Just when you think a certain romance fiction trope is entirely played out, a talented writer sets out to prove you wrong. That's exactly how I felt while reading Chloe Liese's charming new novel, TWO WRONGS MAKE A RIGHT, which offers a fresh take on the fake-dating theme.

Bea Wilmot, a heavily tattooed erotic artist, takes an instant dislike to uptight, straight-laced Jamie Westenberg --- even though, or perhaps because, her friends keep trying to set her up with him. That includes Bea's twin sister, Juliet, who has just gotten engaged to Jamie's roommate, Jean-Claude. When, after a disastrous first encounter with Jamie at a party, Juliet and Jean-Claude trick Bea and Jamie into a surprise blind date encounter, Bea and Jamie decide to come up with their own revenge plot. They'll pretend to date for a couple of months, only to "break up" in spectacular fashion at their Friendsgiving gathering, putting an end to their friends’ matchmaking aspirations once and for all.

"Bea and Jamie, whose stories play out through chapters from alternating viewpoints, are fresh and funny, and readers will be rooting for them all the way."

There's just one problem: The more time Bea and Jamie spend together, the more they see past each other’s facades and discover the fascinating, vulnerable, kind person who lies underneath. Their physical attraction to one another is undeniable, too. So what happens if and when their hearts get involved?

Bea and Jamie's burgeoning romance plays out in contrast to the relationship of Juliet and Jean-Claude, which seems to be on a very different trajectory and may have implications for Bea and Jamie's love story as well. This tale of two couples taking different paths is loosely based on William Shakespeare's MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, but readers will enjoy this fake-dating to true-love story whether or not they're familiar with its source material.

Liese's romance novels are inclusive and often feature neurodivergent characters; in this one, Bea is autistic and Jamie experiences anxiety. As she writes in her author's note, Liese wants to show characters "navigating the vulnerable gift of life and relationships." Bea and Jamie, whose stories play out through chapters from alternating viewpoints, are fresh and funny, and readers will be rooting for them all the way.

Those who haven’t read MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (or would like a refresher) might follow Liese's advice and watch the 1993 film adaptation starring Emma Thompson and Denzel Washington, among others --- or just track down Shakespeare's original. While they're at it, they might want to pick up THE TAMING OF THE SHREW, since it appears that Liese's next Shakespeare-inflected novel will feature Bea and Juliet's sharp-tongued sister, Kate.