The Reason I Married Him by Meghan Quinn – A Book Review

Spoiler-Free Overview

Wyatt just got dumped. By his fiancee. The day before their wedding. It’s a crushing blow, and to add salt in the wound, his snotty cousin reminds him that now Wyatt isn’t getting married, he won’t inherit their grandfather’s cabin. That place and the town are full of so many wonderful memories for Wyatt. And if his cousin inherits it, he’ll never respect the history and love in the place.

His grandfather’s will states that the first grandchild to marry gets the cabin. So, Wyatt just needs a new bride. And he knows just the place – Almond Bay. The home of his late brother and late sister-in-law. The place where his sister-in-law’s family still runs the potato farm after the couple’s passing. The farm that Wyatt owns half of after it was left to him in their will.

He aims to strike up a bargain with Aubree who currently runs the farm. If they marry for a year, he can get his cabin, and he’ll sign over his portion of the farm in their divorce.

The only problem – convincing Aubree to go along with his scheme. And then convincing everyone else it’s a real marriage so his cousin can’t contest it in court.

Liz’s Thoughts and Feelings

I love a good marriage of convenience plot, especially when someone can actually pull it off in a contemporary setting. Add on top of that a reverse grumpy / sunshine and some one-bed scenes, and I’ll have a great time! 

Wyatt is cheesy and over the top. It’s a bit cringey at some points, but Aubree makes fun of him for it. So, the writing and character feel intentional. Also, people in real life are cringey. The awkward jokes and forced banter seemed realistic. Especially for someone trying to convince a woman who strongly dislikes him to marry him for a year.

Wyatt’s charm also comes across as realistic to his character but also a set of armor he uses to protect himself and get what he wants. We find out how true this is as he slowly lets Aubree see all the bits and pieces of him. This over-the-top personality is both who he is and the tool he wields to get what he wants, like winning over the townspeople of Almond Bay.

Aubree is the quintessential middle child, exacerbated by their abusive father. She got lost in the mix growing up as her older siblings had to raise the youngest. This character trait shows in all aspects of her characters. She stern, withdrawn, and consumed by this need to prove her worth. 

She’s the sibling that manages and works on the farm. It means everything to her. So, when Wyatt shows up with a deal to give her his land, she… isn’t convinced. Did I mention she’s also skeptical of most people? A lot of trust issues, that woman. And a hell of a lot of insecurities.

There are some points when Wyatt is badgering Aubree to accept his deal that I felt uncomfortable. He doesn’t want to blackmail her, but he does remind her a lot that he can do whatever he wants with his portion of the land. Which comes across as “do what I want or I’ll make your life hell”. It’s not very romantic. But we get some great apologies out of it, so I’ll forgive him. 

This large 500+ page book spans Wyatt convincing Aubree to marry him, fake dating to make a convincing show of their relationship, falling for each other, and coming to terms with their growing desire. And I’m here for a chunky book. It’s a great change of pace from romances that are half the size and speed through the important plot points, like the couple getting to know each other.

I enjoyed the hell out of this book. It’s just pure fun with complex characters and a detailed plot. I’m here for a book that actually shows each step of a relationship. Plus, the audiobook is duet style and fantastic.