Pretenders

By: Alexa Land

Narrated by: Zachary Zaba

Doctor Wesley Bennett is desperate to find a date for his ex-fiance's destination wedding. So desperate, in fact, that he's decided to hire an escort to pose as his boyfriend. That's what he thinks, anyway. My roommate is the actual escort, not me. He wasn't available, so I stepped in. This job was just way too sweet to pass up. It should be easy. All we have to do is convince everyone Wesley and I are a couple without getting emotionally involved. He's adorable though, in a nerdy and endearingly awkward kind of way, and the attraction between us is undeniable. I have a feeling things are about to get complicated. And what's going to happen when the job is over? Can we stop pretending and build something real? Or are a straight-laced pediatrician and a lavender-haired DJ too different to make it work?

©2021 Alexa Land (P)2021 Alexa Land

Great story

I have been a fan of Alexa’s writing for many years now. She knows how to pull me in and love the characters and their story. I listened to this one on audible and really enjoyed it.

Wesley and Ash are super sweet and meet under a false pretense of Ash being an escort. When they meet sparks fly as well as insta love. Ash is hired to attend Wesley’s brothers wedding to Wesley’s ex fiancé (talk about drama).

This is a opposites attract but just fit tighter perfectly, fake boyfriend story. I adored a few of Wesley’s family members and look forward to reading Ash’s roommates story.

charming - solid 4 stars

Would I listen to it again: yes ✔
Did the story keep me engaged: yes ✔
Was I invested in the characters: yes ✔

📖 Story comment: What a delight - feel good, low angst, "insta-love" fake boyfriend story. First thing I though of was "its along the lines of Pretty Woman or The Wedding Date" - both movies of which I thoroughly enjoy, Although the premise is similar, this story is so much more. Ash's character is bright and loveable and brings that light to Wes' very grey existence in all the best ways.

🎧 Narrator comment: Zachary Zaba suits these characters, he has good timing, inflections and intonations, and I had no trouble distinguishing characters from each other. At times Ash's dialog was a little too fast for me, which would in turn make Wes' dialog fee a little slow, but overall an enjoyable performance that i'd be happy to listen to again

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📌 Where does it fall on my personal scale? 7
• 1 not my thing • 2 didn't like the narration • 3 didn't keep my attention • 4 was good, but once was enough • 5 enjoyed it • 6 will listen again if i'm in the mood for the narrator • 7 goes on the "re-listen" list [4⭐] • 8 kept me up past bed-time [4.5⭐] • 9 recommended to family/friends [4.75⭐] • 10 own it in multiple formats [5⭐] • 11 keep a copy with me at all times [5⭐]
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A Must Buy!!!!

This book has it all! Love, betrayal and humor!! Alexa Land writes beautiful books and this one is just as beautiful!!!

Loved it!!

I’m so happy Alexa Land is giving audiobooks another chance!! Pretenders is a sweet, low angst fake boyfriend story. Ash is an upbeat DJ who agrees to pose as the sedate Wesley’s boyfriend and to accompany him to Wesley’s ex-fiancé and brothers wedding. The actual relationship developed fast between these two!
I loved getting to see a few characters from past books (you can still enjoy this as a stand-alone).
Zachary Zaba did a great job with the narration! Alexa’s books are usually very heavy on the characters and Zachary did a good job giving everyone a unique voice.

Instantly in love

I loved this book, which is not remotely surprising, since I've loved everything I've read by this author. It had been a long, long time since I'd last read/listened to a Firsts & Forever book, thanks to a too-large TBR, but listening to this one felt like cozying up in a favorite blanket...while also slightly tipsy & watching a favorite romantic comedy.
It is kinda insta-love, but Ash & Wes are incredibly loveable. I fell in insta-love with them both. Ash is an inspiring kind of character, so incredibly cool and sweet and creative. I wish he were a real person. Wes is adorable and lovely. The two of them and their allies are charming and hilarious together.
I listened to the audiobook for this book. (SO EXCITED FOR AN ALEXA LAND AUDIOBOOK!) It was my first Zachary Zaba book, despite how many books on my TBR have him as a narrator. I thought his Wes was perfect and that he did a great job with the rest of the cast. It's a pretty big cast, so pretty impressive to be able to keep everyone straight. I think he could've given Ash a slightly stronger accent and slowed him down a bit, as he's originally from Louisiana. That being said, Ash had been in San Francisco for a long time, so it's not a huge deal. He was also slightly sing-songy at times, but that can be difficult to avoid with characters who are as verbal and energetic as Ash. I'm still sold on Zaba as a narrator, which is quite a relief considering how many books he's narrated in the m/m world.
I really, really hope more audiobooks come out in this world. It was a thrill to hear this one.

Love this book, but couldn’t finish the audio

I LOVE this book. Love love love. I was really looking forward to listening to this but quickly discovered Zachary is not the narrator for me. Probably one of the most awkward narrations I’ve ever listened to, and I made it about 2 1/2 hours before I had to throw in the towel. But still, you should absolutely still read this book because it’s lovely.

Such A Fun Story

I absolutely love Alexa Land's characters and Ash & Wes are no exception. They are so great together. Totally what the other has needed to make their life happier. This is such a great story and then add in Zachary Zaba's narrating and it's just amazing. The scene after Ash has been drinking was too funny.

Really Cute Story!

I really enjoyed this listen a lot. I loved the instant connection between Wes and Ash, and how their differences complimented the other. I did enjoy how much Ash stood up for Wes and that Wes eventually stood up for himself with his family as well but it really bothered me how his so called friend basically betrayed him and “outed” who she thought was a sex worker and that there was no consequences to her for that. Still the book was overall and enjoyable one.