I really really enjoyed this one. Tinka and Sam were such a cute couple. I love the fake relationship trope anyway and in a YA read it was extra cute. Both these characters had family issues they are dealing and it seems a little easier dealing with everything together. This is a nice clean read with some truly great characters. I highly recommend this one.

3.5*

Cute, sweet, and while at times frustrating, Artificial Sweethearts is an enjoyable read. I thought the storyline was great- the "fake" boyfriend/girlfriend/fiance trope is one you see more of in the New Adult genre so it was fun to see a young adult take on it. I really liked Tinka and adored Sam.
They each had their own issues and problems they were dealing with when it came to family and friendships and I loved seeing how they, and their relationship(s), grew and evolved over the course of the book.
While Sam and Tinka kept me entertained, I struggled with most of the side characters. Tinka's parents, Sam's brother and sister, and Tinka's best friend, Karen, all annoyed me, and that caused me not to love this book as much as I would have liked. Jane, Tinka's friend from school who came home for the summer with her, and Hakeem, Sam's brother's fiance, were the 2 bright spots in the supporting cast. There was just a distinct lack of communication all around which led to a lot of headache and heartache. When people finally started opening up and talking to each other, expressing their feelings and frustrations, it made a world of difference. I think that's a lesson that everyone could take away from this book- communicate! Don't just let things fester until you're buried under a weight you really don't need to be shouldering.
The setting for this book was unique and really became a character in its self. I was happy with the way things were resolved, for Tinka and Sam, with Tinka and her friends, and for Sam and his family.
I didn't realize this the second of a series, but after looking back at the first book it just seems they are all set in the same small town. I didn't have the feeling I was missing out on anything by not having read the first book, so I do believe these can be read as standalones.

Before I get too far into this review, I'd like to state that I loved the fake-relationship aspect which is why I requested an e-arc of this to begin with. I hadn't actually realized that I had read the first book a few months back so I was pleasantly surprised by that. Thank you, netgalley, for providing me with a copy of this book!

I loved getting to explore Sam's side of things after being introduced to him in the previous book. This is actually written so that you can read it as a standalone (I'm noticing that that seems to be the trend lately?) so even if you hadn't read the first one, Any Boy But You, you can still pick up this without needing any other information.

I also loved meeting Trinka - her real name is Christina - and seeing how she ended up clicking with Sam. She was another character that I could relate to in a couple of ways and I admire that she was able to figure out what she liked doing best. I'd love to hear more about here if Julie Hammerle decides to continue on with her story... Maybe after Trinka graduates?

This was a nice following to Any Boy But You but not as good. By the way, you can read this one as a standalone; it barely used elements from the first story.

Tinka returned home from boarding school to find out she has been uprooted to this small town called North Pole,where it seems to always be Christmas. Also, not content in pushing her toward golfing, unknowingly to her dream of becoming a baker, her parents now expect her to date Dylan. Aside from him seeming to be a jerk, Tinka really needs time off from boys. When she finds out Sam the boy next door has already lied to someone they are together, why not use the fauxmance in her favor?

I found the first in this series to be much more entertaining while when it came to the fake boyfriend trope, this one brought no surprises and few scenes that made my heart skip beats. But let's point out the good parts.

First, we see how North Pole is in the summer this time, and it's as crazy as we'd seen during the winter in the first book. I loved it! Unfortunately, Elena and Oliver barely show up here but that's good for anyone who hasn't read #1, just go and read it already. Still, I think you'll find any spoilers you wouldn't already have guessed from reading the summary.

In addition to that lovely small town, I like how the author built characters here. I remember her doing a good work with her side characters in the first but I didn't remember it being that good. I loved Karen, Jane, Sam's family... Even Tinka's crazy parents!

No only the side characters get good stories, she went quite deep especially when building Tinka. I think Sam was a more straightforward type of character, so I don't mean to complain he was shallow but Tinka felt so real in the way she reacted to things. On the other hand, that could be one of the reasons I didn't fall in love with the story, it's hard to like someone that is so aloof? Distant? That sort of character always a risk you take when you're writing romance, I guess. But it doesn't negate her skills in making Tinka seem real.

I'd start this series from the first, but Artificial Sweethearts isn't all bad, and it still shows the writer's potential. Perhaps, this plot is even deeper than the former installment. I wonder which character will come next...

I received a copy of this book from Entangled Teen sent through Netgalley.

Artificial Sweethearts was a cute, quick read. Sam was the sweetest boy and I adored him. There were some moments when Tinka got on my nerves, but I ended up really liking her, too. The movie references were a lot of fun. What I really love about these Entangled Teen books is that they are just so light and mostly happy. It's great to have these to read in between some of the more serious books.

Artificial Sweethearts is the second book in the North Pole, Minnesota series. However, like most other Entangled Teen titles, this one can also be read as a standalone. North Pole, Minnesota is a town that takes its Christmas name seriously and I loved the descriptions of the various holiday themed sites and decorations that were found in the town. Artificial Sweethearts uses the common YA trope of fauxmance turned real, although it does manage to be an entertaining read nevertheless. Tinka and Sam are adorable together, and I liked how the "sleazy' guy turned out to be neither a romantic rival nor all that sleazy to begin with. It was a refreshing change to see a different approach taken with a story that otherwise could have come off as incredibly clichéd. A great, light read for those who love celebrating Christmas in July!

There are certain storylines that just do it for you, and I love a blooming fake relationship.


Artificial sweethearts is the second book in the North Pole, Minnesota series, however, can definitely be read as a standalone.


Sam needs a date for his brother's wedding, or at least that's what his family thinks. He just wants them to get off his back.


Tinka doesn't want to be set up with Dylan. Her family think he's perfect for her, but she wants to be left alone. She has other issues to deal with. Sam is a good guy and needs a little relationship help himself. As you can see a plan is falling into place. It seems so simple. A fake relationship is beneficial for them both. A friendship is formed, and they are happy to spend time together.


They can both relax around each other, and be themselves. A few kisses, flutters and back seat snuggles aren't a big deal. Right?


I really enjoyed this little gem. Tinka has good personal growth throughout the book, and Sam isn't her usual type. She learns to think of others and get rid of her bad habits.


Sam is sweet, nerdy, and totally loveable. This book has an interesting storyline, and I loved the addition of a July Christmas. I can imagine some people going nuts for that chance to live in North Pole, Minnesota.


5 out of 5. An easy read that's sweet.


*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair review*

“Artificial Sweethearts” is a cute and quick YA romance about Tinka (short for Christina) and Sam. Tinka is home from boarding school and learns that her parents have moved away from everything she knows in the Twin Cities to a small town named North Pole. The town is pretty unique, as people have taken the name pretty literally and turned into a year-round Christmas attraction. To make matters better, Tinka’s parents have purchased a fixer-upper and expect her to help them fix it up all summer. Tinka has arrived in town with her friend from school, Jane, who is super upbeat and positive though sad about a recent break-up. They are joined by the extremely moody Karen, Tinka’s former BFF who really hates her and doesn’t seem to want to be there.

Tinka’s family has just moved next door to Sam’s family. Sam is the third of four kids, and heading off to college after the summer. He’s primarily planning his brother’s wedding and making sure everything is all set for that while holding down a job at the video store and generally being amazing. He seems to think he is pretty unattractive (the usual YA teenage girl stereotype) although others seem to think he’s very attractive. After being pushed into awkward encounters with the terrible Dottie (vengeful and rude), he makes up a fake relationship with his neighbor to keep her at arm’s length. He admits this to Tinka when he starts to get to know her, and she ends up using the same excuse to keep her parents from trying to set her up with their friends’ son, Dylan (who seems a little sleazy).

Although the book starts off a little rough with a lot of characters to figure out, it grows on you as Tinka and Sam grow on each other. Tinka experiences a lot of personal growth as she must confront her mistakes and the shortcomings of her parents. It’s really predictable but had some really great moments throughout. Sam and Tinka might be the most thoughtful and introspective teenagers I’ve read about in a YA book. It’s a really fast read- needs only a sitting or two to finish. There are the classic blunders of a fake relationship in this book, and it was overall extremely predictable. If you are on the market for a fake-relationship-turned-more book, this would be a great choice! I had some mixed feelings, so I am giving it three stars or "I liked it" (mostly for predictability, awkward events, and a rocky start but a cute book overall). Nothing bad about the book, per se, but nothing stellar either. Notably, this book functions as a stand-alone, although part of a series.

Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.