The Love Contract (Steph Vizard, HarperCollins)

Winner of the 2022 HarperCollins Banjo Prize for Fiction, Steph Vizard’s debut novel The Love Contract is a tantalising romance set in Melbourne that combines the classic enemies-to-lovers and fake-relationship-turned-real-romance narratives. After her long-term relationship ends, Zoe decides to have a baby by herself. It’s everything that Zoe always wanted, and she had a full-proof plan, but she also didn’t expect a childcare drought right when she was due back at work. With a demanding boss, no locked-in childcare plans and a next-door neighbour that drives her crazy, Zoe is feeling desperate, so desperate that the next-door neighbour, Will, might be her best option. When Will’s boss mistakenly assumes that Will is the father of Zoe’s baby and pushes him to take paternity leave, Zoe thinks of a deal that could benefit them both. All they need to do is pretend to be a couple and a family for a few months. The Love Contract is an easy read, a heartwarming romance story and a modern commentary on the difficulties many parents—especially mothers—face as they juggle family, friendships, work and love. Vizard admirably portrays motherhood, and the realities of returning to work and mother’s guilt, while promoting the need to appreciate the small moments of life and be grateful for the people you have around you. This book is ideal for anyone who enjoys romance with a family angle and fits somewhere between Sally Thorne, Beth O’Leary and Sally Hepworth.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Lisa Schuurman is an editor, writer and book reviewer. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

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Category: Reviews