You & Me for Real by Hayley Elliott

You & Me for Real by Hayley Elliott

This is Hayley’s debut novel, and I was thrilled when she included me in her early reader group. I’d read her novelette in the A New Year’s Kiss anthology and loved it! The book releases August 14, 2025, and you can find it on Amazon and other retailers. 

Let’s begin with the summary:

She swore she’d never be in front of the camera again, but now she’s falling for a Hollywood heartthrob with a tabloid-worthy secret.

Former child reality star Ashton Reid is done with fame and dreams of a quiet life and finally opening her own animal rescue. But establishing a non-profit requires funding and, therefore, publicity. For Ashton, this means facing her crippling anxiety anytime a camera is pointed in her direction. Despite her best efforts to avoid all things Hollywood, when celebrity Griffin Ford rushes into her shelter carrying an injured dog—with his impossibly muscled arms and notorious abs—she’s helpless against those almond eyes. The dog's eyes, that is.

Actor Griffin Ford is desperate for his first meaningful role. Tired of being seen as nothing more than washboard abs on an angsty teen drama, he’s agreed to a fake relationship with his co-star to guarantee the lead in her father’s next movie. But when the contract requires more than he’s bargained for, he begins to question the future he always imagined. To take back some ownership of his life, Griffin adopts a new dog—despite being clueless about pet ownership.

Drawn to Ashton’s authenticity, Griffin recruits her to train his new rescue. In return, Griffin helps her navigate publicity and social media for her foundation. Outside the glow of Hollywood, it doesn’t take long for Ashton to see that Griffin is more than the hunk he portrays on TV. As their professional and personal lives intertwine and their attraction grows stronger, their chemistry becomes undeniable. But when the heat of the spotlight threatens to expose Ashton’s past and Griffin’s secret, the two must decide: fight for what’s real between them, or risk becoming another casualty of fame.

And now, my review:

The author kept me hooked with the way she withheld information and slowly caught us up with the heroine’s backstory. 

The hero is at war with himself. Should he sell out? Or stand up? There were times Griffin came across as rather immature in his business dealings, and he was rather talkative, open, and self-aware for the usual male POV. Then there were very solid moments of male POV that made Griffin breathe on the page. 

I liked the inclusion of the dogs, and the heroine’s competence with them will make readers respect her. One of the heroine’s challenges is she’s used to hiding. She prefers it. Now it’s time for her to come out of hiding. But as a child she wasn't permitted to set boundaries, and she didn’t have a voice. Moving forward into the kind of future she wants means overcoming all of that. 

Readers will root for this heroine as she works to face her past to make a more desirable future. And they’ll root for the hero to find his own strength and path. 

Overall, this is a strong debut and I recommend it for readers who are looking for a feel-good romance that includes celebrities and a Hollywood connection.