so much.”
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
This was one of my FASTEST one-clicks to date! I adore Whitney’s writing, and One Little Lie reminded me why. Her characters are complex, yet totally relatable. I saw high school me in Hollis. Shy in expressing feelings, especially when it came to guys. Also smart, but what I related to was how she contributed her “preparedness” to her “smart.” That was totally me. School didn’t come easy, but staying on top of things helped me tremendously.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
And Adam—talk about character growth! I wasn’t sure about him at first. I completely understand the horrible hand he was dealt, and his stance on bullying, but I wasn’t sold on him at the beginning. However, the more he embraced his circumstances, and began to shed some of that hard exterior, the more I grew to love him.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
One Little Lie was an incredibly slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance, but recently I’ve come to realize that I don’t necessarily need “the heat” to enjoy a love story. Especially in Hollis and Adams case: where the story and its characters are so multi-layered, and the author delivers heart fluttering moments within the dialogue or smallest of touches between them. I’m still swooning over this one. ♥️
June 28, 2019
Hollis is a good girl with a crush on a broody musician. Unfortunately, that boy, Adam, hates her. Why? Because the chip on his shoulder leaves him thinking good girl, rich girl Hollis is a lemming like everyone else in their small town. Which makes it even more unfortunate when years after their high school encounter, Hollis' best friend tries to stick up for her and ends up telling her parents that Adam is the the boyfriend Hollis doesn't actually have. Oops. How will Hollis ever convince Adam to go along with her little lie?
I really liked One Little Lie. Hollis is a really naive girl, but she has such a huge heart that I couldn't help but fall in love with her spirit. She's so sweet, so compassionate, the kind of person this world needs more of. Adam, on the other hand, eh, he didn't do much for me. His chip on the shoulder, broody asshole attitude did nothing to endear me to him, but because Hollis adored him, he got a pass from me. I do wish Hollis had been paired with a man worth her, but aside from Adam, I found everything else about One Little Lie wonderful! If New Adult romance is your thing, you'd do well to download your own copy of Hollis and Adam's story today.
ARC via author for an honest review.
Full review ---> Live Through Books Blog.
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August 2, 2020
DNF 20%
Kept waiting for this to pick up. Soooooo slow.
She writes him a note at the end of senior year bc she's been crushing on him for years. He hates her bc his perception is that she stands by when others are bullied, including him. Everyone in town works for her dad so she's locked into an image he requires. At a party that night, they share a moment, he gets bullied and she is indifferent. This premise was lame in the sense that it was a foregone conclusion that she must be horrible because she didn't step in for him. Judging someone after being judged and wearing it like a badge of honor isn't attractive; but I stuck with it...3yrs later and she's pretending she has a boyfriend so her dad doesn't set her up. She's waiting 9 months to collect her trust fund so she can balance out her white privilege!!! Too many ideas, weak heroine, unsexy H, and no romantic connection. Also, h is really boring.
Kept waiting for this to pick up. Soooooo slow.
She writes him a note at the end of senior year bc she's been crushing on him for years. He hates her bc his perception is that she stands by when others are bullied, including him. Everyone in town works for her dad so she's locked into an image he requires. At a party that night, they share a moment, he gets bullied and she is indifferent. This premise was lame in the sense that it was a foregone conclusion that she must be horrible because she didn't step in for him. Judging someone after being judged and wearing it like a badge of honor isn't attractive; but I stuck with it...3yrs later and she's pretending she has a boyfriend so her dad doesn't set her up. She's waiting 9 months to collect her trust fund so she can balance out her white privilege!!! Too many ideas, weak heroine, unsexy H, and no romantic connection. Also, h is really boring.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 28, 2019
One tiny lie just snowballing and rushing downhill, it's disaster waiting to happen. That's what the beautifully written story is all about. Whitney has a knack of taking simplest of scenarios, not chock-a-blocked with twists and turns and she decorates it with her flowery prose. The end result simply etches on your soul. I remember vividly every book I've read of hers.
Her characters are very pure and pristine. Colored in human shades, the situations dictating their behavior and actions
Like Hollis Vinke and Adam Oliver meet in a high school party, as the young'uns do, and they like each other. Before their per chance meeting could translate into something big and continuous, an incident happens which ends up creating misunderstandings and their paths veer off of each other.
Mishaps morphs their personalities in a way that they are standing at the opposite sides of realities. What he believes as truths are facades and what she believes in facades are truths.
He's abrasive, trigger happy and battling with his self
“You know what? That high horse you’re riding on? It’s actually a donkey.”
She's calm, quiet, introvert which is often construed as being selfish, never over acting, always complying, To the point of being a pushover. And people take advantage of her!!!
Driven by precision, she has hard work down to a science.
"If you want something bad enough, if you work hard enough for it, I can’t call that anything but passion. And passion, that’s what is remarkable.”
The beauty is in the telling. Whitney has touched my heart with this sweet story and introduced me to a multitude of side characters, a some of them are getting their own books down the line.
Cannot wait for them B🌸
4.5 stars for roses and sticky notes
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Her characters are very pure and pristine. Colored in human shades, the situations dictating their behavior and actions
Like Hollis Vinke and Adam Oliver meet in a high school party, as the young'uns do, and they like each other. Before their per chance meeting could translate into something big and continuous, an incident happens which ends up creating misunderstandings and their paths veer off of each other.
Mishaps morphs their personalities in a way that they are standing at the opposite sides of realities. What he believes as truths are facades and what she believes in facades are truths.
He's abrasive, trigger happy and battling with his self
“You know what? That high horse you’re riding on? It’s actually a donkey.”
She's calm, quiet, introvert which is often construed as being selfish, never over acting, always complying, To the point of being a pushover. And people take advantage of her!!!
Driven by precision, she has hard work down to a science.
"If you want something bad enough, if you work hard enough for it, I can’t call that anything but passion. And passion, that’s what is remarkable.”
The beauty is in the telling. Whitney has touched my heart with this sweet story and introduced me to a multitude of side characters, a some of them are getting their own books down the line.
Cannot wait for them B🌸
4.5 stars for roses and sticky notes
#BookBistroBlogApproved
Follow me :
BookBistroBlog@gmail.com
https://twitter.com/BookBistroBlog
www.instagram.com/BookBistroBlog
https://Bookbistroblogger.blogspot.com
https://www.facebook.com/groups/BookB...
June 27, 2019
One Little Lie is quite the sweet and charming fake relationship/hate to love romance. It had a delicious, angsty slow-burn (that I absolutely love), and I just loved Adam & Hollis. Watching them navigate through their fake relationship was so much fun. It started out kind of awkward because of the old feelings there, but gradually they each opened up and showed the other their true self. Both were struggling with parental issues, which I think connected them even more. They had such a natural chemistry and connection, that was evident to everyone - even when they didn't want to admit it.
One of the things I enjoyed most about this story was how the sexier times played out. Their kisses were electric and passionate; and when it came time for them to be intimate, it was subtle and tender and not explicit. Don't get me wrong, I love a good hot & steamy scene, but it wasn't necessary for Adam and Hollis. Whitney wrote this scene absolutely perfect for these two characters.
And I can't forget to mention my love for the secondary characters - Tori, Navy, and especially Keane!! I hadn't even made it halfway into this story, before I was wishing for stories for Keane & Tori. They were hilarious and wonderful, and most of all - each one was a true friend to our hero and heroine.
One of the things I enjoyed most about this story was how the sexier times played out. Their kisses were electric and passionate; and when it came time for them to be intimate, it was subtle and tender and not explicit. Don't get me wrong, I love a good hot & steamy scene, but it wasn't necessary for Adam and Hollis. Whitney wrote this scene absolutely perfect for these two characters.
And I can't forget to mention my love for the secondary characters - Tori, Navy, and especially Keane!! I hadn't even made it halfway into this story, before I was wishing for stories for Keane & Tori. They were hilarious and wonderful, and most of all - each one was a true friend to our hero and heroine.
June 26, 2019
One Little Lie brings so much ...trouble, joy, and love. Now don't get me wrong lying is bad and in some cases life changing. Hollis had no idea the spiral of chaos that would ensue from telling her parents she is involved with someone. A simple way to keep from being paraded in front of eligible suitors that were solely there to impress her father.
And yet her lie became a living breathing entity. Adam, the model for her imaginary beau, is not exactly the right choice. He hates her and he doesn't even know her.
One Little Lie is a sweet story about prejudices and pride. (See what I did there...😉) It is a learning experience for both but what a reward.
Reviewed for Sweet Spot Sisterhood
And yet her lie became a living breathing entity. Adam, the model for her imaginary beau, is not exactly the right choice. He hates her and he doesn't even know her.
One Little Lie is a sweet story about prejudices and pride. (See what I did there...😉) It is a learning experience for both but what a reward.
Reviewed for Sweet Spot Sisterhood
July 2, 2019
3.5 stars
I love a good ole slow burn, enemies to friends to lovers, fake relationship book. Only reason why I didn’t rate this higher is cuz I wanted to see more “hate” cuz I love a good hate to love BUT even though the H says he “hates” h, his actions clearly don’t show it but oh well. This was still really cute. I do appreciate how they fell in love and not in lust.
I love a good ole slow burn, enemies to friends to lovers, fake relationship book. Only reason why I didn’t rate this higher is cuz I wanted to see more “hate” cuz I love a good hate to love BUT even though the H says he “hates” h, his actions clearly don’t show it but oh well. This was still really cute. I do appreciate how they fell in love and not in lust.
June 25, 2019
Oh, I have a huge Adam Oliver Crush!! As teenagers, Hollis Vinke had a crush on Adam Oliver. Adam on the other hand didn’t think to highly of her and the crowd she hung around with. As adults, Hollis creates a lie to keep her family from setting her up “with a good man.” However, this little lie becomes much more when she bumps into non other than Adam on the side of the road one day & accidentally gets him involved with her ruse. Never in a million years did she think a lie would make them be stuck together. “Your lies have the effect of a snowball becoming an avalanche.” Can they get along long enough to convince her parents? One little lie... a fake boyfriend with your enemy...and a whole lot of hate love. They are from completely different worlds but sometimes people surprise you and they aren’t who you first thought they were. This was a fun enemies to lovers romance, a little slow to start but picks up from there. My heart broke for all Adam is dealing with. Such a strong H and I loved these two together. Told in dual POV
June 25, 2019
What do you do when your parents think you’ve had a boyfriend for years? Well you ask Adam the boy who’ve had a crush on since high school to be a fake boyfriend. Thing is though Adam hates you and you have no reason why. I love this sweet romance with some angst and drama. Hollis reminded me of myself awkward around guys. Adam made me swoon and to me he is a geeky bad guy in a way. Great romance story about finding love! 5/5 stars
November 11, 2019
Adam is just such a whinny little ...
this book has a beautiful cover!!!
Other than that, it could be shorter & leading characters just blah & pacing and dialogue need fixing
this book has a beautiful cover!!!
Other than that, it could be shorter & leading characters just blah & pacing and dialogue need fixing
July 6, 2019
Meh. Adam had the maturity of a 14 year old girl and got on my nerves with his judgmental bullshit.
June 27, 2019
The overall short and sweet of this is that it is a signature Whitney Barbetti book. You’re getting a little angst, a little sarcastic dark humor, and some characters who have to work through stuff to reach that hea finish line.
Elements to this book
•Hate to love (but really only hate on one side, also, the hate isn’t too awful. Not on the bully spectrum of meanness even though bullying is a significant theme)
•Slow burn (I would definitely consider this slow burn)
-sexy time doesn’t happen till almost the end and it was a very meaningful moment. Not gratuitous animal lust stuff.
•Fun side characters
-Keane! Tori! Navy! Lots of fun banter and comedic relief.
•unrequited crush/love
-high school crush/ love and now they’re college age.
•fake relationship
Signature Whitney Barbetti elements
•story telling. STORY TELLING. Just beautiful effortless flow.
•a moment in nature. Barbetti loves to take you out to rough it and see the views.
•wicked romantic moments like “I took a deep breath in. “Did something just change between us?” He waited a long beat before reeling. “Not something. Everything.”
•thought provoking lines like “you subjected yourself to pain just to see if you could still feel it?”
•”Queen”music reference
•a female protagonist who is more like us and not the us we want to be. EXAMPLE, certain famous author tries to write a woman who needs to go through metamorphosis to become who she wants to be. So she makes her find the dedication to just change. And that shit is hard; most people can’t just do stuff like that. I don’t think Hollis did that. I think it took her the whole story to feel like she can say no to people... and I’m not even sure she totally conquered that. See? RELATABLE.
I liked Hollis. I liked Adam. Together they worked with their opposite parent issues. One set who cares too much and is controlling. The other about as absent as can be. They definitely fit the NA genre. They’re aren’t thrown into a new adult story, but act like they’re 30.
Elements to this book
•Hate to love (but really only hate on one side, also, the hate isn’t too awful. Not on the bully spectrum of meanness even though bullying is a significant theme)
•Slow burn (I would definitely consider this slow burn)
-sexy time doesn’t happen till almost the end and it was a very meaningful moment. Not gratuitous animal lust stuff.
•Fun side characters
-Keane! Tori! Navy! Lots of fun banter and comedic relief.
•unrequited crush/love
-high school crush/ love and now they’re college age.
•fake relationship
Signature Whitney Barbetti elements
•story telling. STORY TELLING. Just beautiful effortless flow.
•a moment in nature. Barbetti loves to take you out to rough it and see the views.
•wicked romantic moments like “I took a deep breath in. “Did something just change between us?” He waited a long beat before reeling. “Not something. Everything.”
•thought provoking lines like “you subjected yourself to pain just to see if you could still feel it?”
•”Queen”music reference
•a female protagonist who is more like us and not the us we want to be. EXAMPLE, certain famous author tries to write a woman who needs to go through metamorphosis to become who she wants to be. So she makes her find the dedication to just change. And that shit is hard; most people can’t just do stuff like that. I don’t think Hollis did that. I think it took her the whole story to feel like she can say no to people... and I’m not even sure she totally conquered that. See? RELATABLE.
I liked Hollis. I liked Adam. Together they worked with their opposite parent issues. One set who cares too much and is controlling. The other about as absent as can be. They definitely fit the NA genre. They’re aren’t thrown into a new adult story, but act like they’re 30.
June 30, 2019
✨ DREAMY’S REVIEW ✨
Let me start off by saying that this book was hard for me to get into! The pacing in the beginning really didn’t do it for me, personally. Nonethless, after you get through a bit and into the future, it picks up in it’s own way!
One Little Lie sets the whole wheels in motion for this slow burn, enemies to lovers, second chance, fake relationship romance! My first book by this author!
That One Little Lie sets Hollis in a lot of trouble with the one person who hates her, Adam.
The same guy from high school.
The same guy she had a crush on for like ever.
The same guy from that party where one minute they had flirtatious banter and then next, he hates her.
Years later, Hollis had no idea that this one Lie would set a path of chaos and having to convince Adam to keep up with such a lie until her parents are off of her back.
It was easy to connect to Hollis and the things she faced, but it was a bit harder to connect to Adam. I didn’t know exactly how I felt about him at first, I was getting mixed feelings. But what I did like how when it came to his family, he would do anything!!
These two together had a push and pull that could possibly drive you nuts, but there was definitely something there! There were definitely some cute moments between him and Hollis!
I also enjoyed the secondary characters, especially Hollis’s best friend, Tori! She was definitely a favorite of mine!
All in all, honestly, at some points, I felt like the story was a bit too slow and had too many of the finer details that I felt we didn’t necessarily need! I struggled a lot more than I would have wished with this one. I’m all for slow burns, trust me! But this one did get a little too slow for me!
If you’re into any of the tropes mentioned above, I say give this one a shot!
Three and a half dreamy stars: 💫💫💫
Let me start off by saying that this book was hard for me to get into! The pacing in the beginning really didn’t do it for me, personally. Nonethless, after you get through a bit and into the future, it picks up in it’s own way!
One Little Lie sets the whole wheels in motion for this slow burn, enemies to lovers, second chance, fake relationship romance! My first book by this author!
That One Little Lie sets Hollis in a lot of trouble with the one person who hates her, Adam.
The same guy from high school.
The same guy she had a crush on for like ever.
The same guy from that party where one minute they had flirtatious banter and then next, he hates her.
Years later, Hollis had no idea that this one Lie would set a path of chaos and having to convince Adam to keep up with such a lie until her parents are off of her back.
It was easy to connect to Hollis and the things she faced, but it was a bit harder to connect to Adam. I didn’t know exactly how I felt about him at first, I was getting mixed feelings. But what I did like how when it came to his family, he would do anything!!
These two together had a push and pull that could possibly drive you nuts, but there was definitely something there! There were definitely some cute moments between him and Hollis!
I also enjoyed the secondary characters, especially Hollis’s best friend, Tori! She was definitely a favorite of mine!
All in all, honestly, at some points, I felt like the story was a bit too slow and had too many of the finer details that I felt we didn’t necessarily need! I struggled a lot more than I would have wished with this one. I’m all for slow burns, trust me! But this one did get a little too slow for me!
If you’re into any of the tropes mentioned above, I say give this one a shot!
Three and a half dreamy stars: 💫💫💫
June 26, 2019
"You're Hollis Vinke, daughter to the town's most well-known philanthropist. I'm Adam Oliver, son of the town's most gossiped about philanderer."
Hollis has had a crush on Adam through high school, pining from afar. Tall, dark, and labeled as 'band geek', he is on the outer circle of the popular kids whose group-think mentality he despises. He is on the fence about Hollis, thinking she is complicit when the group bullies others and she stands by and does nothing. When Adam is getting to know Hollis as a person at a party (early on in the book), he realizes that she is different and not part of the 'bully crowd'. But after a few humiliating missteps, Adam's opinion changes, seeing her as part of the problem and fueling his anger/resentment towards her.
Fast forward 4 years....Hollis and Adam are reunited, their very shaky relationship built on One Little Lie which both agree too. I thoroughly loved how both of them slowly opened up to each other as they pretend to be boyfriend/girlfriend for her parents sake. Adam begins to see past Hollis's appearance and the stresses that she deals with every day, including the expectations of her father.
I would highly recommend this slow burn romance of two young adults healing the wounds of when they were younger and standing by each other through the day to day hardship of life. KUDOS WHITNEY BARBETTI!!!
Hollis has had a crush on Adam through high school, pining from afar. Tall, dark, and labeled as 'band geek', he is on the outer circle of the popular kids whose group-think mentality he despises. He is on the fence about Hollis, thinking she is complicit when the group bullies others and she stands by and does nothing. When Adam is getting to know Hollis as a person at a party (early on in the book), he realizes that she is different and not part of the 'bully crowd'. But after a few humiliating missteps, Adam's opinion changes, seeing her as part of the problem and fueling his anger/resentment towards her.
Fast forward 4 years....Hollis and Adam are reunited, their very shaky relationship built on One Little Lie which both agree too. I thoroughly loved how both of them slowly opened up to each other as they pretend to be boyfriend/girlfriend for her parents sake. Adam begins to see past Hollis's appearance and the stresses that she deals with every day, including the expectations of her father.
I would highly recommend this slow burn romance of two young adults healing the wounds of when they were younger and standing by each other through the day to day hardship of life. KUDOS WHITNEY BARBETTI!!!
June 28, 2019
Original review: A Novel Glimpse
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.
I have been obsessed with Whitney Barbetti’s writing since I read her Mad Love duet. I was so impressed by that duet that I read some of her back list books. I’ve also kept an eye out for her new releases. When I read the blurb for One Little Lie I knew I had to read it. I love enemies to lovers romances and this one sounded pretty epic with that one little lie.
Ms. Barbetti’s writing was just as addictive as I remembered it being. I was immediately wrapped up in the characters and the emotions of the story. The tension between Hollis and Adam was palpable. The angst… There was just the right amount of it. I didn’t feel too overwhelmed by it. It was spread pretty evenly throughout the book and only really amped up in the right moments. There was also a ton of fun banter to even things out and bring a lighter feel when needed.
I really loved both Hollis and Adam. Hollis was the good girl from a rich family that did as she was told. She didn’t seem to have much of a backbone, hence the one little lie. I liked how she grew throughout this book and learned to be her best self. Also, her crush on Adam was super cute. Adam was Hollis’ opposite. He was a guy who dealt with the hardships life tossed at him. He stood up for his beliefs without worrying what others thought. He also had this huge chip on his shoulder.
Hollis and Adam’s fake relationship felt different from ones I have read before — even the enemies to lovers one. I think that’s because it felt more slow burn. It wasn’t just slow burn in the romance department. It was slow burn in the tension between the characters and Adam getting over his feelings of being wronged by Hollis. He really held onto his preconceived notions for a long time. I liked that because it made the story feel more real. People can hold grudges. They don’t always hold them for very long in books. Adam was the exception and his reasoning was easy to relate to.
Another great thing about One Little Lie was the secondary characters. I loved how Hollis and Adam were connected through their friends. I really liked Keane and Navy. I’m hoping they will each get a book. I also really loved Adam’s sweet relationship with his sister Casey and his grandmother.
There wasn’t anything that I didn’t like about One Little Lie. It was just such a great enemies to lovers romance. You won’t want to miss it if that trope is your jam.
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.
I have been obsessed with Whitney Barbetti’s writing since I read her Mad Love duet. I was so impressed by that duet that I read some of her back list books. I’ve also kept an eye out for her new releases. When I read the blurb for One Little Lie I knew I had to read it. I love enemies to lovers romances and this one sounded pretty epic with that one little lie.
Ms. Barbetti’s writing was just as addictive as I remembered it being. I was immediately wrapped up in the characters and the emotions of the story. The tension between Hollis and Adam was palpable. The angst… There was just the right amount of it. I didn’t feel too overwhelmed by it. It was spread pretty evenly throughout the book and only really amped up in the right moments. There was also a ton of fun banter to even things out and bring a lighter feel when needed.
I really loved both Hollis and Adam. Hollis was the good girl from a rich family that did as she was told. She didn’t seem to have much of a backbone, hence the one little lie. I liked how she grew throughout this book and learned to be her best self. Also, her crush on Adam was super cute. Adam was Hollis’ opposite. He was a guy who dealt with the hardships life tossed at him. He stood up for his beliefs without worrying what others thought. He also had this huge chip on his shoulder.
Hollis and Adam’s fake relationship felt different from ones I have read before — even the enemies to lovers one. I think that’s because it felt more slow burn. It wasn’t just slow burn in the romance department. It was slow burn in the tension between the characters and Adam getting over his feelings of being wronged by Hollis. He really held onto his preconceived notions for a long time. I liked that because it made the story feel more real. People can hold grudges. They don’t always hold them for very long in books. Adam was the exception and his reasoning was easy to relate to.
Another great thing about One Little Lie was the secondary characters. I loved how Hollis and Adam were connected through their friends. I really liked Keane and Navy. I’m hoping they will each get a book. I also really loved Adam’s sweet relationship with his sister Casey and his grandmother.
There wasn’t anything that I didn’t like about One Little Lie. It was just such a great enemies to lovers romance. You won’t want to miss it if that trope is your jam.
June 26, 2019
I received a copy of this book from the pubisher/author to review for Stephanie's Book Reports.
Adam Oliver hated me. Loathed my very existence. He had every right to, but that didn't make my life any easier the afternoon I had to resuce him on the side of the road. But worse than rescuing a guy who hated me to his core was the lie I told my parents. Because I just told them that my long-term boyfriend was finally back in town. My long-term boyfriend who didn't actually exist. The one neame Adam Oliver - the guy I'd crushed on all through high school. So the read Adam had no idea that he and I were engaged in a years-long, commited, serious relationship. And, somehow, some way, I need to convince him to play alone with my one little lie.
What is a girl to do when her parents think she has had a boyfriend for years? Of course you ask the boy from your past that can't stand you to go along with your one little lie and act like he is your boyfriend. Adam is the one that she has had a crush on since high school but he has hated her since high school and she has not idea why. That is the prediciment that Hollis finds herself in. But what could come of this one little lie?? You have to read to find out. This book is good and sucked me in from the first pages. Your going to love this I hate you I love you romance. It is really good.
Adam Oliver hated me. Loathed my very existence. He had every right to, but that didn't make my life any easier the afternoon I had to resuce him on the side of the road. But worse than rescuing a guy who hated me to his core was the lie I told my parents. Because I just told them that my long-term boyfriend was finally back in town. My long-term boyfriend who didn't actually exist. The one neame Adam Oliver - the guy I'd crushed on all through high school. So the read Adam had no idea that he and I were engaged in a years-long, commited, serious relationship. And, somehow, some way, I need to convince him to play alone with my one little lie.
What is a girl to do when her parents think she has had a boyfriend for years? Of course you ask the boy from your past that can't stand you to go along with your one little lie and act like he is your boyfriend. Adam is the one that she has had a crush on since high school but he has hated her since high school and she has not idea why. That is the prediciment that Hollis finds herself in. But what could come of this one little lie?? You have to read to find out. This book is good and sucked me in from the first pages. Your going to love this I hate you I love you romance. It is really good.
June 27, 2019
I LOVED this, I-hate-you-I-love-you romance story, so sweet, with valuable lessons learnt throughout.
*ARC kindly given in exchange for an honest review, thank you so much*
*ARC kindly given in exchange for an honest review, thank you so much*
June 27, 2019
Slow burn with a side of hate
The overall short and sweet of this is that it is a signature Whitney Barbetti book. You’re getting a little angst, a little sarcastic dark humor, and some characters who have to work through stuff to reach that hea finish line.
Elements to this book
•Hate to love (but really only hate on one side, also, the hate isn’t too awful. Not on the bully spectrum of meanness even though bullying is a significant theme)
•Slow burn (I would definitely consider this slow burn)
-sexy time doesn’t happen till almost the end and it was a very meaningful moment. Not gratuitous animal lust stuff.
•Fun side characters
-Keane! Tori! Navy! Lots of fun banter and comedic relief.
•unrequited crush/love
-high school crush/ love and now they’re college age.
•fake relationship
Signature Whitney Barbetti elements
•story telling. STORY TELLING. Just beautiful effortless flow.
•a moment in nature. Barbetti loves to take you out to rough it and see the views.
•wicked romantic moments like “I took a deep breath in. “Did something just change between us?” He waited a long beat before reeling. “Not something. Everything.”
•thought provoking lines like “you subjected yourself to pain just to see if you could still feel it?”
•”Queen”music reference
•a female protagonist who is more like us and not the us we want to be. EXAMPLE, certain famous author tries to write a woman who needs to go through metamorphosis to become who she wants to be. So she makes her find the dedication to just change. And that shit is hard; most people can’t just do stuff like that. I don’t think Hollis did that. I think it took her the whole story to feel like she can say no to people... and I’m not even sure she totally conquered that. See? RELATABLE.
I liked Hollis. I liked Adam. Together they worked with their opposite parent issues. One set who cares too much and is controlling. The other about as absent as can be. They definitely fit the NA genre. They’re aren’t thrown into a new adult story, but act like they’re 30.
The overall short and sweet of this is that it is a signature Whitney Barbetti book. You’re getting a little angst, a little sarcastic dark humor, and some characters who have to work through stuff to reach that hea finish line.
Elements to this book
•Hate to love (but really only hate on one side, also, the hate isn’t too awful. Not on the bully spectrum of meanness even though bullying is a significant theme)
•Slow burn (I would definitely consider this slow burn)
-sexy time doesn’t happen till almost the end and it was a very meaningful moment. Not gratuitous animal lust stuff.
•Fun side characters
-Keane! Tori! Navy! Lots of fun banter and comedic relief.
•unrequited crush/love
-high school crush/ love and now they’re college age.
•fake relationship
Signature Whitney Barbetti elements
•story telling. STORY TELLING. Just beautiful effortless flow.
•a moment in nature. Barbetti loves to take you out to rough it and see the views.
•wicked romantic moments like “I took a deep breath in. “Did something just change between us?” He waited a long beat before reeling. “Not something. Everything.”
•thought provoking lines like “you subjected yourself to pain just to see if you could still feel it?”
•”Queen”music reference
•a female protagonist who is more like us and not the us we want to be. EXAMPLE, certain famous author tries to write a woman who needs to go through metamorphosis to become who she wants to be. So she makes her find the dedication to just change. And that shit is hard; most people can’t just do stuff like that. I don’t think Hollis did that. I think it took her the whole story to feel like she can say no to people... and I’m not even sure she totally conquered that. See? RELATABLE.
I liked Hollis. I liked Adam. Together they worked with their opposite parent issues. One set who cares too much and is controlling. The other about as absent as can be. They definitely fit the NA genre. They’re aren’t thrown into a new adult story, but act like they’re 30.
December 11, 2019
This book was so special to read.
I love the way she was totally swooning for him since chapter one.
Hollis is such a compassionate, lovable and loyal, and although she's a little bit shy at the beginning, we can see how she grows towards the development of the story. I love how she cares for people and especially her interest in other cultures.
As for Adam, I found him as a really quiet and strange character at first, he did not want to share his feelings and thoughts with anyone and at one point I totally got it, so many tragedies happened in his life, that he built a wall so that he would never be hurt again.
The love story between them it's very particular, they are both complete opposites but at the same time perfectly made for one another. The way he opened up to her and how he got to make her be braver was one of the things I loved the most about this book.
The angst, passion, and chemistry were so well developed on this story, I end up totally IN LOVE with them, and the other characters, I loved them too and I cannot wait to know more about them on the upcoming books !!
PS: I voluntarily received an ARC from the author
I love the way she was totally swooning for him since chapter one.
Hollis is such a compassionate, lovable and loyal, and although she's a little bit shy at the beginning, we can see how she grows towards the development of the story. I love how she cares for people and especially her interest in other cultures.
As for Adam, I found him as a really quiet and strange character at first, he did not want to share his feelings and thoughts with anyone and at one point I totally got it, so many tragedies happened in his life, that he built a wall so that he would never be hurt again.
The love story between them it's very particular, they are both complete opposites but at the same time perfectly made for one another. The way he opened up to her and how he got to make her be braver was one of the things I loved the most about this book.
The angst, passion, and chemistry were so well developed on this story, I end up totally IN LOVE with them, and the other characters, I loved them too and I cannot wait to know more about them on the upcoming books !!
PS: I voluntarily received an ARC from the author
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