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Verdict: A gentle, very slow-burn fake marriage: an autistic interim CEO has to marry to keep her family company, so she hires the barista she once accidentally stood up. Readers love Mack, the communication and the lack of a third-act breakup; the most common complaints are low early chemistry, slow pacing and a judgmental Taylor.
Best for: Readers who want fake marriage without the drama, and a thoughtful neurodivergent lead.
Heat level: Low (one reader says almost no steam)
Rating: ★★★★☆ (3.9/5 — a 4.18 Goodreads average across 1,074 ratings, 4.09 on StoryGraph from 167 reviews, and 4.2 stars across 7 Amazon ratings)
Tropes: Marriage of convenience, fake relationship, bad first impression, opposites attract, slow burn, neurodivergent lead, low angst.
The Business of Love is Charley Clarke’s 2023 contemporary lesbian romance from Ylva. After her parents’ sudden death, reserved Mackenzie “Mack” Watson is interim CEO of the family company and guardian of her little sister Sophie — but her late grandmother decreed that the CEO must be married.
It holds a 4.18 average across 1,074 Goodreads ratings, with 79% of them four or five stars, 4.09 on StoryGraph from 167 reviews, and 4.2 stars across 7 Amazon ratings.
What Is The Business of Love About?
Mack’s logical solution is to hire a wife for a year. Enter Taylor Sutton, a recent graduate working as a barista in a book and coffee shop, drowning in student debt — and the woman Mack accidentally stood up on a blind date six months earlier.
Taylor thinks Mack is pretentious and arrogant. But once their arrangement has to look believable, the two start to learn who the other really is.
What Works in This Book
- Mack: Readers call her a wonderful lead and praise how openly her autism is discussed and portrayed.
- A believable slow burn: Several readers like that the two get to know and like each other before the romance kicks in.
- Communication: One reader singles out the excellent communication and the absence of a third-act breakup.
- Audiobook: Listeners praise Abby Craden’s narration; one liked it even more than the read.
Book Synopsis
A CEO who must be married hires a barista with student debt to be her wife for a year.
They can’t stand each other — until they can.
My Review
The fake-marriage trope is well worn, but readers say this one feels fresh because the relationship is balanced and you watch it evolve rather than being told about it. The pairing of a neurodivergent heroine with one who struggles with low self-esteem makes the bad first impression believable.
The criticisms are about pace and Taylor. One reader found the chemistry so low early on that the romance was a little boring, and another felt the slow burn dragged. A couple of readers found Taylor judgmental and quick to jump to conclusions. Others mention frequent early time jumps, a young sister who talks like an adult, some sloppy editing, and side plots (the ex, a business rival) that could have had more depth.
My honest note: A kind, calm comfort read; bring patience for the first half.
| Element | In The Business of Love |
|---|---|
| Central relationship | Mack Watson (interim CEO) & Taylor Sutton (barista) |
| Core tropes | Marriage of convenience, fake relationship, bad first impression |
| Setting | A family company and a book-and-coffee shop |
| Heat level | Low |
| Length | 361 pages (Goodreads) |
| Series | Standalone |
| Content notes | Death of parents, car accident, an ex’s infidelity (StoryGraph) |
How Spicy Is The Business of Love?
Not very. One listener says almost no steam; others call it sweet.
StoryGraph users flag the death of parents, a car accident and an ex’s infidelity.
Who Should Read This Book?
You’ll likely love it if: you want a respectful slow burn with no third-act breakup. It is on our low-angst lesbian romance list.
You may want to skip it if: you need sparks from the first chapter.
In short: Fake marriage, real kindness.
What Readers Are Actually Saying (September 2026)
On Goodreads the split is 41% five stars, 38% four, 15% three, 3% two and under 1% one. On StoryGraph, 80% tagged it emotional and 80% lighthearted.
Why readers love it (according to the discourse): Mack first. Second, the believable slow burn. Third, no third-act breakup. Fourth, the audiobook.
What readers argue about and complain about: Slow pacing and low early chemistry, above everything. Second, Taylor. Third, editing and side-plot depth.
The comparison worth making first: Jae’s Just a Touch Away, another forced-together low-angst romance from Ylva.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a third-act breakup in The Business of Love?
Readers say no. One praises the excellent communication and notes there is no third-act breakup to spoil it.
Is Mack autistic?
Yes. Readers praise the portrayal of Mack as an autistic lead who is mistaken for aloof but is socially anxious and needs to feel safe before she opens up.
How spicy is The Business of Love?
Mild. One listener says there is almost no steam, and others describe it as a sweet slow burn.
Is it like Jae’s Just for Show?
One reader wondered the same, then found it forged its own path.
Is The Business of Love on Kindle Unlimited?
Not when we checked; the Kindle edition was listed at $9.99. Abby Craden narrates the audiobook, which listeners rate highly.
If You Loved The Business of Love, Read These Next
Try Just a Touch Away, or browse our low-angst list and the full Book Reviews archive.
The Bottom Line
The Business of Love sets out to make a familiar trope feel fresh, and Mack makes that happen. What holds it back is a slow first half. Recommended for fake-marriage fans. Check The Business of Love on Amazon →
The Eikna Overall Ranking
On the Eikna scale, The Business of Love ranks as a good comfort read — gentle, thoughtful.
The Evidence Scorecard
Overall ★★★★☆ 3.9/5
- ✓ 4.18 average across 1,074 Goodreads ratings
- ✓ 79% of Goodreads ratings are four or five stars
- ✓ 4.09 on StoryGraph from 167 reviews
- ✓ 4.2 stars across 7 Amazon ratings
Romance ★★★★☆ 3.7/5
- ✓ Fake marriage
- ✓ Very slow burn
- ✓ No third-act breakup
- ✓ Low early chemistry for one
Characters ★★★★☆ 3.9/5
- ✓ Beloved Mack
- ✓ Autistic rep
- ✓ Taylor divides
- ✓ Unrealistic sister for one
Writing ★★★★☆ 3.6/5
- ✓ Flows well
- ✓ Time jumps early
- ✓ Editing slips
- ✓ Balanced relationship
Emotional Impact ★★★★☆ 3.8/5
- ✓ Tagged emotional by 80%
- ✓ Grief
- ✓ Heartwarming
- ✓ Gentle
Heat Level ★★☆☆☆ 1.5/5
- ✓ Almost no steam
- ✓ Sweet
- ✓ Slow
- ✓ Not the focus
Ending ★★★★☆ 4/5
- ✓ No third-act breakup
- ✓ Warm
- ✓ Low angst
- ✓ Satisfying
Re-read Value ★★★★☆ 3.8/5
- ✓ $9.99 Kindle price
- ✓ Abby Craden audiobook
- ✓ Comfort read
- ✓ Not on Kindle Unlimited
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