Let's Pretend This Will Work: A Novel

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars | 5,394 ratings

Price: 4.99

Last update: 06-24-2024


About this item

The search for happiness turns a woman’s life upside down in a warm, quirky, and bighearted novel about the joys and chaos of finding love by the bestselling author of Matchmaking for Beginners.

After too many dates, thirtysomething Mimi Perkins is still single, unmoored, and longing for love. So when Ren Yardley—a handsome, divorced fellow drama teacher and single father—falls in love with her and proposes, she’s sure this is at last the good news her psychic predicted.

Soon after proposing, Ren receives the devastating news that his ex-wife has been in a debilitating car accident, prompting him to temporarily move back into his former home to care for her and his daughters. The unfailingly loyal Ren also wants to keep Mimi close, so she packs up her life in New York City and follows him to New Haven, Connecticut. There, she finds a job and unexpected community at a quirky local daycare. But as time goes by, it begins to seem that Ren and his estranged family might be slowly reuniting, and Mimi has to figure out what she’s willing to fight for and what she needs to let go of.

One thing is for sure: she would have never guessed that her psychic was right after all. Life’s twists, turns, and disasters just might lead her to unexpected happiness.


From the Publisher

SOMETIMES LOVE NEEDS A DO-OVER

Top reviews from the United States

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars New favorite Author!
Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2024
I chose this book as my Amazon first reads choice and I'm so happy to say it was a great decision. I was planning on reading this book on an upcoming plane trip. I started reading and I couldn't stop until I finished it, which was in one day. I love that this book is written in the first person format with adorable and lovable characters. Since this book was already read before my trip, I have chosen some other Maddie Dawson books to read. Many thanks to other reviewers that said it was light hearted and fun to read. Lots of twists and turns that kept me guessing.
BW
4.0 out of 5 stars A charming read
Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2024
This was my first book by this author. I found it to be an interesting, charming read. The sex was not detailed or graphic (heat was implied not necessarily described). I appreciated this author's writing style and the effort that went into this story. The story wasn't the usual romance trope and the details seem to be drawn from the author's various personal experiences.
There was a nuance of 'hippie' vs. 'establishment' vibe but this was written from a young person's perspective in the 1980's. While it vaguely promoted women's equality of that era, the MFC allowed her boyfriend to set her up in an apartment and pay for it. It wasn't clear how long he supported her as she drifted about in her life, nor was it was clear how she paid for things without a real job. However irresponsible (for lack of a better word) I saw the MFC's choices, I still very much enjoyed the writing. Enough so that I will check out the author's other books.
teachlz
5.0 out of 5 stars An Entertaining and Enchanting Novel
Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2024
Maddie Dawson the Author of “Let’s Pretend This Will Work” has written a captivating, delightful, entertaining, and witty novel. The Genres for this novel are Family Life Fiction, Women’s Domestic Fiction, Contemporary Women’s Fiction, Romance, Chick-Lit, with a Dash of Magical Realism. In this well-written and amusing novel, the author vividly describes her setting, plot, and colorful and dramatic characters. The characters are complex, complicated, quirky and dysfunctional.

Did you think it was possible to look for love in all the wrong places? The protagonist, Mimi Perkins is a thirty-ish year old single teacher, who would like to find love. Mimi consults her Psychic at least once a week, and truly believes that she has a magic skirt that will give her good luck. After all, she was wearing it when she got her job, and met the man of her dreams, who is supposed to propose. At the “special dinner” where Ren Yardley is supposed to propose, he gets a call from his adult daughters that his ex-wife was in a terrible accident. Being a good father, Ren leaves to be with his daughters and ex-wife.

Ren moves back “home” to take care of his ex-wife, and “adult daughters”, and encourages Mimi to move in an apartment nearby. He is mostly with his family, but “sees” Mimi when he can. Is this what Mimi truly wants? Mimi faithfully calls her Psychic to find out what to do, and still has hope.The Psychic is adamant that Mimi will find love. I highly recommend this enchanting book, and encourage you to read it.
smzomar
5.0 out of 5 stars excellent book!
Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2024
I loved the story and characters in the book. I laughed out loud many, many times! A fun read, with real meaning, too. It really made me think. I will definitely read another book by Maddie Dawson.
NL in Zona
4.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully written story of a woman's journey to find herself
Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2024
The novel is VERY well-written, so I feel badly about only giving it a four-star rating; however…this novel was categorized as a “romance” by Amazon and it is NOT! It’s a DRAMA; and most of the novel is so darned depressing. Thankfully, there is a happily-ever-after.

I think the main characters are well-developed, but I found both “Mimi” and “Ren” to be total wimps, and, to me, not very sympathetic. She is an awkward introvert who never rises above her own lack of self-esteem; he’s so focused on his injured ex-wife and being “the responsible adult” that he can’t live in the present (with Mimi). To me, the other two main characters, “Jamie” and his 4-year-old daughter, “Alice,” were more believable and relatable.

I appreciate the author’s story of Mimi coming into her own (which is what this story is truly about – drama, right?), being able (finally) to express herself and stand up for herself, but, again, it’s NOT a romance, which is how Amazon billed it.

The novel was also pretty plodding, in my opinion. There was a LOT of narrative, not much action or conversation, and for most of the novel, not much forward momentum. This fact worked, however, to underscore Mimi’s “stuck” nature – in her relationship with Ren, her inability to stand up for herself, and grab what she wanted.

It reminded me of “Housekeeping” – a novel by Marilynne Robinson – with that book’s recurrent imagery of water that stressed the whole premise of the novel (chaos and death, essentially). Everything about Ms. Dawson’s book – at least in the first half – reinforces how Mimi and Ren were mired in their pasts, and unable to move forward.

So, I’m being generous with the 4-star rating because I can see what the author was trying to convey, and because I appreciated the fact that she achieved it so beautifully. But, to all the fans of contemporary romance, I would NOT recommend this novel. If you love drama, especially the type of story about a woman’s journey to find herself, then go for it – you will ADORE this novel!
Jessica S.
5.0 out of 5 stars Funny, warm, and big-hearted
Reviewed in the United States on June 12, 2024
This was my first Maddie Dawson book, but it definitely won't be my last. What a funny, warm, big-hearted story! I laughed out loud, I teared up, I didn't want it to end. Thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish.
Nancy Krumwiede
4.0 out of 5 stars Nice story
Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2024
It's not my usual romance story, but it's still an okay read. However, I really liked the characters. Good summer read.

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