Blog Tour: Excerpt + #Giveaway: The Fine Art of Pretending by Rachel Harris

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 THE FINE ART OF PRETENDING on Goodreads

According to the guys at Fairfield Academy, there are two types of girls: the kind you hook up with, and the kind you're friends with. Seventeen-year-old Alyssa Reed is the second type. And she hates it. With just one year left to change her rank, she devises a plan to become the first type by homecoming, and she sets her sights on the perfect date—Justin Carter, Fairfield Academy’s biggest hottie and most notorious player.

With 57 days until the dance, Aly launches Operation Sex Appeal and sheds her tomboy image. The only thing left is for Justin actually to notice her. Enter best friend Brandon Taylor, the school’s second biggest hottie, and now Aly’s pretendboyfriend. With his help, elevating from “funny friend” to “tempting vixen” is only a matter of time.

But when everything goes according to plan, the inevitable “break up” leaves their friendship in shambles, and Aly and Brandon with feelings they can’t explain. And the fake couple discovers pretending can sometimes cost you the one thing you never expected to want.

EXCERPT

The sweet scent of her hair fills my head, and I quickly lean back, masking my discomfort with a smile. “Outside?”

“God, yes.” She holds her palms over her ears and makes a pained face. “Quiet, please.” 

We walk across the lobby, under the overhead screen playing an endless loop of previews, and through the door, plopping down on the metal bench furthest from the ticket counter.

Aly looks at the bag between us and shimmies her shoulders. “What’d ya bring me?”

“Quarter Pounder with Cheese, hold the pickle, French fries, and a Coke, no ice. What else?” I’ve had her order down for years.

She squeals with delight and dives in. Around a mouthful of fries, she asks, “So what brought you to our humble establishment tonight? Severe boredom or just desperate for my company?” She smiles as she asks so I know she’s joking, but honestly, she’s not that far off.

I take a bite of my Big Mac and hold up a finger, chewing as I contemplate how to answer. I have a proposition, but I’ve been debating all day whether or not to suggest it. On one hand, it’ll be an excuse to hang out with my best friend again. On the other, it could complicate things even more. I swallow and ask, “What are you doing tomorrow night?”

“After my shift here, nothing,” she says, wiping her hands on a napkin. “Definitely no hot dates lined up or anything,” she adds with a teasing jab to my ribs.

I smile back, but it’s forced. The burger in my mouth tastes like cardboard. I tell myself it’s a gut reaction. That I’d feel the same way thinking about a guy asking out any girl I’m hooking up with—but that’s a lie. I wouldn’t give a shit with any other girl. But Aly’s not just any girl.   

Ignoring that train of thought, I say, “Good, you do now. You get off of work at seven, right?”

She tilts her head and squints. “We’re going out? Like, on a real official date?”

“A pretend official date,” I clarify.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  

Award-winning and Bestselling author Rachel Harris writes humorous love stories about sassy girls next door and the hot guys that make them swoon. Emotion, vibrant settings, and strong relationships are a staple in each of her books...and kissing. Lots of kissing. An admitted Diet Mountain Dew addict and homeschool mom, she gets through each day by laughing at herself, hugging her kids, and watching way too much Food Network with her husband. She writes young adult, new adult, and adult romance, and LOVES talking with readers.   

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The Fine Art of Pretending Blog Tour Schedule

October 1

Girls Love to Read-Review Only
Books to Get Lost In-Review Only
Bookish Wanderlove-Excerpt & Review
The Reading Realm-Review Only

October 2

A Thousand Lives Lived-Review Only
Confessions of a YA & NA Book Addict-Review Only
Dazzled by Books-Author Interview & Review
Avid Reader Musings-Review Only

October 3

Breaking Hearts-Review Only
FicWishes-Review Only
BookAngel Booktopia-Playlist & Review
The Cover Contessa-Review Only

October 4

A Bookish Escape-Review Only
We All Make Mistakes in Books-Review Only
Nose Stuck in a Book-Excerpt
Sassy Divas Book Blog-Review Only

October 5

The Lovely Books-Review Only
Undercover Book Reviews-Review Only
Roxy’s Review-Excerpt
Tales of the Ravenous Reader-Character Interview

October 6

The Phantom Paragrapher-Review Only
Mary Had a Little Book Blog-Review Only
Divergent Gryffindor-Fun & Different Idea & Review
Tangled Up in Books-Review Only

October 7

Between the Lines-Review Only
Book Beasties-Review Only
In Between the Pages-Author Interview
A Cup of Tea & a Big Book-Review Only

October 8

I Dare You To Read-Review Only
TSK TSK What to Read-Review Only
I’m A Book Shark-Excerpt
Step Into Fiction-Guest Post

October 9

The Eater of Books-Review Only
Works of Fiction-Review Only
Library of a Book Witch-Dreamcast & Review
Stuck in YA Books-Review Only

October 10

Part of that World-Review Only
The Book Whisperer-Review Only
Little Whimsy Books-Excerpt & Review
Lulo Fangirl-Author Interview