Would You Rather: A Novel

by Allison Ashley

Overview

"Pitch-perfect...gives me all the feels, and I love every one of them!"—Ali Hazelwood, New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis  

“Ashley makes favorite rom-com tropes feel new again with a pitch-perfect friends-to-lovers story.”  —Publishers Weekly starred review

Would you rather play it safe in the friend zone, or risk it all with a modern marriage of convenience?

Noah and Mia have always been best friends, and their friendship is the most important thing to them. Life is going great for Noah and he’s up for a promotion in a job he loves. But Mia’s life is on hold as she awaits a kidney transplant. She’s stuck in a dead-end job and, never wanting to be a burden, has sworn off all romance. So when the chance of a lifetime comes to go back to school and pursue her dream, it’s especially painful to pass up. She can’t quit her job or she’ll lose the medical insurance she so desperately needs.

To support her, Noah suggests they get married—in name only—so she can study full-time and still keep the insurance. It’s a risk to both of them, with jobs, health and hearts on the line, and they’ll need to convince suspicious coworkers and nosy roommates that they’re the real deal. But if they can let go of all the baggage holding them back, they might realize that they would rather be together forever.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780369720771
Publisher:	MIRA Books
Publication date:	08/23/2022
Sold by:	HARLEQUIN
Format:	eBook
Pages:	400
Sales rank:	55,567
File size:	793 KB

About the Author

Allison Ashley is a science geek who enjoys coffee, craft beer, baking, and love stories. When she's not working at her day job as a clinical oncology pharmacist, she pens contemporary romances, usually with a medical twist. She lives in Oklahoma with her family and beloved rescue dog.

Editorial Reviews

★ 06/20/2022

Ashley (Home Sweet Mess) makes favorite rom-com tropes feel new again with a pitch-perfect friends-to-lovers story. Architect Noah Agnew and administrative assistant Mia Adrian have been close friends from childhood through college and into the workforce, where they’re constantly playfully pranking one another. Mia never finished her degree, letting go of her dream of being a dietician when she left school to manage her rare kidney disease. Now she’s offered a scholarship to go back to school—but taking it would mean losing the employer-provided health insurance she requires. Noah offers a radical solution: marriage. As his wife, she can stay on his insurance plan—and what’s some light fraud between two friends anyway? It also doesn’t hurt that Noah has been secretly in love with Mia forever. The all too real motivation for the pair’s fake marriage makes the trope sing, and Ashley surrounds her characters with supportive friends, family, and colleagues, grounding the story in community and heart. Mia’s struggles with chronic illness are similarly well handled, capturing both the physical and emotional toll it takes on her day-to-day life. Readers won’t want to put this one down. Agent: Kimberly Lionetti, BookEnds. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

Praise for WOULD YOU RATHER

“Ashley makes favorite rom-com tropes feel new again with a pitch-perfect friends-to-lovers story....The all too real motivation for the pair’s fake marriage makes the trope sing, and Ashley surrounds her characters with supportive friends, family, and colleagues, grounding the story in community and heart. Mia’s struggles with chronic illness are similarly well handled, capturing both the physical and emotional toll it takes on her day-to-day life. Readers won’t want to put this one down.” —Publishers Weekly starred review

“A love story readers will thoroughly enjoy.” —Library Journal

"A pitch-perfect mix of all the best romance tropes, Would You Rather is what happens when friends to lovers, fake-dating, and mutual pining are elevated to perfection. Allison Ashley gives me all the feels, and I love every one of them!"—Ali Hazelwood, New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis

"Would You Rather is a dynamic page-turner from the very first chapter. Allison Ashley has a masterful way of lighting the kindling in a slow, deliberate burn between two stubborn best friends who refuse to admit what everyone else sees clearly. I laughed out loud as Noah coveted the way Mia looked at chicken wings—any partner would be so lucky to receive such a longing gaze." —Taj McCoy, author of Savvy Sheldon Feels Good as Hell

"I adored this lovely and heartfelt friends-to-lovers story. Noah and Mia have very real reasons to stay apart, but you'll be rooting all along for them to wake up, abandon their significant personal baggage, and realize they're perfect for each other already!" —Julie Hammerle, USA Today Bestselling author of Knocked-Up Cinderella

"An emotional and heartfelt journey that will have you laughing, crying, and falling in love. Trust me, You Would Rather get this book than miss out." —Mariah Ankenman, bestselling author of the Mile High Happiness series

"Would you Rather has all my favorite things: a marriage of convenience, only one bed, and chicken wings. I couldn’t put it down!" —Suzanne Baltsar, author of Trouble Brewing

"A heartwarming page-turner filled with scorching tension and all the best tropes. An ode to those who struggle with vulnerability, this romance captures the beauty in accepting another’s unconditional love." —Amy Lea, author of Set On You

"Would You Rather delivers all the delicious anticipation of friends-to-lovers, plus the swoony yearning of a marriage-of-convenience. Noah and Mia's chemistry sizzles—this book is the perfect mix of laughter and feels." —Chandra Blumberg, author of Digging Up Love

"Allison Ashley absolutely delivers with this swoony friends-to-lovers romance. The pining and the yearning and the kisses swept me off my feet, and I couldn't help falling in love with Noah and Mia. I loved every second of this book!" —Falon Ballard, author of Lease on Love

“A sparkling, warm, romance that reminds us why the friends-to-lovers trope is superior! Allison Ashley skillfully delivered a chemistry-filled, happy-hug-of-a-book set against the backdrop of real life struggle. It’s the kind of story I've been waiting for!” —Sarah Adams, author of The Cheat Sheet

"Would You Rather made my heart burst in the best way. It hits every emotional high note with moments of laugh-out-loud humor, scenes that will bring you to tears, and cuteness that will make you squeal out loud. Allison Ashley will charm you with this affecting and engrossing love story." —Sarah Echavarre Smith, author of Faker, Simmer Down, and On Location

"From stolen glances to the sweeping euphoria of the first kiss, Allison Ashley writes love stories you feel in your soul. Would You Rather is a masterful mix of adorable, heart-wrenching, hilarious, and unforgettable. Make sure you have caffeine for the morning, because you'll be up late unable to put down this incredible book."—Denise Williams, author of How to Fail at Flirting

"Sexy and sweet, with a fresh twist on friends-to-lovers, Would You Rather is the type of romance I wish I could read again for the first time. Allison Ashley draws the reader in and holds tight with a carefully woven story, sparkling chemistry, and unforgettable characters. It's pure, swoony, flirty, romantic bliss."—Lauren Accardo, author of Wild Love

"Sweet, sexy and smart, Would You Rather is an absolutely un-putdownable book, a slow-burn so rich with pining and genuine emotion that I dare readers to do anything other than devour it in one sitting."—Lynn Painter, author of Mr. Wrong Number

From the Publisher

07/01/2022

Noah Agnew has been in love with his long-time best friend Mia Adrian since he was 18. When he proposes marriage, Mia, who has a chronic health condition, does not respond with shocked joy. She knows the marriage would be on paper only, but she doesn't want to be a burden to anyone. Their marriage, however, would allow her to return to school and still receive medical benefits. After a brief ceremony, she moves into Noah's house and finds herself thinking often about the night they almost became more than friends. Noah has his own preoccupations; a coworker is blackmailing him about the insurance fraud. Despite brief blissful happiness, they utterly fail at the fake marriage and realize that they'll need to address their fears if they want to make a real marriage work. VERDICT Ashley (Home Sweet Mess) picks two tropes that can't miss (marriage of convenience and friends-to-lovers), throws in a bit of sweet and a dash of steam, and mixes it all together to make a love story readers will thoroughly enjoy.—Kellie Tilton

Library Journal