Happy book birthday to the book I’m reviewing today, International Relations by Zac Hammett! I’ve been meaning to check out this author’s other book but haven’t gotten around to it. So, I couldn’t say no to an ARC of his newest release. Did I love it? Read on to find out!

The Proposal meets Heated Rivalry in this queer fake dating to fake marriage romance, following an aspiring young diplomat who hopes to land his dream job by hiring an actor to play his boyfriend . . .

Max has never had time for a relationship working in the high-stakes world of international diplomacy. But when a high-profile ambassadorial position opens up in Athens, Max is discreetly advised that his single status isn’t helping his chances. In this line of work, appearances matter, and Max’s rival Quentin has an advantage in the form of his charming and accomplished girlfriend.

Determined not to lose out, Max hires Hunter, a charismatic actor, to play the perfect boyfriend. Hunter dazzles on the diplomatic circuit, but soon the charade takes on a life of its own. When visa complications force Max and Hunter to make their relationship official, they find themselves trapped in a marriage of convenience that is anything but convenient. There’s only one thing that could make all this even more complicated—if Max and Hunter’s feelings for each other start becoming real . . .

International Relations is a fake dating to fake marriage romance filled with glamorous locations, sizzling chemistry, and a love story that will capture your heart.

***Thank you to Slowburn for providing an advanced copy of the book via NetGalley. My review contains my honest thoughts about my reading experience.***

I’m a sucker for a fake dating story. So, of course I loved that element of International Relations even though it required some serious suspension of disbelief at times. In general, this was a quick, easy to read romance that had a good variety of funny, hot, and emotionally resonant moments. I had a good time with it. Unfortunately, there were some things that kept this story from becoming a new favorite.

Perhaps most important, I liked both of the main characters in International Relations. Max and Hunter grew quite a bit over the course of the story. Max became more honest with himself and everyone else. He used his newfound introspection skills to question whether the job he wanted so desperately was really the right fit for him. Hunter was able to finally put the ghosts of his past behind him and learn to hope again. Their relationship worked so well, and I loved how they always had each other’s back no matter what. Some things did move a bit fast, but it made sense considering their situation. There were plenty of entertaining forced proximity moments, and the yearning between Max and Hunter was so good. I liked that the author used physical intimacy rather sparingly because it really ratcheted up the tension between them.

The thing I struggled with most while reading International Relations was the pacing of the plot. The story jumped from one important event to the next, sometimes with weeks passing between chapters. It felt a bit like the reader was just getting the Cliff’s notes version of the story. I needed more downtime to really sink into the world of the characters. I never bought that Max was a diplomat and seeing him do some day-to-day work might have helped me believe it. The little moments of Max and Hunter’s relationship also felt like they were missing for the most part, and Hunter’s friends basically just felt like a backdrop. It all needed a bit more space to breathe. The most aggravating piece of the plot was the resolution of the deportation drama. It all happened so quickly at the end and then got fixed off page within a chapter. It would have been better to just have Max’s epiphany be the lynchpin of the third act and avoid the final immigration plot point altogether if it wasn’t going to be given the space to mean anything.

I’d be remiss to not mention Doily in my review. She was the heart of International Relations and, quite possibly, the best part. She was absolutely zany, and I never knew what cooky antics were coming next when she was on the page. I’d also like to give a shout out to Elton John’s gnome and Max’s fluffy companion, Mister Peanut, for making me smile while reading this book. They are all excellent examples of how well the author can build out his characters’ world. I just needed more of it!

All in all, International Relations was an entertaining read with a great fake dating romance that needed a bit more depth. The pacing was rough at points, but the story had quite a bit of charm that kept me invested in its characters. Therefore, I rate the book 3.5 out of 5 stars.

There you have it! My thoughts on International Relations by Zac Hammett. Do you plan to pick this one up? Let me know your thoughts down in the comments!