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Real Life, Real Love #1

Paint Me Perfect

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Chase is ready to turn over a new leaf and leave his Hollywood playboy antics behind. He asked the universe for a chance at real love and is confident that Noa is his swift delivery. The only problem? It's near impossible to move forward when there is still a spotlight on the skeletons of his past.

Noa's focused on one thing and one thing only—and it does not involve a whirlwind summer romance with megastar actor Chase Ford. Armed with a paintbrush and a new blank canvas, she's determined to paint the perfect family picture for her and her four-year-old son.

It only takes one chance encounter. One tabloid picture. One publicity scheme to set the record straight.

Their ruse turns real.

Knowing he found the girl of his dreams, Chase is ready to fight for their chance at forever, but he's about to face the cruel reality Noa already knows too well—not all loves are created equal, and sometimes perfect isn't enough.

ebook

Published June 16, 2022

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Kay Cove

9 books513 followers

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5 stars
322 (27%)
4 stars
462 (39%)
3 stars
301 (25%)
2 stars
72 (6%)
1 star
21 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 195 reviews
Profile Image for Mo ♡.
382 reviews14 followers
August 4, 2023
I'm just not a fan of the "my ex gf who I used to love is pregnant with my baby because I slept with her a day before I met you" trope. Sorry not sorry 🤷🏻‍♀️🙄
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Bookaholic Shaima .
170 reviews197 followers
February 16, 2023
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
( Full review tomorrow)
I really really loved and enjoyed every single minute of this. The way the characters are diversely portrait. Chase and Noa are soon swoony and the way he fell All at once and bit by bit and I l000ve how I got to witness it all unfold.

it possible to fall for a character just because the "mom life was so relevant and made me feel related. It was real, I tabbed so many quotes , labeled "SAME SIS And that twist, yesssss definitely a favorite. Let's not forget the side characters. The friendships and love in this book are immaculate .
Profile Image for Sami • thebookishthrifter.
66 reviews61 followers
December 13, 2022
♾️/5⭐️
omgggg this book 🥹 one of my top reads of the year hands down!! It deserves ALLLLL the stars! I started this and about 50 pages in I had to start annotating because it was THAT good! I don’t think I’ve had so many fav quotes from a book like I did with this one. 🫶🏼 I truly loved everything about it!

Noa and Chase’s first meet had me cracking up and it was so unique! Their banter was top notch, i was literally laughing out loud so many times reading this. I absolutely loved Noa as a FMC! She was so family centered, down to earth, relatable, and knew exactly what she wanted👏🏼

The storyline was phenomenal!! Did someone say fake dating and single parent?! AHHH so many tropes I love in this and Kay executed every single one flawlessly! Their chemistry FLEW off the pages🫠🥹 I laughed, I cried, I fell in love! Chase is the ultimate standard for book boyfriends from here on out! He was swoon worthy with a dirty mouth 😏🫠😮‍💨 my fav!

I don’t think I’ll ever stop thinking or raving about this book! It’s available on KU! Gooooo read it and thank me later🏃🏼‍♀️

𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞:
𝚍𝚞𝚊𝚕 𝚏𝚒𝚛𝚜𝚝 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚘𝚗 𝚙𝚘𝚟
𝚏𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚍𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐
𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚕𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚖
𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚘𝚞𝚜 𝚋𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛
𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚌𝚎𝚍 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚡𝚒𝚖𝚒𝚝𝚢
𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚜 𝚏𝚒𝚛𝚜𝚝 🫠
𝚛𝚎𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚖𝚎𝚍 𝚋𝚊𝚍 𝚋𝚘𝚢
Profile Image for Madison Whitney.
147 reviews1 follower
July 23, 2023
I can’t believe I am just now discovering Kay Cove ! I loved this book so much. It’s fake dating with a famous actor mixed with divorced single mom to help fix his image. I loved every second of this book. Chase is literally so adorable and k loved seeing the Hawaiian heritage of Noa. Immediately purchased the next book in the series. I can’t wait to read more about this friend group
Profile Image for MusingsofRu.
221 reviews29 followers
October 12, 2023
I loved the writing and the characters. There is a trope that made me put it down at the 70% mark. Not sure if I want pick it back up.

I will try another book from this author for sure. This just wasn't the book for me.
Profile Image for Shelby Schuster.
70 reviews2 followers
May 30, 2022
So happy I was able to be a part of the ARC team for Kay’s debut novel. You can tell the author poured her heart and soul into this book and I appreciated that!


I was hooked from the first line. This book has a little bit of everything - laughter, chemistry, drama, and connection. Paint Me Perfect is a great lil beach read!



There were a couple things I felt could have been flushed out more and instances where I think the language didn’t need to be that level of crude joking, but I understand that isn’t my sense of humor.

Regardless, I think you’ll love Chase and Noa and their story.
Profile Image for Priscilla Stanfield.
264 reviews21 followers
April 4, 2023
Paint Me Perfect By: Kay Cove • No Spoilers
4.25/5⭐️ • 🌶️🌶️/5

Let me preface with saying Christina and I read this until 3 this morning because we were so hooked we needed to know how it ended. Now all I knew going in was that there was fake dating in the book. If you know me I hear fake dating and I’m sold but this was so much better! What I loved the most was how yes they were in a fake relationship but they didn’t hide the feelings they were starting to feel. They expressed them and they were reciprocated.
The banter was amazing, there were so many one-liners that I enjoyed so much that I see myself going back to just read those when I need a laugh. The found family was beautiful seeing the friend groups on both sides and them coming together.
I think Noa is a saint. She is the most understanding and selfless character I have ever read. What she does for her family for her friends always comes before herself. Even when she had the chance at love and things got in the way she did what she thought was best for everyone above herself.
Chase is up there for one of the best book boyfriends. Where he was at his point and the chances of Noa coming into his life was something he wouldn’t take for granted. There were other trials and tribulations and he had to get through but always knew what he wanted.
Now the plot twist on the book was one I feeling thought I would have seen but I didn’t and when it happened I had to put the book down. What I love was the realism that is in the book. It wasn’t all fictitious scenarios to just bring entertainment. The topics were real the consequences were real. The events can happen. That is what I enjoy of a book from time to time.
I’m so excited to read the rest of the series and hopefully Christina and I can buddy read them together!

Profile Image for BryannaReads.
379 reviews82 followers
April 1, 2023
This was my first Kay Cove book and I went in completely blind. I’m glad I did because I really enjoyed the ride!

This book follows Chase, a celebrity with a struggling reputation and Noa, a single mom. They end up in a fake dating relationship to help repair Chases reputation so he can get a role in a big movie.

This is a slow burn romance, so it takes a bit before the steam happens. I do wish the steamy scenes were a little longer (just a personal preference- it wasn’t fades to black).

Overall I thought it was a great book. The ending took be by surprise and it got messy, but I enjoyed that aspect! Not every relationship is going to be simple and easy.

I’m exited to continue on in the series!
✨ Celebrity Romance
✨ Fake Dating
✨ Single Mom
✨ Sick Care
✨ Reformed Playboy
Profile Image for Thuy Taylor.
1,304 reviews17 followers
June 17, 2022
Paint Me Perfect is a debut novel by this author and it had me hooked to see what would happen with Hollywood Star Chad Ford and independent, single mom, Noa. Since she happened to “bump” into Chase accidentally, being linked to him to help him clean up his image is something she never ever anticipated. There is just something about Noa that Chase just can’t get out of his mind. Yes, being thrust together and being in a fake relationship has its perks but he wants the real thing, especially as he spends more time with Noa. But, it’s never that easy is it???!!!!……..

Drama, Hollywood, single mom, fake relationship, supportive friends, sexy couple all included in this book. The couple, felt real and genuine how the author wrote them. Enjoyable and love the Hawaiian culture content, it felt like I knew Noa well. Looking forward to reading the next one in the series.

Profile Image for Tatyana (The Literature Llama).
195 reviews31 followers
April 16, 2023
Ahhhh I loved this! It gave me all the feels and I am obsessed with Noa. I don’t usually like children, but I did love her character and how much she wanted to become her own person for Jonah throughout. The story is adorable and I loved the pacing. It was wonderfully wholesome and real and also happens to take place in Denver, so that’s a plus. 👏🏼
168 reviews26 followers
June 15, 2022
I devoured this debut novel from Kay Cove! Noa & Chase Ford, a handsome pro athlete, meet under sketchy circumstances at best. They start a fake relationship to turn his reputation around and help her keep her family stable. The fake relationship is more real than they care to admit to anyone, themselves included. Enter Wes Shields, Noa's ex-husband & Kayla, Chase's ex-gf to shake their world up.

This took me all of 6 hours to read. I couldn't stop and before I realized it I was at the end. Lust, love, the right amount of spice, anger, heartbreak, GI Joes, & toy dinosaurs-this book has it all!

Thank you @KatieandbreyPA & @authorkaycove for a gifted arc for an honest review!
June 18, 2022
There are so many aspects of this book that I loved. It’s about family, love, strong women and friendship. I read it in 2 days because it was such a fun easy read.

It was a little confusing at the beginning of the book I wasn’t sure what was happening, but it ended up making sense as I kept reading.

One of the things I really appreciated about this story was the fact that the main female character was strong and independent. She wasn’t willing to give up who she was and what’s important to her for a man.
Profile Image for Bookaholic Shaima .
170 reviews197 followers
February 16, 2023
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
( Full review tomorrow)
I really really loved and enjoyed every single minute of this. The way the characters are diversely portrait. Chase and Noa are soon swoony and the way he fell All at once and bit by bit and I l000ve how I got to witness it all unfold.

it possible to fall for a character just because the "mom life was so relevant and made me feel related. It was real, I tabbed so many quotes , labeled "SAME SIS And that twist, yesssss definitely a favorite. Let's not forget the side characters. The friendships and love in this book are immaculate .
Profile Image for ♡ Ava Snow ♡.
479 reviews
January 22, 2023
Definitely loving my decision to do a single parent books binge. This was amazing, and so raw and real. I loved the fake dating plot and how it wasn't actually fake dating but became real and all the hurdles Noa and Chase had to go through to get their HEA even the plot of Presley made everything better. The plot details, the development, conversations, the whole different culture, family, the friendships, it was all perfect. I'm excited to read Adler's book.
Profile Image for nat. ❦.
338 reviews15 followers
Read
July 5, 2023
DNF al 27% estaba listísima para leer este libro pero luego vi qué hay mucho drama de OW, me spoilee y busque en el libro algunas escenas y si, no estoy de humor para el tipo de conflicto que hay aquí, acabo de leer un libro igual. Puede que sea para después…
Profile Image for Madison.
479 reviews29 followers
April 3, 2023
Couldn't put it down, just kept reading. I love these characters relationship, the representation of a healthy divorce, and the overall plot. Everyone is sleeping on this book and I can't wait to read the next book in the series. I rarely tab books and this one I put in over 10 tabs on adorable scenes, great quotes, and moments that made me laugh (the toy soliders, IYKYK).

Tropes: Care taking; single parent; surprise pregnancy; secret pregancy; artist; actor; fake dating; long distance; he falls first; summer vibes; forced proximity; celebrity; Duel POV;
Profile Image for Melissa.
113 reviews1 follower
May 20, 2023
A friend recommended this book to me, and I’m so glad she did. I primarily listen to audiobooks, but I dusted off the old Kindle and gave it a try. I am so happy I did. It was phenomenal! I binged it in two days because I physically could not put it down!

I loved the characters, the storyline, the witty banter, the focus on motherhood and navigating life after a divorce. It had a lot of depth, spice and was just overall a great story. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series!
Profile Image for Solei.
398 reviews59 followers
April 20, 2023
I LOVED this book!! Chase was such a sweetheart and had such a way with his words. I could not get enough of Chase and Noa. There were so many cute lines and scenes in this book and it had me highlighting and tabbing so many pages! If you want a book that will make you blush and giggle and give you all the butterflies this is the book for you. Not only is Chase the sweetest, but their story and everything that happens is so healing and really shows their relationship. You need to read this book!

Tropes: fake dating, famous actor, single parent, he takes care of her when she is sick (the cutest scenes ever btw!)
110 reviews4 followers
November 14, 2022
Paint Me Perfect? How about Write me Perfect!

This is a love story that is so well written i never would have guessed it was her debut book! The writing felt effortless and was a joy to read! Kay did a great job of sucking me in with wonderful characters and a fun story of meeting and falling for a movie star! I love how Noa isnt immediately star struck just because Chase is a movie star. She actually brushes him off! Noa only starts to fall when she gets to know him. Chase on the other hand is smitten and won't take no for an answer! Watch these characters fall in love and see if they can overcome problems that would end most relationships! I can't wait to read the rest of Kay's books!
Profile Image for Cathleen Higgins.
61 reviews5 followers
April 25, 2023
I went in blind to read Kay Coves "Love, Me & the 303" and I loved it. I love the girl group focus and specifically how relatable they all are as a group and their love for each other.

Noa is a single mom who gets wrapped up in Hollywood playboy Chase's life after a PR dating stunt. Chase being an actor, gained a bad reputation so Noa is there to save the day. Noa is a family oriented, loves helping people, mama bear who does anything and everything for those she loves. Noa always stood for what she wanted and never changed her mind. She is a strong, fierce woman who refuses to give anything up for a man.
Profile Image for Melodylovesbooks .
174 reviews60 followers
November 12, 2022
This book has plenty of spice and I love the funny banter between the characters and their best friends! The writing is very detailed and I love the plot of the story!

Noa Fallon is a recently divorced, single mother and artist who is on the verge of losing her house if she doesn’t find a job quickly. She meets a man on an elevator that says he has the perfect opportunity for her and she is thrust in front of some paparazzi to pose as Chase Ford’s fake gf. Chase is a well known playboy who is trying to change in order to get an upcoming role in a movie. They decide to strike a deal and help each other out, if Noa agrees to be Chase’s gf he will pay for her mortgage. She agrees with the plan but she didn’t except him to fall in love with her!


If you love:
Fake dating trope
Unexpected twists

You will love Noa and Chase’s story!

Profile Image for Sylvia Terry.
95 reviews
June 25, 2023
Quick read …. Famous , rich and hot …. Yes I would agree to be kidnapped as well 😆
Profile Image for Escape Into Books.
241 reviews19 followers
December 16, 2022
Kay Cove is the bomb dot com and her writing style is romantic, steamy and emotional (in the best healing bawl your eyes out kind of way.)

The characters have depth, and major growth. All three books in the series have been so refreshing. Strong females, kind males, and issues they all have to work on together.

Start this series now so you're ready for book 4 next year!!!
Profile Image for Mark taylor.
332 reviews6 followers
September 30, 2022

I got Paint Me Perfect (Love, Me & the 303 #1) by Kay Cove from BookSirens for free for a fair and honest review.

Paint Me Perfect (Love, Me & the 303 #1) by Kay Cove is a romance novel set in both Los Angeles and Denver in America, between a movie star called Chase and Noa, a Single divorced mother of one.

Paint me Perfect is a steamy romance novel that mainly uses the tropes of fake dating, single mother, second chance and Celebrity Romance, with a few others added in for good measure.

While some of the tropes like the fake dating one are barely in the story, which is only used on the odd scene but is largely forgen by half way through apart from one sentence here or there.

The two tropes that are mainly used are single mother and second chance, while single mother is the easy one to explain as Noa has a young boy, which does have a large effect on Noa throughout the whole story.

While second chance romance, mainly would seem to fall onto Noa as she has just got divorced, for me it can also apply to Chase as he tries to get his career on track after living the celebrity lifestyle and poor decisions.

While the romance is built up as a celebrity romance and there are scenes where this is used in the story, there are times when he seems to be able to wander around particularly in Denver without being hassled even when people know who he is.

For me I would rather have it as a celebrity romance. It could have been a different worlds romance, as a lot of the angst in the story is more to do with dealing with joining Noa’s and Chase’s life together.

As for the characterisation of the 2 main characters, while Noa was, well rounded character with a number of close friends and you really got to understand both where she came from and how that really did have a say on how her story went.

Chase on the other hand was portrayed as just an actor who had a lot of success, took drugs and did something that damaged his career, while this would have been ok if the story was just told from the perspective of Noa.

However Paint Me Perfect is told from both the point of view of Noa and Chase.

Maybe with This being a romance novel having the female being more of a developed character than the male one works better, having said that if your giving both characters perspective then both characters, then i would prefer if both characters were closer in development.

Having said that i would still recommend Paint Me Perfect (Love, Me & the 303 #1) by Kay Cove for lovers of romance novels.
Profile Image for S. A. Shreve.
348 reviews17 followers
September 10, 2022
This was a cute, faking dating a famous person romance.

Chase is a Hollywood movie star with a recent fall from grace. Noa is a single mom who happens to be in this right place at the right time.

Chase was so cute and was definitely more of a goofy cinnamon roll type. I liked that he has put the work in to move on from his past and knew what he wanted. Noa was commendable for her dedication to her family. Though her unwillingness to to bend or find other solutions to be with Chase was so frustrating at times.

I wasn't a huge fan of the storyline at one point... the main reason for their relationship conflict. But it think it all worked out fantastically in the end. I really appreciated the blended family aspect and how it wasn't toxic.
Profile Image for Jazmine Figueroa.
225 reviews3 followers
September 22, 2022
Gosh these two I don't even know where to begin this story took me on such a rollercoaster of emotions!!

No two people deserved to find their happily ever after more than Chase and Noa. These two characters had so much stacked against them from the very beginning and somehow through all of the struggles seem to continue to find their way back to each other and if that's not love in its purest form I don't know what is.

Chase is an actor struggling to land meaningful roles after his portrayal in the media and by the media. Noa is a single mom just trying to get through the day. One encounter and now their fake dating, but what happens when this fake dating turns into real dating but life keeps getting in the way?

I was a sucker for Chase from the very beginning, his thoughts were absolutely hilarious but outside of that his view of Noa and how obsessed he was from the moment they meet got me right from the start. He was absolutely hooked on that girl and I just loved seeing their interactions and their little romance really blossom. And his relationship with Noa's son??? Cue the ovaries explosion seriously Chase can do no wrong in my eyes. And Noa, I really loved her, she was such a kick ass mom and trying to do what was best for everyone else, truly such a selfless character inside and out. Chase and Noa came from such different worlds, but their love for one another truly saved their relationship and it was just so so beautiful.

I feel like I'm not giving these two enough credit but this was just such an incredible story from beginning to end, I would fall in love with Noa and Chase every day of the week if I could. There were a ton of bumpy roads on their way to HEA, but these two really fought for one another and their future and that's all you could ever really want in a happy, healthy relationship.
Profile Image for Barbara.
Author 39 books110 followers
June 16, 2022
As a reader, I'm a "tough sell". In fact, I rarely make it through many of the samples offered at online retailers. Rarer still is finishing a book and having the overwhelming desire to beg others to follow me into the author's fictional world.

A fun, swoon-worthy, PR-induced relationship (that becomes unexpectedly real) sets the stage for Paint Me Perfect, Kay Cove’s first book in the Love, Me & the 303 series.

Hollywood A lister and playboy Chase Ford needs to redeem his image to land the movie role of a lifetime. Noa Fallon, artist and recently divorced mom visiting LA from Denver, needs extra cash to keep the house her ex wants to sell—the only home her young son has ever known.

Noa is chasing down a lead on a temp job when she and Chase are literally thrown together and hustled into a waiting SUV to escape a pack of paparazzi. In the vehicle, Chase's manager proposes a solution to everyone's problems. In exchange for playing the part of Chase's wholesome girlfriend for some publicity photos, and appearances, Noa will earn enough to keep her house in Denver.

I loved getting to know Chase and Noa and those near and dear to them. And I went to work tired after staying up into the wee hours because I had to see how Chase and Noa would achieve their personal happily ever after and not be left with only memories of an almost perfect summer romance.

Fun, emotional, (and with just the right amount of sexy times), I can't wait to find out what the romantic fates have in store for Noa's BFFs in future books.
Profile Image for Jessica whatjessireads.
52 reviews2 followers
September 18, 2022
Paint me perfect was a really good debut novel by Kay Cove. I struggled a bit in the beginning of the novel, but I was hooked for the second half of the book and I couldn’t wait to find out how the story was going to end.

The book follows Chase Ford, a Hollywood Mega star and tabloid labeled player and party boy. He recently got out of a toxic situation and is now trying to fix his Hollywood image and get the role of his lifetime. Noa Fallon is a recently divorced single parent who is trying to put pieces of her life back together. Noa happens to be in the right place at the right time and is thrusted to being Chase’s fake girlfriend in an effort to fix his image. They eventually make a deal so that the fake dating works in both their benefit. But as they spend more time with each other real feelings develop. It was heartwarming to see them learn, grow, and help from each other.

I loved the cultural aspects of the book- Noa is Hawaiian, and it was nice that her culture of Ohana was included. I loved that the blended families were agreeable and there was no major conflict coparenting- this was a nice refresher to what is normally out there. I loved all the supportive characters- I am excited that the next book in the series is about her girl group!
Profile Image for Christina Garcia.
357 reviews92 followers
January 4, 2024
5⭐️ | 2.5🌶️

oh my gosh I loved this book. The banter in this story was UNMATCHED. It was so funny and so REAL. The way that Kay Cove writes draws you in and makes you forget you are reading. This story was so many things: spicy, funny, romantic, heartwarming. I absolutely fell in love with Noa. She is strong, selfless and an absolute saint. I loved the Hawaiian culture and art portrayed in the book and I loved the story line. This story is much more than just a love story between Noa and Chase. It’s a story of endurance, found family, friendship and loyalty.

This is the story of Noa Fallon, a newly single mom, who gets roped into fake dating superstar actor, Chase Ford for publicity. When the ruse becomes all too real, the story becomes one of self discovery and figuring out how love for one another can prevail despite the struggles of life getting in the way.

I received Paint Me Perfect as PR mail and was so excited to read it and it did not disappoint!!! I am RUNNING to buy all the books in the love me and the 303 series (once my book buying ban ends) because I am not only dying to read all of Noa’s friend’s stories, but I want more banter!!! Phenomenal job Kay and thank you for this wonderful story 🖤

Tropes: fake dating, found family, single mom, surprise pregnancy
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