Lou’s Review: No Rings Attached, by Rachel Lacey

Have you ever read a romance book so good it’s changed your mind about an entire trope? I have! The second Ms Right book: No Rings Attached, by Rachel Lacey. Until reading this novel, I felt utterly indifferent to Fake Dating stories. I just didn’t get it. Nothing about the concept appealed. But, based on how much I enjoyed Read Between the Lines, I pre-ordered Lacey’s next release. And it was worth the risk! From the first page I was pulled right into the story, falling hard for these characters and the gorgeous dynamic between them as I read.

Lia Harris is a Brit living in America. When her best friend’s mum died, she put her dreams of working in a museum on hold to manage Between the Pages bookstore for Rosie’s sake. And mostly Lia’s happier with her chosen family than her biological one. But Lia can’t miss her brother’s wedding, even if she’s stressing about how her parents will respond to her lack of love life. They’re in denial about Lia’s bisexuality, and aren’t subtle about hoping she’ll end up with back with her first real boyfriend.

But Rosie has a perfect solution. Her other best friend Grace Poston is an American living in London. And she’s willing to pose as Lia’s girlfriend for the wedding. Better yet, Grace is gorgeous – and thinks Lia is too.

Though Grace doesn’t want a girlfriend for real. She’s careful not to put down roots on her travels. And even though the chemistry between her and Lia is electric, the lines between real and pretend quickly blurring, Grace is adamant she’s staying single. On the day of her parents’ death, Grace made a shocking discovery. And she’s completely lost faith in love. But when Grace learns new information about her family, and has the chance to unravel the mystery that haunts her, Lia’s there every step of the way.

No Rings Attached is an extraordinary story. Grace’s arc is deeply moving, and Lia’s struggle to make her see they can work together means the stakes are every bit as high in her chapters. And the connection between them is one of the most delicious I’ve ever read in any romance novel. The reason behind their fake romance – forcing Lia’s family to respect her bisexuality – is a compelling one, which will resonate with many a sapphic reader with complicated family relationships.

And the Fake Dating trope is nothing short of exquisite here. It brings our leading ladies together on page after page – exactly what you want with a romance – allowing them to grow closer and appreciate each other by working together as a team. Beforehand, I really wasn’t into Fake Dating romances. In abstract it felt contrived. Yet with these characters and their specific set of circumstances it not only fits, but elevates the story into one of the most emotionally engaging romances I’ve ever encountered.

And – speaking of tropes – No Rings Attached has one of my absolute favourites. Ever since discovering fanfiction dot net in my teens, I’ve loved Only One Bed. And Lacey uses the trope to its full potential, creating smouldering sexual tension – and forcing her characters to face up to their attraction.

Also, Lacey’s characterisation is excellent. Lia’s a loving and consistent person in every aspect of her life, which makes her a safe harbour for Grace as she embarks on a painful voyage of self-discovery. She’s always there for the people in her life – whether it’s her oldest friend needing help to keep her business afloat, or a new friend/fake girlfriend in need of emotional support while she solves a painful personal mystery.

Lia’s consistency and generosity make her an intensely lovable character. But these traits are also the reason she’s initially wary of Grace, who has bailed on every plan to visit Rosie in New York. As a result, Lia has a longstanding joke that Grace is Rosie’s “imaginary friend.” And there’s an element of Opposites Attract as this dependable cinnamon roll falls for someone who starts off flakier than the before shot in a Head and Shoulders ad. Plus, free-spirited Grace gives Lia the push she needs to realise she’s stuck in a rut.

And Grace… throughout the novel, even when she frustrated me, my heart ached for Grace. Because it’s impossible not to sympathise with her commitmentphobia when you learn its root cause. Life hasn’t dealt Grace a fair hand. She lost her parents at a young age – and with them her idea of family. But Grace is charming, upfront about what she can and can’t offer Lia. And she undergoes a spectacular growth arc.

There’s never a dull moment in No Rings Attached. The writing is a delight, the pacing tight, and I’m not ashamed to admit that I cried the first time I read it. Even now, revisiting the story in audiobook format, parts of this novel get me misty-eyed. It’s a thoroughly brilliant romance. And I’ve never read anything quite like it.