Romance

Review: The Girlfriend Clause by Emma J. Browne

August 7, 2026

Synopsis:

She didn’t mean to insult her new boss. Or sleep with him. It’s been a difficult week.

Andrea Jones does not have her life on lock. Her sister treats her flat like a serviced apartment, her cat has gum disease, and now, courtesy of an Uber Eats stakeout, she knows her boyfriend is cheating.

So. That’s fun.

The last thing she needs is to get stuck in a lift with a stranger who’s far too easy to talk to. Especially one with arms like that.

Not that she noticed.

But by the time she realizes who she’s been talking to, they’ve already crossed a line they can’t uncross. And she’s said far too much to a man who never bothered to tell her who he was.

Oops doesn’t cut it. Not when he’s just bought the company she works for. Not when he’s ruthless enough to cut roles without blinking. And definitely not when he’s the kind of man who looks at her like he’s still thinking about what they did in her flat.

One gate-crashed society event later and they’re trapped in a lie neither of them can afford to expose. But the longer they pretend, the harder it is to remember why they’re supposed to hate each other.

Because Liam Roth is many things—powerful, completely off-limits—but also unexpectedly kind, inconveniently protective, and far too good at getting under her skin.

The contract was supposed to make everything simple. It’s doing the opposite.

A fake relationship, a wedding in France, and a man she absolutely should not want?

Just. F***ing. Perfect.

Review:

A few pages in, I was already convinced that this would be a winner, and I can gladly report that my initial impression did not change until the final page. For a debut novel, this was near perfection, and I loved every minute of it.

The beginning got me hooked immediately. Why have I not seen this used as a solution to a problem anywhere else before? Hiring a delivery guy to find out if the guy you’re dating is at home (when he shouldn’t be) and who he’s with is so much cheaper than hiring a private investigator! The humor, the banter, and the crazy situation made it clear early on that this was absolutely my vibe.

Then we immediately get the next situation, with two strangers getting stuck in an elevator and a nightmare unfolding. That scene was dramatic, funny, and executed amazingly well. I didn’t want it to end anytime soon. Talk about wit, chemistry, and an aftermath that was absolutely mind-blowing!

When reality set in and both were faced with the consequences of their actions, it quickly became clear that “complicated” does not even come close to describing their dilemma.

The main characters, the supporting cast, and the overall interactions and story made me fall in love with this book. I did not expect such an amazing read, and as a debut novel, it has made me incredibly eager to see what comes next from this author. This is one of the most entertaining romance books I have read in a while. It tackles some realistic life challenges, and the humor was some of the best I have come across.

🌙 Recension: The Girlfriend Clause by Emma J. Browne
📚 Genre: Romance
📅 Release Date: July 31, 2026
📖 Publisher: ‎‎ Mojo House Press
📗 available in various formats – included in Kindle Unlimited
📱 Read as: Kindle
💸 I received a free copy and am voluntarily leaving a review.
📆 Pages: 576
⭐️ 5/5