Booked Boyfriends, Bad Decisions

by A. Blossom

Some girls collect book boyfriends; others collect bad decisions.

Harlowe Daye is a popular romance book content creator who has been invited on the biggest brand trip of her career. The problem? It’s a couples' retreat, and she doesn’t have a boyfriend to bring. After a string of failed attempts to find a plus one before she loses the opportunity of a lifetime, she turns to the one man who has always been ten toes down for her ex’s brother. He also happens to be her best friend.

Hasheem Hart is always the one pulling people out of fires. When folks need him, he shows up, but when it’s Harlowe, he shows up without a question. He knows agreeing to play her fake boyfriend on a Valentine’s Day couples’ trip is a bad idea, but he says yes anyway.

When pretending to be a couple gets a little too messy, Harlowe is left wondering if booking her best friend as her booked boyfriend is the worst bad decision she’s ever made.

Genres: Friends To Lovers, Spicy, Fake Dating

183 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 18, 2026

About the author

Author Blossom is an upcoming best selling author born and raised in Saint Louis, Mo. It was there that she developed a love for reading and writing early on. A. Blossom knew she had a passion for writing after she wrote her first story for the girls in her eight-grade class. A. Blossom wants to pen love stories that show black women and men of all skin tones, shapes, and sizes.

When she isn’t writing, Blossom spends her free time with her husband and her two small children. A. Blossom is excited to embark on this journey and invites readers to let love grow. Blossom can be reached on these platforms:

Email: authorablossom@gmail.com

Instagram: author_blossom

Facebook: Author A Blossom

Twitter: @AuthorBlossom

Reviews

[*Ebony I* · Rating 4 out of 5]

More than friends

This was a cute friends to lovers story. This is a story made just for us romance book girlies! Harlowe is a book influencer and gives romance book recommendations on social media. She is freaking out because she is about to lose the opportunity of a lifetime that will help expand her platform, but in the nth hour her best friend Hasheem swoops in to the save the day. Hasheem is a firefighter, yes you know he fine af. He was also so attentive, caring, and protective. What starts out as just fulfilling an obligation, becomes WAY more than either of them expected. You already know best friends over a decade have crazy chemistry. 

I'm making this sound so sweet, but it was messy af. The messiness of the exes, the lies, the fear, and the hater. Chile...

Harlowe was trying to pmo, but she got herself together. Sometimes we have to go through the mess to receive our blessings.

[Rein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute But …

Let me get this straight, you out here living in a whole book fantasy on a paid vacation then go home and throw the book out!! Girl bye.

This was cute until it wasn’t. It’s one thing to get in your feelings about some comments made because you dated your man’s brother BUT when your man is your best friend and you go to him for everything usually; how you going to punk out and just avoid him completely! So for the actions of this whole emotionally immature woman I could only be disappointed.

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ lol

Thank you to A.Blossom for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was MESSY in the best way and I ate up every single second of it. If you love fake dating and best friends to lovers, this one is going to have you locked in from page one because she really had me at hello.

We start off chaotic and honestly… the mess never fully lets up. Just when you think things are settling, another layer unfolds, and I loved that emotional tension throughout the story. But underneath all the drama was a love story that felt so real, so intentional, and so worth the ride.

Let’s talk about Hasheem for a second because that man STANDS ten toes down on what he wants. The way he was so intentional about Harlowe…Yeah… I melted. The intimacy was top tier, not just the spice (which was SPICING, okay 👀), but the emotional closeness, the care, the attention. He wasn’t just showing desire, he was showing devotion.

And Harlowe and Hasheem pushing past their fears and finally trusting their love had me seated for EVERY minute of it. Their growth, their vulnerability, and the way their friendship evolved into something deeper was chef’s kiss.

This book gave:
✨ Fake dating tension
✨ Best friends to lovers excellence
✨ Messy emotions + beautiful payoff
✨ Spice with PURPOSE

[Monique · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.5⭐️) This was a cute Valentine’s read. I loved their banter & their friendship, they had a nice easy going chemistry. But poor Harlowe REALLY needed a Xanax. She was wound so tight the whole book😩. Hasheem was applying all the pressure behind her despite her objections and outside forces that tried to attack their relationship. Him being a for real book boyfriend inside of a book felt like being trapped in the matrix though🤣But I adored how he paid attention to her & was able to calm her when she crashed out (which was often). He was so mature in his communication as well.

I will say though I kept rolling my eyes when she kept saying “I can’t date my ex’s brother”. Girl that was in high school🙄If it didn’t lead to marriage and/or a baby the statute of limitations is over.🤣I also didn’t like how she acted post trip, it was kind of immature.

So yeah a cute story. Got some good spice, some giggles, and a nice dose of drama.

[CoCo · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was cute!

This was a cute quick read. It did make dating a content creator seem awful though. Lol They made it work.

[LayLay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Harlowe irritated me this whole book lol. Cute and short read though

[Chichilovestoread · Rating 5 out of 5]

A firefighter huh

Harlow man was right under her nose whole time!!

This was so good and Hasheem aka Hashsy is definitely “forever mine” material. Never gave only bestie lol.. they were playing theirselves with that. Especially finding out their history.. chileee please . lol

['The Book Queen' · Rating 3 out of 5]

Surprised 3.5 Stars.

I was truly surprised that I liked this story. I was not expecting this turn of events. Dating brothers at different times, and falling in love with the next brother was different. Shrug.

[Cassandra Jerido · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good…but

Harlowe’s overthinking messed up the whole flow of the book. The book was well written and I definitely love Hasheem. However, Harlowe was beyond irritating. Hasheem had to really love her to put up with all of that craziness. There was nothing endearing about her.

[Toya Davis-Stokley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good friend to lovers read, so I knew I was in for a treat. Miss Harlowe was just a whirlwind of energy with her life and content creation. Excited about this brand retreat is all she can think about, except there's one issue. It is a couple's retreat, around Valentine's Day! 👀 Sis can't even pay anyone to be her plus one, so she recruits her bestie to be her fake man for the trip. What's the worst that could happen? 🤯

Hasheem will do anything for Harlowe, and she knows that. However, he knows that going on this trip with her is a bad idea. It could change everything between them, then what? But he does what he always does and bails her out. Here we come Zanzibar!

Upon arrival there is an accidental kiss between the two that changes the game! They both immediately begin to think what if. Can this work between us? Should we do it? This is so damn messy!! Harlowe is on the fence, however, Hasheem is all in. He has loved her from the beginning, but now his true feelings have come to the forefront. Then here comes the drama... A person close to the couple works for the company and is not happy about their coupling, making things even messier. Truths are spilled angering Hasheem and making Harlowe run for the hills. 🤬 I loved the intention and persistence Hasheem showed when Harlowe allowed her fears to rule her good sense. He never wavered on his stance and stood ten toes down for what he felt for her. Enjoyable read. 👍🏿

[perfectlyamberb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book boyfriends 😍

This was some good mess, but it was also a sweet story about friends taking that next inevitable step into loverhood. Hasheem was definitely a book boyfriend. He showed up for Harlowe every time, always trying to show her the potential of what they could be. Super cute!

[Terry Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

friends to lovers but a bit messy

Hasheem and Lowe…. They were just so cute together especially when they got out their heads. Simone was so delusional that I felt for her in a sad way. lol glad everything worked out though and they got their HEA

[Veronica Speaks · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Quickie! I loveeeed it

I wish it were a tad bit longer, but it was a great quick read! I had so many “smh” moments because I just knewwww they shouldn’t have been crossing that boundary.

[Ashanti Burton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and short holiday read. Friends to lovers with fake dating. Fast paced with a lil drama. I enjoyed reading.

[Cardi Blue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Messsss

This was quality mess. And Hashy put it downnnnnn. I’m glad Lowe got out of her head. But whew Simone needed hands put on her. She tried it.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is friend to lovers done right. Hasheem applied the perfect amount of pressure and I ate that up!

[Tatiana | Chapters & Cents · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 🌟

[Ayanna First of BourbonStreetBookers · Rating 5 out of 5]

😍😍😍

This was sooo messy but sooo sexy and cute. This man knew what he wanted and Im here fa it! 📚🚒 Great read!

[Readwithchan_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Booked Boyfriends, Bad Decisions by A. Blossom was reallyyyy a good story. Like seriously, this book was crazy as hell but in the best way possible. From the beginning I was locked in, flipping through the pages trying to see what in the world was about to happen next. Every time I thought I had it figured out, something else popped off.

The drama, the secrets, the messy decisions… whew. It had me sitting there like “ain’t no way…” more than once. That’s the kind of story that keeps you up reading because you need to know what happens next.

And I’m not even gonna lie… this book had me side eyeing some of these other content creators that be posting their husbands and boyfriends like they the ultimate book baes. After reading this? I’m like hmmmmm… y’all sure about that? 🤣

Jokes aside, this was a wild, entertaining read that definitely kept my attention from start to finish. If you like messy, dramatic stories that keep the pages turning, this one is worth picking up. I was thoroughly entertained the whole time. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Jay Will · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hasheem was so attentive and the perfect calmed to Harlowe's overdramatics. I get the whole exes situation but baby those folks were just placeholders. Sometimes the messiness can turn into exactly what they needed.

[KweenBee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too Many Things

Harlowe was one of my least favorite FMC's that I have read about this year. All of her back and forth emotions and overthinking was exhausting and her worry about what other people thought - to the point where she constantly tried to run was borderline immature. I was ready to DNF during almost all of her chapters then Hasheem would come and save the day and I would keep reading. I really liked Hasheem's character a lot- and in all honesty I wish that he had found someone else. Also, the premise of this book of her being with her ex's brother was more than messy, because they had been together for 4 years! That was just too many things. Last, while a lot of back and forth happened, the book still felt kinda underdeveloped. Overall, there were some funny and cute moments, but this was not one of my favorites from this author.

[Bianca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story

A nice little read although I will say that Harlowe got on my nerves letting other people's opinions effect her decisions. Her acting the way she did when they got back home made me wanna knock her upside the head. Overall a good read from a good author.

[Kristal Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Booked boyfriends, bad decisions

“Love is messy, and sometimes the right person has been standing in front of you the whole damn time.”

This quote basically sums up this book for me. What can be more messy than dating your best friend’s brother? The answer to that is dating your best friend’s brother, introducing your best friend to your friend and your friend now becomes your best friend’s ex and now you and best friend enter a fake dating turned real deal relationship!

Harlowe and Hasheem had a beautiful friendship. They were clearly each other’s person but a trip across the world as fake boyfriend/girlfriend had them both coming to terms that maybe just maybe their feelings weren’t so platonic all along. If I had a best friend who loved on me the way Hasheeem did Harlowe, I couldn’t ever see another relationship lasting as long as we were friends. Hasheem was what book boyfriends are made of. He knew his best friend through and through and respected her overthinking even when it hurt but he wasn’t willing to let her go without a fight. I was glad to see them work it out because there were times I was screaming for Harlowe to get it together and stop focusing on what other people thought, especially people who you don’t know and who don’t know you or your situation.

If you’re a fan of the fake dating or best friends to lovers trope, this is a great and enjoyable read.

[Lizzy Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I HATED IT HAD TO END 😩

COME THROUGH AUTHORESS A. BLOSSOM 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽. I THOROUGHLY ENJOYED THIS BEST FRIENDS TO FOREVER LOVERS STORY❤️‍🔥.

SIMONE REALLY TRIED TO PLAY IN HASHEEM & HARLOWE’S FACE. HER LIES FINALLY CAUGHT UP TO HER AND SHE STILL TRIED TO DOWN PLAY IT LIKE SHE WAS THE VICTIM WITH HER HEAUX AZZ🙄🤬. IN THE END SHE GOT WHAT SHE DESERVED

WHEN MARCUS HAVE HIS BROTHER HIS BLESSING THAT WARMED MY HEART🥰. THEN THAT FOOL HIT US WITH A CURVEBALL 😳. ALTHOUGH I HAD A FEELING IT WAS MORE TO THE ISH WITH SIMONE ENDING HER ENGAGEMENT WITH HASHEEM, I NEVER EXPECTED THAT 🫖😳.

HASHEEM & HARLOWE❤️‍🔥! DESPITE HIM BEING IN LOVE WITH HER WHEN THEY WERE YOUNGER HE WAS SHY AND REALLY DIDN’T KNOW HOW TO EXPRESS THOSE FEELINGS TO HER AND INSTEAD CHOSE TO BE HER BEST FRIEND. FAR FORWARD SHE’S IN A BIND AND AS ALWAYS HE STEPS UP TO HELP. THAT’S BAECATION WAS THE TRIP THAT DIDN’T KNOW THEY NEEDED. IT ALLOWED THEM TO TRULY EXPLORE THEIR TRUE FEELINGS FOR EACH OTHER. DESPITE THE MESSY ISH GOING ON AROUND THEM HASHEEM STOOD FIRM ON HIS LOVE FOR HIS LOWE AS WELL AS NOT ALLOWING THE OPINIONS OF THEIR EXES OR FAMILY TO COME BETWEEN THEM. NOW THAT DANG HARLOWE IRKED MY MOTHERFUDGESICKLESTIX NERVES WITH HOW SHE ACTED AFTER THEY WERE BACK FROM THEIR TRIP🙄. HASHEEM WAS TRUE BOOK BAE IN REAL LIFE. HE WAS THE EPITOME OF A MAN WHO PAID ATTENTION AND MADE ISH HAPPEN FOR HIS GIRL. HIM SITTING OUTSIDE AND READING BOOKS THAT HE BROUGHT HER RATHER ON DUTY OR OFF WAS EVERYTHING😍. I’M GLAD SHE GOT HER ISH TOGETHER AND ALLOWED THAT MAN TO LOVE HER OUT LOUD🥰.

[Shamoya Radcliffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review: thanks to A. Blossom for allowing me to read this early.

I was smiling the entire time reading this one ☺️ this was the one perfect Valentine’s Day themed novella. Fake relationship/ best friends to lovers/a little messy/ a little bit forbidden.

This follows the FMC Harlowe, she is a romance book content creator who gets invited on this couples retreat brand trip, but the thing is while she raves about swoon worthy romances she is in fact single. Now she is stressing trying to find the perfect boyfriend to book for her trip. When all fails she had to asked her best friend to do her this one favor and be her fake boyfriend for a few days.

Hasheem being the friend he is couldn’t say no to Harlowe and after one kiss between the two, they both started to feel things. Harlowe was an over thinker and certified crash out, but Hasheem was the calm to her raging storm. Everytime she almost flies off the rails he reels her back in.

I loved how attentive Hasheem was, he constantly checked in and made sure she is comfortable. He really was her best friend and has always shown that through his acts of service. He was the perfect book boyfriend

There was just enough drama/ plot / and the perfect friends to lovers love story.

[Quiantra McGhee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay listen… I went into this fully prepared to roll my eyes at the fake dating trope because I just wrote on a post to get rid of that trope! Opp! This book made me eat every single one of my words and I loved it.

Harlowe is that girl. Messy, relatable, funny, and trying to hold it all together while her life is lowkey spiraling. And Hasheem?? Yeah… he’s HIM. The quiet, always there, down bad for your best friend energy was executed perfectly. The ex’s brother + best friend + fake dating combo should have been chaotic (and it was), but it went so well together.

What really got me was how real the emotions felt. The tension was elite, and the little slow burn that was there was worth the wait. You can literally feel the shift from “this is fake” to “oh… this is NOT fake anymore” and it had me hooked.

The Valentine’s trip setting was all the drama, romance, tension and everything you want in a book. It gave just the right amount of messy while still delivering on the heart.

I didn’t expect to love this trope, but this book made it hit different. If you like friends-to-lovers, mutual pining, and a man who’s been ready for you since day one… yeah, go ahead and add this to your cart.

[Ruby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hasheem and Harlowe!!

Harlowe, a romance book content creator, received a wonderful opportunity to go on a couple's retreat in Zanzibar. There was just one problem. She didn't have a significant other to take with her. This is where her best friend and her ex's brother, Hasheem, entered the messy situation. Their journey from friends to lovers begins after the first blazing kiss. The fire between them continues from their suite, the couples oil lab, and the cave. While there, they run into Hasheem's ex-fiance, Simone, who works for the company sponsoring the retreat. Simone was a messy heffa who let jealousy get between her and her coins, and I didn't feel sorry for her at all. Once home, Harlowe decides to run and hide from her feelings for Hasheem. I loved how Hasheem came for her which was straight book bae behavior. I really enjoyed this forbidden, friends to lovers, fake dating book from beginning to end. Great job A. Blossom!!

[Shonta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can we be lovers and friends?!

I love a friends to lovers book and as usual A. Blossom put her special twist on this book and trope. It was Harlowe needed an assist from her bestie Hasheem and as usual he came through. What they didn’t expect was what came after he said yes. The beautifulness that formed while they attempted not to blur the lines couldn’t be helped. Although the thought of it was frightening going back to what It was before things changed was longer an option on the table. Who better to try new things with other than the one who knows you best and will protect and guard your heart and feelings at all times. Sometimes all you need is staring you in the face all along. Naysayers and the past attempted to throw fire in their mix but who better to stand toes down with and put out fires with than the best bad decision ever Harlowe could’ve made…Hasheem.

[Shay Colbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harlowe & Hasheem 🥰

Hasheem, a firefighter and Harlowe, a book content creator that loved everything about love, especially book boyfriends in romance novels.. they had been close friends since high school.. she dated his brother, who was her 1st.. they didn’t work out but Hasheem and Harlowe had a close friendship.. she introduced him to her friend Simone and they were engaged.. until Simone called it off because she no longer was comfortable with how close they were.. an opportunity for a brand presented itself for couples retreat weekend in Zanzibar but she needed a boo.. after convincing Hasheem agreed to go and play her fake boyfriend until couple things got real and they crossed the line.. This was a cute read, however Harlowe was too much of an over thinker and worked my nerves at times, but I enjoyed

[Lyric Rivera · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoyed Only For The Week by Natasha Bishop… you will like this one for the vacation vibes and messiness. BUT if you don’t like an insufferable FMC… this may not be for you. Harlowe got on my nerves and thankfully it was just a novella bc otherwise I probably would’ve DNF’d it!

The author does do a good job a hitting the surface level points of the day in the life as a content creator which k enjoyed. It’s kind of inspirational to read if you are newer to content creating like me.

Hasheem is the literal and ultimate book boyfriend.

I do wish I could have connected a little more deeply to be invested enough in their love story. Which is achievable even through a novella. Because while Hasheem was swoon worthy… there just wasn’t enough connection for me to be emotionally invested and “Whoa’d”.

The author’s writing is great and I’d read something by her again, though!