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The Deal Maker

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The Deal Maker

By: Louise Bay
Narrated by: Samantha Brentmoor, Jason Clarke
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About this listen

When the maid of honor and the best man fabricate a romance to keep the peace, the only thing they can’t fake are the sparks.

Lucy Jones is tired of being the “other sister.” Elizabeth is the golden child—beautiful, serene, and engaged to the perfect man. Lucy? She’s thirty, single, and still dodging her mother’s digs about how she never quite measures up. But when Elizabeth names Lucy as her maid of honor, she vows her sister’s wedding will be her grand rebrand. She’ll prove she’s polished, sophisticated, and totally in control.

Enter Hunter Bain. Best man. Business bro. Walking scowl emoji. Also the rudest, most aggravating man Lucy has ever met—and her new partner in planning the joint bachelor/bachelorette weekend. Fantastic. Because nothing says “reinvent yourself” like clashing with a man who thinks party planning is beneath him.

From drunken disasters to shenanigans on Martha’s Vineyard, Lucy and Hunter can’t stop butting heads. Until one impulsive lie forces them to pretend they’re dating. It’s supposed to be temporary. It’s supposed to be fake. But every lingering glance, every stolen kiss, every unexpected laugh makes it harder to remember what’s real and what’s not.

Full of sharp banter, slow-burn tension, and laugh-out-loud chaos, The Deal Maker is a swoony enemies-to-lovers rom-com about messy families, fake relationships, and finding love when you least expect it.

©2026 by Louise Bay. (P)2026 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.
Contemporary Romantic Comedy
All stars
Most relevant
I usually love Louise Bay’s stories, but this one frustrated me for most of the time. The constant references to Jane Austen’s books and characters quickly became repetitive and, at times, a bit cringe-worthy. While Austen is a classic inspiration, it felt overused here—surely there are other ways to shape a compelling love story.
I also struggled with the main female character. Her willingness to accept her mother’s constant criticism made her come across as lacking backbone, which made it difficult to connect with or root for her.
Overall, the story felt like a blend of Austen and Cinderella, but unfortunately not in a way that worked for me. On a positive note, the narrators were excellent, as expected—but even their strong performances couldn’t elevate the story.

Sob stories and Austen

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