Let's Pretend This Will Work

A Novel

By: Maddie Dawson

Narrated by: Helen Laser

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.

©2024 Maddie Dawson (P)2024 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Readers looking for a story that captures their full attention and doesn’t let go will enjoy every page of this book.”—Booklist

“An utterly delightful read, proving that sometimes fate isn’t written in the stars but within the walls of one’s own bruised heart. I absolutely adored this feel-good novel!”—Laura Barrow, author of Call the Canaries Home

“I challenge you to read the first page of Let’s Pretend This Will Work and not shut off your camera during Zoom meetings, cancel dinner plans, and stay up late into the night to finish it. It’s that good. If you’re not reading Maddie Dawson, you’re not laughing, sighing, or living right.”—Ann Garvin, USA Today bestselling author of There’s No Coming Back from This

Love!

Such a cute book! Love it! I couldn’t stop reading (listening!) love the day care and all the crazy people in it

Captivating!

I really enjoyed this book. It was sweet, frustrating, sad (teary eyes for me) and funny. Character development was awesome.

5 stars

Let's Pretend This Will Work by Maddie Dawson is a great book! I almost DNF when I saw it was based in 1982, but the writing drew me in to the point that it didn't matter. Full disclosure, love triangles and enemies to lovers are my favorite romance subgenre. However, this time it wasn't so immediately clear who Mimi would end up with as both men acted immature and unreasonable at times. I enjoyed the journey and will read more of Maddie's books.

Helen Laser is a great narrator. I enjoyed the range of her vocals. Most narrators do an annoying child voice, but hers is very believable.

SO funny

Fun book! Lighthearted and entertaining. Excellent narration. Fun twists and great ending. I enjoyed it

Really Good

It’s so great to listen to a story that’s written really well and has incredible characters. At times there were laugh out loud moments, a few that really I felt my heart break, and then so much unconditional love and care and support. Living thru the eyes and ears of those amazing kids helps put so much of even real life into perspective. I adored Mimi and especially Alice. Children are amazing and resilient and they also are incredibly insightful. Love how it was conveyed in this book. Really enjoyed listening to this book.

Helen Laser was excellent at narrating this book and providing unique voices for the main characters and the adorable children. It really felt genuine!!

Joy!

On this wild ride the lead character finds herself, love, and the most magical life anyone could hope to live. There are definitely some bumps along the way, but each bump was necessary to find where she truly belonged. I loved this book!!!

Not the same old thing. . .

Story line was unique. Thoroughly enjoyed all the characters, especially Mimi. Great narrator - her voice and inflections were uplifting.

Funny, sweet and unpredictable

I laughed out loud at the main character Mimi’s musings. Great plot with a few surprises. Takes place in the early 80s. Funny to hear them use pay phones and answering machines!

My favorite Maddie Dawson story yet!

This story was quirky (to be expected) and so much fun. The fact that so much of it takes place in New Haven, CT was also a treat having grown up in CT myself. I thoroughly enjoyed going on this adventure with Mimi and loved her positive, free spirited nature.

The narration was spot on, bringing Mimi and the others to life.

Excellent narration

Lovely story with an entertaining narration. This is my second Maddie Dawson book and I sort of started reading it by accident - but I was hooked from the beginning.