Reviewed by Sadonna

TITLE: Operation Meet Cute

SERIES:  Operation HEA

AUTHOR:  K.M. Neuhold

PUBLISHER:  Self-published

LENGTH:  295 Pages

RELEASE DATE:  August 2, 2021

BLURB:

Harlow is on a single-minded mission: meet the man of his dreams by any meet-cute necessary.

All my life, I’ve dreamed of one thing: the perfect movie moment. I want a man and his boombox outside my window; I want kissing in the rain; I want a romantic hero who will take my breath away.

Switching mail with my cute neighbor didn’t work. Swapping coffee with a hottie at the coffee shop just got the poor barista yelled at. And bus guy? Total bust. I’m starting to wonder if Hollywood got the whole meet-cute thing wrong. Sacrilege, I know.

Is it possible the perfect leading man has been living in the apartment above me the entire time, playing the role of my best friend?

Things are about to get very interesting…

***Operation: Meet-cute is a swoony, steamy, best friends to lovers, friends with benefits turned more, laugh out loud story with low angst and plenty of heat.

REVIEW:

Harlow is an AD on a film with an Oscar winning director and he wants to direct his own films someday.  He also is a writer which a number of scripts that he’s just waiting to get in front of the right audience.  When Director Dickhead (as he is affectionately dubbed by Harlow), can’t seem to ever get his name right, but then asks to see his script, he thinks maybe his ship has come in.  But in the meantime, he’s still desperately trying to manufacture his own “movie moment” meet-cute to find his “true love.”  Most of these end in disaster and he’s not had a relationship in years. Well except for his friendship with his upstairs neighbor, Teddy.

Teddy is a finance guy and Harlow’s Best Friend in LA for the past 5 years.  Harlow burns food in his kitchen, loves on his 3-legged cat, shares his RIDICULOUS ideas for his “meet-cute” trolling for Mr. Right and generally his bestie.  But Teddy has been hiding that he’s been in love with Harlow for 4 years now.  He picks up the pieces from Harlow’s work travails, bails him out of his terrible dates and generally provides all the support anyone could want from a best friend.

Teddy and Harlow are both in a dry spell.  Teddy hasn’t really tried to date (for reasons) and Harlow’s meet-cute have generally been epic fails.  Then Teddy mentions someone he had a “friends with benefits” arrangement with some time before and Harlow gets it in his head that they should just add that level to their friendship.  Teddy’s a bit skeptical at first because again – reasons – but he kind of shrugs and goes with it. Heck it might be his only shot 😉

Things between Teddy and Harlow are going pretty smoothly.  They ratchet up their “benefits” and then Harlow’s BFF from his little Georgia hometown gets engaged.  He has to return to his hometown for the first time in 10 year and he spontaneously asks Teddy to accompany him,.  He’s further shocked when Teddy says yes.  But when they get their things get real in a way they haven’t in LA.  The question is, will Harlow finally see what’s right in front of him, or will his fear keep him from getting his heart’s desire.

Well just when I think I can’t love KM Neuhold’s books more, this little gem comes along.  Teddy and Harlow might be my new favorite couple – and that’s saying a LOT because West and Sawyer were pretty pinnacle to me 🙂   What did I love about this story?  Everything!  Harlow and his adorkable idea about a meet-cute that would lead to his forever love.  Keanu Reeves as God.  Marnie his perfectly imperfect bestie from his hometown who of course sees through all his bluster and Teddy’s “innocent” act 😉  Harlow’s mom who is totally team Harlow and understands her son’s fears.  Ezra, Teddy’s assistant who is definitely NOT team Harlow 😛  but is totally team Teddy.   Even Director Dickhead, who while HARSH serves it up REAL to Harlow.  And of course Teddy.  What could be more perfect than Teddy Bear <3.  This story is just 100% adorable and sweet and perfect.  And while it’s a romance, it’s message is spot on.  The real love story is what happens after the movie ends, but it take a leap of faith and some work to make that happen.   The romance and wedding are just the prelude.  It’s the stuff after that’s real (or so I’m told 😉 ).  Every note of this story was just right – from the moves to best friends with benefits to the ability of those outside of the friendship to see what’s really happening to the romantic dances to Harlow’s inability to let go of his fears for a long time to FINALLY understanding what love really is.  I absolutely ADORED this story and I think you will too.

I think this author really has a wonderful knack for characters that are afraid of getting their heart broken.  She allows the reader to empathize with the character – while still wanting to slap them upside the head in the most loving of ways 😀  Her friends to lovers books I think are absolutely some of my favorites (not that she can’t write other hella good books as well).  I honestly cannot WAIT for more books in this series.  I’ve read some much heavier books in the past couple of weeks and with this FABULOUS book, I’m going into the weekend with a happy outlook and a smile on my face.  And heck, maybe I even believe in love a little bit too 😉

HIGHLY recommended!

RATING:

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