The Problem with Pretending

I dove into this audiobook expecting a breezy, lighthearted fling—and Emma Hart delivered more than that, though not without a few bumps along the way. Will Watt’s narration of the male lead (Xavier, the future duke with a chip on his shoulder) is a masterclass in dry, aristocratic wit; his delivery of Xavier’s cutting one-liners had me snorting into my tea more than once. Sofia Lette, voicing our heroine, brings a grounded, everyman energy that grounds the absurdity of the plot—her exasperated sighs and reluctant laughter felt like the voice of reason in a world of inherited castles and entitled Dukes. That said, the pacing stumbles a bit in the middle act, when the fake-dating premise stretches thin and the conflict relies too heavily on misunderstandings that feel manufactured rather than earned. The production is top-tier, with rich sound design that makes the Scottish setting feel immersive, though the heavy use of accented dialogue occasionally muddles clarity for this American listener. Still, by the final act, the emotional payoff—messy, hopeful, and satisfying—made up for the detours. Hart’s strength here is making the audience root for two people who are equally flawed and equally deserving of love.