Fake It Till You Break It is a classic fake relationship story. Mia and Jake’s mom’s have been best friends since they were in diapers. They’ve done everything together since they were little, and once they grew up, their mom’s decided they would make the perfect couple. However, all this pushing has caused the two of them to go from friends to enemies. They are sick of their mother’s always making them hang out and they just want to be left alone. So, they come up with the plan to fake date for a couple of weeks and then have a nasty breakup. I mean, if they gave it a chance and it crashed and burned, then their mom’s will leave them alone, right?

Like I said, this is your classic fake relationship trope. They each have a goal they want to reach and both need their mother’s off their backs. Mia wants to date other boys, and Jake doesn’t want to go on a cruise with his mom, Mia, and Mia’s mom to see his estranged brother. What better way for everyone to win than to just “date” and then break up. However, like all good fake relationship tropes, lines get blurred and true feelings come to the surface. This was made even better since these weren’t two strangers, these were two people who knew the other one better than they knew themselves.

I really liked that because these two have known each other their entire lives, they were in sync and didn’t even realize it. From ordering extra food knowing the other would eat it, to picking tomatoes off their plate because you know they don’t like them. These two just did things without thinking and they were the cutest things ever. It was that classic new beginning to a relationship where your world revolves around the other, but these two just didn’t see it. They knew that they did these things, but they did them because they have just always done it, not because they were trying to be nice to the other… or were they?

This was a cute first relationship story. Were there times when I wanted to twack one of them in the ear for being stupid? Yes! However, I found their fumbling, uncertainty, and obliviousness to be endearing. Okay, maybe the obliviousness was a bit annoying, but what good love story wouldn’t be complete without a little bit of back and forth? Am I right? Anyway, if you’re in the mood for a cute young adult romance, then I recommend picking this up. It was an adorable read that had me rushing to finish it before bed.

The thing about enemies to lovers and fake dating is that they are two tropes i will never ever get tired of in my rom-coms. And when done right, with a little bit of sass tempered by a whole lot of sweetness you've got a YA summer beach read like Fake it Till You Break It. This book was fun and light and exactly what you want when lying poolside on a hot July day. Fun, fun, fun.

Cute story, love me a good rom-com. The premise was silly and fun. Even though the plot was predictable, it’s a quick read to put a smile on your face

I really love Jenn's writing style in this book and really connected with the characters. We have regular customers at our store who I think would really enjoy it and I will definitely be recommending it!

The first thing that drew me to Fake It Till You Break It was the absolutely adorable cover, and once I read the summary, I knew I would have to read this book ASAP. I love a good rom-com, and this sounded right up my alley. I was also really looking forward to finally reading something by Jenn P. Nguyen, so there was that as well!

Fake It Till You Break it was a very fast-paced, fun read. One of the things that I liked most about this book was the storyline. Not only was it an enemies-to-lovers story, but it was also a neighbors/ex-friends-to-lovers story. Needless to say, I was hooked as I flew through the pages. There were a few things in the story that I wish had been a little more detailed, but otherwise I really enjoyed it!

Another thing that I liked about this book were the characters. Jake and Mia were super cute, and it was fun watching their relationship grow over the course of the book. I loved that their moms wanted them to be together so much, but they did everything they could to resist. (I am a mom and I could totally see me doing this if I were in this situation. Ha!) I do wish we had gotten to know them a little bit better, especially Jake’s love of music and Mia’s love of theater, as well as some of the secondary characters, as they all seemed like so much fun.

Overall; Fake It Till You Break It was a super quick, adorable read, and I am so thrilled to have had the opportunity to read the book! I will definitely be keeping my eye out for more books by Jenn P. Nguyen, and will most definitely be checking out her previous book, The Way to Game the Walk of Shame, which I’ve had on my TBR for a while now! If you’re looking for a quick, fun rom-com, do check out Fake It Till You Break It!

Happy Reading!

I loved The Way to Game the Walk of Shame so when I saw this book on Netgalley, of course I had to request it. I just finished this and absolutely loved it. It was funny, sweet, and utterly adorable. Mia and Jake are my new favorite OTP.

Full review to come tomorrow! 4.5 stars rounded to 5

--- Review ---

I loved The Way to Game the Walk of Shame by Jenn P. Nguyen, so when I saw this book on Netgalley, even though I still had a bunch of other ARCs to read (too many books too little time), I couldn’t resist and requested. So, thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group / Swoon Reads for approving because Fake It Till You Break It is such an amazingly fun and charming story that made my heart melt.

The fake dating and enemies to friends to lovers tropes can be predictable and cheesy, but I absolutely LOVE them. I think these type of stories are so much fun to read and never fail to make me laugh, swoon and feel those amazing warm fuzzies. After reading so many of these stories, you’d think I would get tired of them, but it’s quite the opposite. Even though I don’t always love every single book I read, this adorable story managed to make me feel incredibly excited, totally giddy, super smiley and just bursting with so much happy. Fake It Till You Break It definitely had me hooked on the feels and I just thought the storyline was so darn cute.

Romance wise, I could not stop swooning! I loved the chemistry between Mia and Jake and thought they’re just so perfect for each other. From annoying each other, playfully bantering and flirting, slowly realizing their feelings, and sharing so many sweet moments, I loved it all and could not get enough of Mia and Jake’s irresistible cuteness. I was literally smiling so big and just gushing every single time Mia and Jake would do something nice for each other.

Jake and Mia are both really awesome characters too and I truly enjoyed getting to know them. Mia is sassy, hilarious and adorably quirky. Jake is caring, thoughtful and has such a good heart. I completely adored them and loved their personalities and sense of humor. I also really liked both their POV’s and had a fantastic time reading about how they really felt about each other. Seriously, there are so many funny parts, spine-tingling scenes, and heartwarming moments that this is without a doubt one of my favorite reads this year.

I love both the moms too and thought they were so sweet, smart, and just really awesome parents. I admired them for being understanding and supportive of their children. I also really liked Jake and Mia’s friends. They’re a fun bunch and I liked how they’re always there for Jake and Mia.

I cherish every moment in this book and I cannot get over how Nguyen perfectly captures the awkwardness, the heartbreaks, and all the joys of falling in love in your teens. Fake It Till You Break It is such a sweet and adorable YA contemporary romance and everyone should read this charming story. You’ll smile, laugh, swoon, and if you’re an emotional softy like me, you’ll probably cry. I enjoyed the writing style, I loved the storyline, and I swooned so much over Jake and Mia. The ending left me smiling so wide and big and I definitely agree that kisses in the rain are the best thing ever!

This is the perfect summer romance and a delightfully cute read. It’s lighthearted, funny, sweet, romantic and wonderfully touching. It's definitely worth the read and I cannot recommned it enough!

I received an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

When I first stumbled upon this book, I immediately add it to my goodreads's TBR because a) it promises the enemies-to-lovers trope, b) it also has fake dating!! c) it has a very very cute cover, and d) did I mention enemies-to-lovers?! So naturally, when I heard about the blog tour, I joined it as fast as I can since I really want to read this book. And, well, although it didn't really reach my expectations, I still enjoyed it and would recommend it to everyone.

This book follows Jake and Mia, who became best-friend since they were kids because their moms are best-friend. Initially, they didn't have a problem with each other and enjoyed each other's company, but when they realized that their moms tried to set them up, they start to drift apart. At first glance, this book reminds me with Magnolia by Kristi Cook (which you should read!) that has similar parents-tried-to-set-me-up tropes. But instead of trying to get away from each other's company, Jake and Mia decide to fake-date and then fake-breakup, in hopes that their moms will stop with the set up once and for all. As expected, their plans backfired when they actually start to like each other.

Since Fake It Till You Break It was told from Jake and Mia's POV, we get to know them better. Jack is a very nice, quiet, and tidy guy that I wish exist in real life, while Mia is the chatty and fun kind of girl that I'd love to be friends with. Thanks to dual POVs, we get to know the 'exact' point when they realize that they like each other--which is my favorite moment from this book. What I wish to know more is the family relationship. It took me a while to realize that both Mia and Jake didn't have father, and I was hoping we knew the backstory (we did know Jake's, but not Mia's). Also, I'd love more scenes with Jake and his brother Finn. I feel like the ending happens a bit abrupt, and there's still a lot of questions to answer.

As for the romance, to be honest, I was expecting more enemies-to-lovers. It's my favorite kind of tropes and I always enjoy the banter between the characters. But it's okay, since the fake-dating one is done well and I still enjoyed all the scenes where they have to pretend to date each other. Also, there's a bit of love-triangle here, but of course it's so obvious who Mia will end up with.

In conclusion, Fake It Till You Break It is a fun and light contemporary book. Also, did I mention there're some K-Drama references in it? If you're looking for a quick and enjoyable read, definitely try this one!

This was a cute, but predictable romance. It would be great if you had someone looking for a fluffy book to get lost in. The characters were solid and the story moved at a good pace.

I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again: the fake dating trope is the best trope of all in young adult books. I don’t make the rules, that’s just how it is. And I am happy to say that this is another novel that does the trope so well.

Jake and Mia’s mothers are best friends and because of that they have grown up alongside each other. The older they get, the more their mothers think they would be the perfect couple and try to push them together at the smallest opportunity. Jake and Mia have had enough of being thrown into each other’s lives and decide to fake date in the hopes that if they have an ugly enough break up, their mom’s will get off their backs and leave them to live their lives as they please. There’s only one tiny problem: they didn’t actually count on liking each other.

I like how the fake dating trope was done a little differently this time. Their main goal was getting their moms to cool it, not to make some other crush jealous so that they could be with that person.

This was a very family-oriented novel and I enjoyed that. Families aren’t always very prevalent in YA novels. When they are it’s usually pretty great, and that was definitely the case in this one. Mrs. Adler and Mrs. Le were so funny. And clearly great mothers.

The best part was the romance between Jake and Mia. It was so wholesome and sweet and cute. They were like an old married couple, but mixed in was the innocence of falling in love for the first time.

This was such an adorable book. If you’re looking for the perfect YA contemporary that will make your heart full and happy, then pick up this one. It’s worth the read.

So, here's the thing: I didn't enjoy Fake It Till You Break It. Like, at all. Since signing up for the Year of the Asian reading challenge, finding books written by Asian or Asian-American authors is always at the back of my mind. To see that there was a young adult contemporary romance featuring a Korean-American main character and written by (to the best of my knowledge) an Asian-American author seemed like a double-score. That bright pink cover? Gimme. Fake dating? Absolutely.

Unfortunately, Jenn P. Nguyen's story was just very meh the whole way through. It wasn't so much poorly written as juvenile and in need of some solid editing. I found myself rolling my eyes through most of the book, wishing for substance amid the paper-thin character-building and barely-there plot. On top of the "twelve-year-old's idea of what it must be like to be a high-school junior and in love" vibe, the story felt very much like a connect-the-dots attempt to include as many tropes and caricatures as possible.

I should have probably DNF'd once I realized that I didn't care at all about either Jake or Mia, the book's main characters, or buy into their reasons for fake dating. I should have definitelyDNF'd when I realized their chemistry was lacking that certain je ne sais quoi every romance needs. Nguyen was never successful in selling Mia and Jake as "enemies," Mia's crush on a fellow drama-geek was clearly there to add unnecessary romantic strife, and Jake's "fued" (hated? apathy?) toward his brother didn't fit well, either. On top of it all, Jake and Mia's mothers were pushy as hell, and their behavior toward their children was borderline problematic; for them to literally say—after the two plus hours I spent reading—"Get together. Don't get together. To be honest, we don't really care anymore" just made me want to throw my iPad in frustration.

I'm happy that other readers enjoyed Fake It Till You Break It, but to me, the book was a complete dud. I probably should have just read To All the Boys I've Loved Before.

Jake and Mia have lived across the street from one another for as long as they can remember and their moms have been pushing them together incessantly for just as long. The only problem is they hate each other. So they hatch a plan to fake date so that they can break up and their moms won’t force them together anymore.

Squeals of excitement from me!! I love a good fake dating trope, mixed with a little bit of hate to love AND friends to lovers (after the hate of course). Count me in!!

This was such a quick read that I was invested in and wanted to read at every opportunity. The ONLY thing I disliked had nothing to do with the story, but more to do with the character voice in each chapter. Each chapter flips between being from Jake or Mia’s perspective, which is actually a great idea so you can see both of their feelings, however I had a hard time distinguishing the voice and tone difference. The only way I could figure it out is because at the top it states the character’s perspective and obviously once you read a little, you can decipher it off of pronoun usage and such. For me, that’s a downfall. People are inherently different and therefore when we write characters, their tone, inflections, and thought should be just as different.

Overall, I definitely recommend this read if you like some care-free YA romance with the tropes I listed above.

I’d like to coin 2019 – “Year of the YA Rom Coms” – because so far, every Rom Com I’ve read this year has been adorable and fun, especially Fake It Till You Break It!

If you’re a fan of the romance tropes: hate (or maybe more like annoyance)-to-love / friends-to-something-more / fake dating, your in luck, because Fake It Till You Break It has them all. The main characters Jake and Mia, clashed and bickered often, giving them very strong chemistry, and making me root for their relationship even more. Their interactions were probably my favorite part of the whole book.

I finished Fake It Till You Break It in just one day. The story is fast-paced and brimming with LOL-moments, and I constantly had a smile on my face while reading. This is just one of those feel-good books that you can easily recommend.

I’ve read some other reviews for Fake It Till You Break It, where people have said that the dialogue was a bit too juvenile at times, and I agree, it is a bit fluffy. But sometimes what I want, or need, is a cute, quick, fluffy read, that makes me smile and laugh, and just escape for a bit.

The whole fake dating trope has been done many times before, but Fake It Till You Break It still makes it so much fun. While reading this book, it felt like I was watching a romcom. Yes, this story is predictable, but the characters made this story unique in its own way.

Mia and Jake have grown up together and spent a lot of time seeing each other with their families. If it were up to their parents, they would already be married. That may be hard though, because Mia and Jake hate each other. They would be happy if they never saw each other again. Their parents are funny though, because they try making them spend time together in the cutest ways.

To finally get their mothers to stop, they decide it's time to pretend to date. If they break up, their mothers will leave them alone. Of course, this brings plenty of funny moments (a kiss that ends up being one on the tip of a nose, etc.). If you've watched or read any romcoms, we know that their feelings end up catching up to them. I loved that in this story it felt really natural. What helped the most is that we had two POVs during this book: Jake & Mia. It was fun watching them realize that they really didn't hate each other and even started caring.

Even though this story is mostly focused on their fake romance, there were other elements that I really loved as well. Mia has a dream to act in a play/musical, but never feels confident enough to try. Jake in many ways gives her this confidence and she finally gives herself a chance. Jake stopped pursuing music when his brother left, even though it's still something he loves. Mia helps him find that journey again. So besides romance, family has a big part in this story as well.

Fake It Till You Break It is a book you can't put down (I finished in one sitting) and a perfect read for on the beach or near the swimming pool. This book will make you smile and swoon and what else do you need during a nice summer day?

Fake It Till You Break It by Jenn P. Nguyen is an adorable take on the fake dating trope. The story is realistic as it follows both the sweetness and awkwardness of love, and the main characters are so encouraging of one another. This is a great read to relax with this summer.

❀ PERFECT FOR SUMMER

The book tells the story of two neighbours whose mothers are convinced that they will make the perfect couple. Desperate for the chance to date who she wants and have her mother stop pushing her toward her enemy, Mia consults Jake, and they devise a plan to fake date each other and stage a breakup later on. Only the two start to fall for each other for real. I love the fake dating trope and the sweetness that comes with it. I feel like this take on it is executed well as it contains all the awkwardness of falling in love, and the characters have interesting motives. As well, I enjoyed the dual narration, as it provides insight into both the characters’ lives and hidden thoughts. Above all, this is a fast and sweet read that is perfect for the summer.

❀ ENJOYABLE NARRATORS

Both Mia and Jake are enjoyable narrators, and I loved reading about their interactions. Mia has an interest in theatre, but it too insecure to try and pursue her passion. She is a little awkward, but this is what makes her realistic. Jake also has an interest in the arts, but he gave up on music. I personally liked Jake’s character more because I felt as though he is more developed, especially with his family situation, but Mia is still likeable. It is really enjoyable how both Jake and Mia have their own goals and encourage each other to push themselves in order to make progress. I always love a supportive relationship, and this book delivered on that.

Fake It Till You Break It is a cute read about a fake relationship in order to appease controlling mothers. I enjoyed the realistic depiction of falling in love and the supportive main characters. Fans of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before would enjoy this summer contemporary.

Fake It Till You Break It was absolutely adorable! If you're looking for a book that will make you smile and laugh, then look no further. This hate to love and fake romance story was a ton of fun. I got sucked in right away and I loved how it all unfolded. So if you're a fan of YA romance, Kasie West or cute movies like To All The Boys I've Loved Before, then you definitely have to pick this one up!

When he hooked his pinkie against mine, I couldn’t help remembering all the times we had done this when we were kids. All the promises and secrets. Then it all went away.
We haven’t been friends for nearly ten years, but today it felt like we never stopped. And I was glad some things never changed.


Mia and Jake had known each other since they were babies. Their moms were bbfs and just knew that their children were destined to fall madly in love someday. So both of their mom's made numerous attempts to make their dreams come true. And it was all over the top. It was impossible not to laugh or roll my eyes at their crazy antics. But all of their efforts were in vain since Mia and Jake became enemies over the year. In an attempt to get their moms off their backs, they decided to fake date and then break up. That way they'd never get shoved together again.

A small smile played on his lips. “Good night, Brat.”
“Good night.” The way he said “Brat” this time didn’t sound like an insult anymore. It almost sounded . . . nice. Sweet. Like an endearment.
Oh, God, what was wrong with me? This was Jake. He wasn’t nice or sweet. Ever.


I liked both Mia and Jake from the start! Mia could be so sarcastic, but she felt like the sweet, girl next door. Well except when she liked to mess with Jake, which was hilarious. And even though Jake messed with Mia too, it was impossible not fall for him. He was such a good guy who was not only kind, but thoughtful. Jake also had this boy next door vibe, even though he was a neat freak. So when I watched Mia and Jake interact, I realized they could be such good friends to each other. Well, when they wanted to be lol.

“For future reference, that’s what a kiss on the cheek is supposed to be.”
Not sure why, but the kiss took me by surprise . I stared at Mia for a moment before finally pushing her away.


When Mia and Jake pretended to date, they could be so awkward. Yet they knew each other inside out. There was a comfort level to them that made them smile. I loved that not only did they tolerate each other but they had fun together. But to make their relationship believable, there had to be touching and kissing. And when they threw that into the mix, lines between them became completely blurred. It should have just been pretend. What they felt for each other wasn't real right? But if that was the case, then why were they excited to see each other next?

Jake pulled back slightly, and the cool air hit me in my face, bringing me back to reality. My head swirled like I had stood up too fast. What the heck just happened?


This book was so much fun, that when I was in the middle of reading this story, I went and bought Jenn P Ngyen's other book! So if you love fake romance, hate to love and adorable stories then you definitely have pick this one up. It kept me smiling and laughing till the last page and I can't wait to read this author's other book!

He let out a short laugh as he reached out to touch my arm. “To be honest, I want a lot of things. But at top of the list is that I always want to see you.”


PS I would LOVE to read Finn's story!!

(Review on blog scheduled with tour for 5/30 at 6am PST)

This was a pretty cute story.

We follow the two main characters who have spent their entire lives trying to dodge their mothers’ ploy to get them together.

Ever since they were kids, they have constantly been pushed together. Almost to the point where they’ve had enough and come up with a plan to stop them.

If you love contemporary romances with hints of comedy, lightheartedness, and schemes, this is the book for you!

I really enjoyed seeing their plan kind of spiral out of control. There were parts that I could see coming, but the writing made it still enjoyable to read.

I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars. The two moms in this story were on the brink of getting on my nerves. Constantly playing out every possible idea to get them together, but little did they know, maybe their plan worked?

It’s a story about discovery and love. If you are looking for a quick summer read to take to on a vacay to the beach, this is it!

Love-hate relationships make for a fun romcom.

Except in this case, I didn't feel the hate in spite of all that was said verbally. (In the end, it's explained, but it didn't feel believable for much of the novel.)

The plot is simple: girl and boy are fed up with their matchmaking mothers; girl and boy decide to fake date, then break up, to get their mothers off them once and for all. The story is told in the first-person alternating perspectives of Mia and Jake, but the POV doesn't always change from one chapter to the next - so be sure to check the chapter title before reading on.

The characters fell flat for me. While they learn to pursue their dreams (and to be truthful to their hearts), Mia and Jake don't grow much over the course of the novel. Their vulnerabilities aren't explored in depth and, in the end, they are resolved without much pain. External conflicts are introduced, then resolved fairly quickly as well. Second Lead never felt like a real threat and was too good to be true.

This is a light, fluffy read - good maybe for a brain break but not something I'd pick up again.

This is the type of book that middle school Tiffany would have fallen head-over-heels over. Fake It Till You Break It is a lighthearted slice-of-life YA romance that is predictable in a good way—the whole story was reminiscent of my Wattpad reading days. Since the book is only 320 pages, the entire story is an extremely quick read. I found myself craving for a lot more development in the characters’ romance and own backstories because I thought the plotline had the potential to be expanded. However, if you’re a fan of the fake dating and enemies-to-lovers trope, I would still recommend trying this book for yourself!

Fake It Till You Break It follows the perspectives of Mia and Jake—lifelong frenemies whose moms are BFF’s and dream of having their children end up happily ever after together. Since they were young, they’ve spent almost every waking moment together—trips to the dentist, Sunday brunches, carpooling to school, etc. One day, the two conspire a plan to fake a relationship to finally get their moms off their backs. It’s only after spending even more time together do they realize how difficult following through with their pre-planned break up might be.

The writing itself for this story is extremely straightforward and simple. It’s quick to digest which allows you to fly through the pages of this book. I would describe the overall tone of the story as one that is similar to The Kissing Booth where the writing gave a similar nostalgic feel to 2012 Wattpad romances. I definitely wished that the story had more development in each individual scene because the plotline itself has great potential. For example, the ending is paced rather quickly, and I would have loved to see its specific plot point to have been spaced out more gradually in the earlier chapters.

I’m such a sucker for the enemies-to-lovers trope and also the childhood friends trope so I loved every scene between Mia and Jake, especially when we got to see how well the two characters really know each other (and secretly care for each other). It’s like one of those scenes where everyone else notices how everyone else notices the chemistry except those two characters themselves. I felt like one of their moms, cheering the two MCs on, whenever they had a cute moment.

Overall, Fake It Till You Break It definitely delivered on romantic cheesiness. There are some books you pick up because you want to be blown away by its creativity and unpredictability, but there are other books you pick up for that guaranteed happily ever after. FITYBI falls into the second category, and knowing that fact is what makes the story all the more enjoyable.

This story had the potential to hit every cliché going, given the synopsis.  However, I am happy to tell you that, for the most part, the author avoided the pitfalls and delivered a delightful summer holiday read.

The narrative is light, the pacing good, and the humour pitched just right.  Additionally, these characters are very age appropriate in their responses, something which is often missing from YA characters who often seem far too mature for their years.

Overall, this is a fun read.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.

I love YA books. But sometimes I read YA books and think I am too old to be reading this book. This is how I felt with Fake It Till You Break It. I think actual young adults would probably really enjoy this book but it just fell a little short for me.