A Not So Meet Cute (Cane Brothers, 1)

"How did you two meet?"

It's the quintessential question asked to every couple, and the answer is usually some bubbly, lovey-dovey tale of being struck in the bum by Cupid's arrow. But Lottie Gardner's meet-cute was a little different. She was trolling a wealthy neighborhood in Beverly Hills, searching for someone to take her as his bride--you know, to make the arch nemesis who just fired her jealous. And billionaire Huxley Cane was conveniently stomping around the block like some sort of gorgeous ogre, mumbling about a business deal gone wrong.

That's when they bump into each other.

No sparks. No fireworks. Not even the first seed of blossoming love.

But the next thing Lottie knows, she's scarfing down chips and guac, listening to Huxley lay out his problems, and then he tells her: He lied to a crucial client, and he needs a huge favor. A fake fiancée. He's talking living in his mansion together, going on intimate double-dates, and pretending they're head-over-heels in love...and engaged.

It's ridiculous, but people do ridiculous things when they're desperate. And Lottie and Huxley both reek of desperation. So, she strikes up the deal.

Except her one mistake might be accidentally falling for the incomparable, insufferable Huxley Cane.

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Published Nov 14, 2023

416 pages

Average rating: 7.4

324 RATINGS

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QweenBee

Oct 09, 2025

10/10 stars

Loved this book. Definitely different from my normal reads but a good one!

Bookmomma

Apr 09, 2025

9/10 stars

My favorite Meghan Quinn book. Quite spicy and oh so funny.

siemelle900

Nov 28, 2025

6/10 stars

To land a deal on some properties, Huxley lies and says that he has a pregnant fiancé (like the man he wants to strike the deal with) even though lying might definitely backfire on him and the business he runs with his two brothers. After Lottie is fired by her boss/friend (after helping her build her company and with a promise of being promoted after a year), she needs to find a place to live, a way to pay her bills, and figure out a way to get even. So when Huxley and Lottie meet on the street, they strike a business deal to help each other out. What could go wrong?

It was fine. I think Huxley and Lottie disliking and verbally sparring with each other is stronger than their liking each other. I think there was a missed opportunity not seeing the POV of Dave and Ellie. There was also one part mentioned (but not detailed) where there is a non-consent issue between Huxley and Lottie that was ew (just didn’t fit with this type of romance).

Also, the dialogue is a little iffy in places which took me out of it. That goes back to the beginning of the book being stronger (when they hated each other) than the last part (where they started to like each other and then the cringe factor came into play).

Otherwise, it was fine. Just fine. I think it could have done with some polishing, but i didn’t hate it or love it.

cdlaw97

Sep 22, 2025

10/10 stars

Too cute! I love Pretty Woman thanks to my mom so this was just the perfect comfort read.

kiarac

Sep 04, 2025

7/10 stars

I did not like the ending of this book. 1. It happened to fast. 2. he should not have been forgiven that fast. It's the way you talk to people and while the control thing was kinds of hot before this point it was honestly disgusting at the end of the Book. They also were only knew each other for a month before becoming forreal engaged and daying for like 2 weeks, which is insane. The only part of the ending i liked was the contract. That being said the rest of the Book was pretty good, well written and entertaining. At some points I did feel like the plot was at a stand still and only for the next sex scene .