Monroe and Juliet had a secret fling 8 years ago. But that is their past and today they are friends, coworkers, and have put that fling behind them. Well, 2 out of 3 isn’t a bad rate. They run a popular podcast together about dating, and a listener gifted them a home in Monroe’s hometown.

Monroe is vocal in his desire to avoid relationships. He was married once, but when it didn’t work out he decided marriage and relationships weren’t for him. He also lives in fear of becoming his father, and makes decisions to distance himself from the disappointment he feels he has brought to his dad.

Juliet is a romantic at heart and just wants to find Mr. Right. Her attempts have her struggling to pick a guy that can make it to date #2 though, and she is tired of the string of first dates. While she and Monroe are checking out their house and getting it ready to sell, she decides to ask if he would act as her dating coach so she stops picking duds.

I loved the fake dates. Monroe went to such detail to master the persona of each person Juliet picked to “date” and it became even funnier when they ran into the real person at one point.

This story was so much fun -- I was grinning through much of it. From all the little details in the house, to the banter and camaraderie between Monroe and Juliet, there was so much perfection. As they started on the journey to explore Juliet’s coaching, it became clear that though their fling was 8 years ago, the chemistry is still very much present. They continue with the act as long as they can, until they are forced to face what has been building between them during their forced proximity.