Sage Collins traded her data analyst career to chase her dream of becoming an author, but after a whirlwind debut and a brutal case of second-book syndrome, she’s not sure she’ll ever write again. When a chance encounter on a flight to Comic Con accidentally links her to Theo Sharpe, a breakout British actor on the verge of fame, the paparazzi mistake her for his girlfriend and suddenly her quiet life gets very loud. Fleeing to Scotland to clear her head and find her words again, Sage doesn’t expect Theo to follow her there, or for him to become the greatest miscalculation of her carefully calculated life.
This was such a cute, heartfelt read. The Scottish setting is beautiful, the banter between Sage and Theo is absolutely delicious. It’s a celebrity romance with a fake dating setup that goes exactly where you want it to go, and I was smiling through most of it.
What surprised me was how much emotional depth is here beyond the rom-com surface. I found myself really connecting with Sage’s struggle to rediscover her creativity and the pressure of following up a successful debut. And Theo isn’t just the charming British actor. He’s carrying real family and career baggage that makes him feel fully dimensional. This is very much a character-driven story, and both the leads and the side characters are well developed and genuinely lovable.
The writing is beautiful, easy to fall into, and balances heartfelt moments with real humor. It’s a slow burn romance, which I appreciated. The tension builds naturally and when it pays off, it pays off. I will say I was pleasantly surprised that there’s some spice in here. Not a lot, but a few scenes that definitely earn the steam. I wasn’t expecting it from the cozy vibes of the setup, but it fits.
Beyond the romance, this is really a story about identity, creativity, and healing. About learning that sometimes the bravest thing you can do is let yourself be seen, not the version you think the world wants, but your actual self. Sage and Theo both need to learn that lesson, and watching them get there together is what makes this more than just a cute love story.
Kate Dramis is known for romantasy but this contemporary debut is a winner. If you love celebrity romances, fake dating that spirals beautifully out of control, cozy Scottish settings, or stories about creative people figuring out who they are, this one is absolutely worth picking up. Lighthearted, reflective, witty, and genuinely moving.
AMAZON | GOODREADS | BOOKSHOP |★★★.5
The Odds of You is out now. Huge thank you to Soho Crime for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. If you liked this review, please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my Instagram @speakingof.books.
