Preview
  • Let's Pretend This Will Work

  • A Novel
  • By: Maddie Dawson
  • Narrated by: Helen Laser
  • Length: 10 hrs and 5 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (107 ratings)

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Let's Pretend This Will Work

By: Maddie Dawson
Narrated by: Helen Laser
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Publisher's summary

The search for happiness turns a woman’s life upside down in a warm, quirky, and bighearted novel about the joys and chaos of finding love by the bestselling author of Matchmaking for Beginners.

After too many dates, thirtysomething Mimi Perkins is still single, unmoored, and longing for love. So when Ren Yardley—a handsome, divorced fellow drama teacher and single father—falls in love with her and proposes, she’s sure this is at last the good news her psychic predicted.

Soon after proposing, Ren receives the devastating news that his ex-wife has been in a debilitating car accident, prompting him to temporarily move back into his former home to care for her and his daughters. The unfailingly loyal Ren also wants to keep Mimi close, so she packs up her life in New York City and follows him to New Haven, Connecticut. There, she finds a job and unexpected community at a quirky local daycare. But as time goes by, it begins to seem that Ren and his estranged family might be slowly reuniting, and Mimi has to figure out what she’s willing to fight for and what she needs to let go of.

One thing is for sure: she would have never guessed that her psychic was right after all. Life’s twists, turns, and disasters just might lead her to unexpected happiness.

©2024 Maddie Dawson (P)2024 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.
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Critic reviews

“Readers looking for a story that captures their full attention and doesn’t let go will enjoy every page of this book.”Booklist

“An utterly delightful read, proving that sometimes fate isn’t written in the stars but within the walls of one’s own bruised heart. I absolutely adored this feel-good novel!”—Laura Barrow, author of Call the Canaries Home

“I challenge you to read the first page of Let’s Pretend This Will Work and not shut off your camera during Zoom meetings, cancel dinner plans, and stay up late into the night to finish it. It’s that good. If you’re not reading Maddie Dawson, you’re not laughing, sighing, or living right.”—Ann Garvin, USA Today bestselling author of There’s No Coming Back from This

What listeners say about Let's Pretend This Will Work

Average customer ratings
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Love!

Such a cute book! Love it! I couldn’t stop reading (listening!) love the day care and all the crazy people in it

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Captivating!

I really enjoyed this book. It was sweet, frustrating, sad (teary eyes for me) and funny. Character development was awesome.

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5 stars

Let's Pretend This Will Work by Maddie Dawson is a great book! I almost DNF when I saw it was based in 1982, but the writing drew me in to the point that it didn't matter. Full disclosure, love triangles and enemies to lovers are my favorite romance subgenre. However, this time it wasn't so immediately clear who Mimi would end up with as both men acted immature and unreasonable at times. I enjoyed the journey and will read more of Maddie's books.

Helen Laser is a great narrator. I enjoyed the range of her vocals. Most narrators do an annoying child voice, but hers is very believable.

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    2 out of 5 stars

SO funny

Fun book! Lighthearted and entertaining. Excellent narration. Fun twists and great ending. I enjoyed it

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    5 out of 5 stars
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My favorite Maddie Dawson story yet!

This story was quirky (to be expected) and so much fun. The fact that so much of it takes place in New Haven, CT was also a treat having grown up in CT myself. I thoroughly enjoyed going on this adventure with Mimi and loved her positive, free spirited nature.

The narration was spot on, bringing Mimi and the others to life.

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Excellent narration

Lovely story with an entertaining narration. This is my second Maddie Dawson book and I sort of started reading it by accident - but I was hooked from the beginning.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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She’s done it again!!🥰🥰

I don’t know how this author has managed to do this, but every time this Arthur creates characters worlds situations that completely hook me from the very first word to the very last. This is a type of book that heals the cynical so that social media and viral short videos are trying to envelope us with. I simply loved this book and was in tears at the ending.

The performance was stellar. The voiceover artist made me feel as if I knew each character. Her range from little children to grumpy. Old men is awe inspiring. Thank you for sharing such a beautiful piece of art.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Pretty good

The story was different than I expected from the publisher's description, but that was okay. The narrator was very good.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Maddie Dawson Does it AGAIN!!!

Maddie Dawson does it again! That would be my headline if I were a book critic! Oh Maddie - Please tell me there is a part two tapping around in your amazing self!
I loved every word and all the 80’s references! K-mart! My brother in law was a store manager while in Seminary in the 80s and until almost the end of his time here - he would do the blue light special for me - it made my heart smile! Thank you again for sharing your gifts and stories! Giant hugs!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

This is a silly story that I really enjoyed

The reader was fabulous. She brought everyone to live with the perfect tone in her voice every minute.

I don’t want to spoil anything in the story. But the back and forth got a bit old. But so much was charming and that’s why I gave it 4 stars.

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