Common Sense Media Review
By Sage Moreaux
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Clean fake-dating romance is predictable, but sweet.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
When PICKING DAISIES ON SUNDAYS begins, Daniella sees Levi, her former best friend and crush, for the first time after four years apart. And he looks better than ever. When he asks her to be his fake girlfriend for his sister's wedding, she says "yes", then immediately regrets it. Pretending to be Levi's girlfriend is both easier and harder than she imagined. Easy, because picking up their friendship after such a long time feels so right. Hard, because the more time she spends with Levi, the harder she falls. As the wedding approaches, Daniella needs to decide if she'd rather stay quiet and miss out on the possibility of an epic love... or speak up and set herself up for the possibility of an even more epic heartbreak.
Is It Any Good?
Sweet and fun, this second-chance, fake dating romance is charming if a bit predictable. Picking Daisies on Sundays puts a light twist on romance tropes, adding in the flair of both a high-couture fashion student and a college literature major who are looking at what comes next, once college ends. However, the characters' college lives serve mostly as a backdrop for what is primarily a slow-burn romance. It's fairly clear early on where the story is going, though Dani's low self-esteem, the grief and responsibility that come with losing a parent at a young age, and the challenges of dating add a few layers of complexity.
The author, Liana Cincotti, wrote this novel in her twenties, self-publishing it before having it picked up by a publishing house. The story is fun, thoughtful, and makes for a light summer read, perfect for the beach.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Daniella's decision to write her letter to Levi. Does it take more or less courage to write your feelings in a letter, or text, or say them face to face?
Why do you think the author used grief and parental death as a plot point in this novel? Does it add to or take away from the characters' bond?
Did you know what was going to happen at the end of the story? If so, what gave it away? Do you find romance novels annoyingly predictable, or is the expectation of a happy ending comforting to you? Why?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Romance
- Topics : Arts , Baking , Cooking , Family Stories ( Dads , Siblings , Single Parents ) , Friendship , School ( College & Graduate School )
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Courage
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Forever
- Publication date : February 17, 2026
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 18 - 18
- Number of pages : 336
- Available on : Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : March 27, 2026
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