““I’d always thought that love was a feeling, but I was wrong. It’s a choice. A choice you make every day, sometimes every hour, to keep showing up.””
— Laurie reflecting on the nature of love as her relationship with Jamie develops.
Archivist's Choice
If I Never Met You
Mhairi McFarlane (2020)
Genre
Romance
Reading Time
540 min
Key Themes
See below
Track Your Reading
Sign in to track this book
After a painful breakup, a woman fakes a high-profile office romance with the firm's playboy, only to find that pretending to be in love might just lead to the real thing.
Synopsis
Laurie's long-term relationship ends, and her ex's new girlfriend is pregnant, leaving Laurie humiliated at the law firm where they both work. To save face, she agrees to a fake relationship with Jamie Carter, the office playboy who needs a stable image to impress their bosses. Their 'fauxmance' involves staged dates, public affection, and social media posts, all with an end date. As they spend time together, pretending to be in love, the lines between their agreement and real feelings blur. Laurie faces her unexpected connection with Jamie, while Jamie, initially cynical about love, falls for her. Their carefully built facade eventually breaks under the weight of real emotions and professional challenges. After their fauxmance concludes, both Laurie and Jamie must confront their true feelings, leading to a period of regret before they find their way back to a genuine second chance at love.
Reading time
540 min
Difficulty
Easy
Pacing
Moderate
Mood
Heartwarming, Witty, Romantic, Humorous
✓ Read this if...
You enjoy contemporary office romances with a fake dating trope, witty banter, and emotional depth.
✗ Skip this if...
You dislike slow-burn romances or stories that heavily feature workplace drama and social media elements.
Plot Summary
The Shocking Breakup
Laurie Watkinson, a successful lawyer in her late thirties, is surprised when her partner of eighteen years, Dan, ends their relationship. The breakup happens just as they are about to see a house, a symbol of their future. Laurie is devastated, not only by losing Dan but also by her life falling apart. The situation is harder because they both work at the same law firm, meaning Laurie sees Dan daily, a constant reminder of her pain and embarrassment. Her friends, Emily and Jo, support her, but Laurie struggles with the emotional aftermath.
Office Humiliation and a New Revelation
Office gossip quickly spreads about Dan's new girlfriend, a younger woman named Emma. Laurie tries to stay composed, but the whispers and pitying looks are unbearable. The final blow comes when it's revealed that Emma is pregnant, a detail Dan had hidden from Laurie for months, even when they were still together. This public humiliation, combined with Dan always saying he didn't want children, sends Laurie into deeper despair. She feels betrayed and foolish, desperate to regain control and dignity in her professional and personal life.
The Elevator Encounter
During a low point, Laurie gets stuck in a broken office elevator with Jamie Carter, the firm's charming and non-committal 'playboy.' Their first interaction is awkward, but as they wait, they develop a surprising connection. Jamie, known for his casual view on relationships, reveals he wants to be taken more seriously by senior partners for an upcoming promotion. This chance meeting sparks an idea for a solution to both their problems.
The Fauxmance Proposition
Jamie suggests a bold idea to Laurie: a fake relationship. He needs a 'respectable, steady girlfriend' to appear more mature to the firm's partners, especially for a big promotion. Laurie, still hurt by Dan's betrayal and wanting to save face, sees a chance to make Dan jealous and stop office gossip. They set terms: a public, social-media-friendly fake romance with a clear end date, designed to convince everyone they are a real couple. The plan is to create a believable story of their growing romance.
Staged Dates and Social Media Blitz
Laurie and Jamie begin their fake relationship with careful planning. They stage elaborate 'dates'—from romantic dinners to weekend trips—documenting everything with posed photos for social media. Their posts are meant to look spontaneous and loving, hinting at a deep connection. Colleagues and friends are first surprised, then curious, and finally convinced by their seemingly perfect romance. Dan, in particular, shows signs of discomfort and jealousy, which Laurie finds satisfying, feeling a sense of justice she hadn't expected.
Cracks in the Façade
Despite the pretense, Laurie and Jamie spend a lot of time together, getting to know each other beyond their work personas. They share vulnerabilities, personal stories, and genuine laughter. Laurie discovers Jamie is more complex and caring than his playboy image suggests, while Jamie sees Laurie's strength and humor beneath her heartbreak. The line between their fake affection and real connection begins to blur, and both start to question their agreement's limits, feeling a strong pull toward each other.
The Truth About Jamie
As their bond grows, Laurie learns the truth behind Jamie's avoidance of commitment. She hears about his difficult childhood, marked by an absent father and a struggling mother, which made him fear emotional ties and believe relationships lead to pain. This helps Laurie understand Jamie's emotional walls and his need for control. She also realizes his 'playboy' image is a shield, not his true self, deepening her real feelings for him.
The Promotion and the End Date
Jamie gets the promotion he wanted, partly due to his new 'respectable' image. This achievement brings their fake relationship to its planned end. However, the thought of ending their act makes both Laurie and Jamie uneasy. The initial relief of reaching their goals is overshadowed by sadness and a reluctance to let go of the real connection they've made. They both struggle with the unspoken question of whether their feelings are real enough to go beyond the initial agreement.
A Confession and a Retreat
Unable to deny her feelings, Laurie tells Jamie she has fallen for him, admitting their 'fauxmance' became real for her. Jamie, despite clearly feeling the same, is overwhelmed by his deep fear of commitment and painful past memories. He pulls back, unable to fully embrace the vulnerability a real relationship with Laurie would require. This rejection leaves Laurie heartbroken, feeling as though she's relived the pain of Dan's departure, but with a deeper sense of loss.
Life After the Fauxmance
After the fake romance ends and Jamie pulls away, Laurie is left to cope again. The heartbreak is deep because she had hoped for a real future with Jamie. She focuses on her career, finding new purpose and confidence in her legal work. She also relies on her friends, Emily and Jo, processing her emotions and thinking about her past relationship with Dan, realizing she had settled for less than she deserved. This time of reflection helps her grow independently, no longer defined by her past relationships.
Jamie's Regret and Reconsideration
After pushing Laurie away, Jamie is filled with regret. He struggles with the emptiness her absence leaves and the realization that he truly loves her. The promotion he wanted so much feels empty without Laurie. He faces his fears and the reasons for his commitment issues, realizing his past shouldn't control his future happiness. He begins to understand that the risk of heartbreak is worth taking for a love as strong as what he feels for Laurie.
A Second Chance
Jamie, having faced his past, returns to Laurie, ready to fight for their relationship. He expresses his genuine love for her, admitting his fear and past mistakes, and promises to work through his issues. Laurie, though wary of being hurt again, sees the sincerity in his eyes and the depth of his feelings. Stronger and more confident from her own journey, she decides to give Jamie and their real love a chance, understanding that true love involves vulnerability and courage. They begin a genuine relationship, built on honesty and mutual respect.
Principal Figures
Laurie Watkinson
The Protagonist
Laurie transforms from a heartbroken, humiliated woman seeking superficial revenge into a confident, self-assured individual who understands and values true love.
Jamie Carter
The Love Interest / Supporting Protagonist
Jamie evolves from a guarded, commitment-phobic man to someone willing to confront his past and embrace vulnerability for the sake of true love.
Dan
The Antagonist / Ex-Partner
Dan remains largely static, serving as a catalyst for Laurie's growth rather than undergoing significant development himself.
Emily
The Supporting
Emily's arc is less about personal transformation and more about her steadfast support and friendship to Laurie.
Jo
The Supporting
Similar to Emily, Jo's role is primarily to support and reflect Laurie's journey, rather than undergo a major personal arc.
Emma
The Mentioned
Emma's role is primarily catalytic; she doesn't have a personal arc within the story.
Mr. Davies
The Supporting
Mr. Davies serves as an external influence and does not have a personal arc.
Themes & Insights
The Nature of Love and Authenticity
The novel explores the unclear boundaries between fake and real emotions, asking what makes love genuine. Laurie and Jamie's fake romance, built on lies, slowly becomes something truly authentic. This theme appears as they navigate their staged dates, finding real connection and vulnerability beneath the pretense. It makes them, and the reader, consider if a relationship's start defines its truth, or if real feelings can come from unusual beginnings. The story suggests that love is not always simple or predictable.
““Maybe it’s not about finding the perfect person, but about finding someone who makes you realize you were never really looking for perfection in the first place.””
Healing and Self-Discovery After Heartbreak
Laurie's story is about healing and finding her identity again after her long relationship ends. Dan's betrayal shatters her sense of self and future, forcing her to discover who she is without him. The fake relationship, ironically, gives her a safe place to explore new parts of herself, regain confidence, and eventually understand what she truly wants in a partner. This theme is clear in her growing independence and her ability to choose real love, rather than settling out of fear or habit, as she might have done before.
““Sometimes you have to lose everything to find out what you actually need.””
The Impact of Past Trauma on Relationships
Jamie's character arc is tied to this theme. His commitment issues and 'playboy' image are revealed as defenses from a difficult childhood and an absent father. His past experiences made him fear vulnerability and believe emotional attachments lead to pain. The novel shows how old trauma can stop people from forming healthy, lasting relationships, even with real feelings. It highlights the need to face past wounds to allow for future happiness and connection, as Jamie eventually does for Laurie.
““He built walls so high, no one could get in. Not even him.””
Social Perception vs. Reality
The fake romance relies on creating a believable public image that differs from the private reality. Laurie and Jamie carefully craft their social media presence and public interactions to project an image of a loving, stable couple. This theme looks at the pressure to meet expectations, especially at work, and how modern relationships are performed, particularly with social media. It shows the difference between what people present to the world and their true, often more complex, inner lives. Office gossip and Dan's reaction highlight the power of appearances.
““We were performing a relationship, and the audience was everyone we knew.””
Plot Devices & Literary Techniques
Fauxmance (Fake Relationship)
A central romantic trope where two characters pretend to be in a relationship.
The fauxmance is the primary plot device, driving the entire narrative. It serves multiple functions: as a catalyst for Laurie's healing and revenge, and for Jamie's career advancement. Crucially, it forces Laurie and Jamie into close proximity, creating opportunities for them to genuinely connect and fall in love despite their initial intentions. The artificiality of the relationship highlights the journey towards authenticity, as the characters must navigate the performative aspects while developing real feelings. It creates comedic situations and dramatic tension, particularly as the lines between fake and real blur.
Social Media as a Narrative Tool
Social media posts are used to advance the plot and create public perception.
Social media, particularly platforms like Instagram, acts as a crucial narrative device to depict the public performance of Laurie and Jamie's fake relationship. Their carefully curated posts, staged photographs, and strategic captions are presented as evidence of their 'love,' influencing the perceptions of their colleagues and friends. This device not only drives the plot by creating the desired illusion but also comments on contemporary society's reliance on digital presentation and how it can both obscure and reveal truth. It allows the author to show, rather than just tell, the impact of their charade on their social circle.
Workplace Setting
The shared office environment creates constant tension and motivation.
The law firm setting is more than just a backdrop; it's an integral plot device that fuels the conflict and motivations. Laurie's humiliation is intensified by having to see Dan daily, and Jamie's career aspirations are directly tied to his image within the firm. The office grapevine acts as a constant source of pressure and gossip, making the fauxmance a public spectacle. It ensures that the characters' personal lives are always intertwined with their professional ones, raising the stakes for their deception and eventual emotional fallout. The professional context provides a constant external pressure for their internal struggles.
Flashbacks and Internal Monologue
Used to reveal character backstory and emotional depth.
The novel utilizes Laurie's internal monologues and occasional flashbacks to provide insight into her past relationship with Dan, her lingering heartbreak, and her evolving feelings for Jamie. Similarly, Jamie's backstory regarding his childhood is revealed through dialogue and his actions, rather than direct flashbacks, but it serves the same purpose of adding depth. These devices allow the reader to understand the characters' motivations, fears, and emotional complexities, particularly Laurie's journey of healing and Jamie's struggle with commitment, enriching their respective arcs and making their eventual connection more meaningful.
Critical analysis
Notable Quotes
““The thing about being an adult, I was slowly learning, was that sometimes you just had to make a decision, even if you weren’t entirely sure it was the right one.””
— Laurie contemplating a difficult life decision, possibly related to her career or relationship.
““It was funny how you could know someone for years, think you knew everything about them, and then one day they’d do something that completely redefined them.””
— Laurie observing a change in a long-term acquaintance or friend.
““Sometimes the best way to move on was to just keep going, even when you felt like you couldn’t. One foot in front of the other.””
— Laurie's internal monologue during a period of personal struggle or heartbreak.
““He had that rare quality of being completely comfortable in his own skin, which made everyone else around him feel comfortable too.””
— Laurie's initial observation of Jamie's personality.
““Maybe the problem wasn’t that I kept picking the wrong men, but that I kept picking the wrong version of myself to be with them.””
— Laurie reflecting on her past relationship patterns and her own role in them.
““There’s a difference between being alone and being lonely. I was often alone, but rarely lonely.””
— Laurie's thoughts on her independence and contentment before meeting Jamie.
““Some people come into your life and you just know, instantly, that they’re going to be important.””
— Laurie's realization about Jamie early in their interactions.
““It was a weird kind of freedom, being with someone who didn’t expect you to be anything other than exactly who you were.””
— Laurie describing the comfort and authenticity she feels with Jamie.
““You can’t control what other people do, or how they react. You can only control your own actions and your own heart.””
— A piece of advice Laurie either receives or gives herself during a conflict.
““Hearts don't break; they just rearrange themselves, sometimes into something stronger.””
— Laurie's hopeful perspective on recovering from heartbreak.
““The quiet moments, the ordinary ones, those were the ones that truly built a life together.””
— Laurie appreciating the small, everyday aspects of her developing relationship.
““Life was messy, complicated, and rarely went according to plan. But sometimes, in the midst of all that chaos, you found exactly what you needed.””
— Laurie's overarching reflection on the unpredictable nature of life and love.
Quiz
Test Your Knowledge
Ready to see how well you understood this book? Take our interactive quiz with 10 questions.
10
Questions
~5
Minutes
?
Best Score
Key Questions (FAQ)
The book centers on Laurie, who, after her long-term partner Dan leaves her for a pregnant colleague, enters a fake relationship with office playboy Jamie. Their 'fauxmance' is designed to improve Jamie's professional image and make Laurie's ex jealous, but they soon find their carefully constructed charade blurring with genuine feelings.
