She's Faking It is certainly a timely novel given today's world of social media influencers, oversharing, embellishing, photoshopping, and well - faking it. The story is fast-paced, and Bree is an interesting character even if she does fall into the great time-suck that is social media. I guess maybe I'm giving away my age, but I like social media as well as the next person, but I don't feel the need to share every single moment of the day on there. Nevertheless, people do, and Kristin Rockaway does a great job of showing how easy it is to get caught up in the world of likes and shares. All in all, this is an entertaining read that I feel is going to be one of those fun summer books. The kind that people choose for book club or a beach read.

Natasha has no idea what will happen when she gives her sister Bree a copy of Demi DePalma's self help book. Bree's a 25 year old college drop out who can't get it together - she works the gig economy but her car needs repairs, she's living in a possibly illegal apartment, and she's basically a mess. One plus- she lives in a beach town except she doesn't like the water. Oh well. She decides to create an instagram account, creates a vision board, and suddenly finds herself an influencer. AND, then there's Trey, the "surfer dude." While this hangs on social media (and it made me laugh more than once), it's also a story about sisters. It's got good characters, a sharp point of view, and it's fun. Rockaway is a good storyteller. Thanks to the publisher for the ARc. A good beach (or social distancing) read.

Meet Bree Bozeman: A college dropout living in the town of Pacific Beach California (or PB to locals), she earns a meager living working as a driver for a fast food chain. All she has to her name is a studio apartment over a garage round the back of a triplex. And let's not forget a failed relationship.

In complete contrast to her sister, she feels like she has not accomplished much at all. She wants more- much more.

When a random chat with her sister starts to make her see sense, she decides to ditch the job, car (which is dead anyway) and fight to get bavk on her feet. She considers some options but they don't convince her.

There's the distraction of the beautiful, modern blue house next door. But it's an Airbnb rental. Her fantasies about being the owner keep her safe from the reality of her own life.

She wonders when a change is going to come. What it'll take to turn her life around.

Then she meets Trey, a famous surfer dude. The way they meet is imaginative and there's some drama there, too which made me fear for Bree and hope things would be OK.

The part I found slightly predictable and I saw coming was that he's the owner of Bree's dream property, so it's bye bye to her fantasies over that. The way she found out that he was was verr realistic and true to life as well as well woven in.

The whole atmosphere of Pacific Beach was well created and I just wanted to go there.

Another original aspect of this book is that, for once, the neighborhood is not completely moneyed and the characters are not dripping in wealth (although I have some books in which this was done especially well and they are amongst my all time favourites).

From the word go, I felt invested and interested in Bree's story, her life and her fate as well as what was going to happen with hwr relationships (sister, friend ex and Trey).

She had a lot against her, but also more going for her than she realized at first. And the moment she does realize is beautiful. I felt proud of her.

When circumstances conspire to have her creating an Instagram account — @breebythesea — one of self-help guru Demi DiPalma, owner of a lifestyle brand empire gets wind of what has happened. Bree has Demi's book, but is Demi really the guru she claims to be?

Suddenly, Bree's life has done a complete 360° turn- but is it in the right direction and will it stay that way? Or is the happiness she feels too good to be true?

A beautiful book about how big things can happen from humble beginnings. It's about love, friendship falling in and out of love starting afresh and figuring out who is really there for you through life's ups and downs. Fast-paced yet relaxing with a realistic setting and characters that make you care what happens to them.

In short, it is really about the persuit of happiness. And how sometimes you have to fake it to make it even though that is not what you thought you'd have to do.....

She's Faking it is the second Kristin Rockaway novel I have in my Kindle library. I want to get all her books.

I think She's Faking It will appear to teen and adult readers alike and you'll like it whether you enjoy women's fiction, romance or the surfing culture.

Oh, and I loved the mention of horchata in this novel- it's one of my favorite summer drinks so that scene captured my heart. Very original choice of drink. My congratulations to Kristin for that and on a completely perfect summer novel. I think this is great year-round too. I'd also recommend it as a beach read.

Thanks to Kristin Rockaway and Graydon House for my ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

5 stars.

She's Faking It is funny and entertaining, with a deeper message about social media's negative impact on our society and culture. I love Kristin Rockaway's authentic voice and her keen ability to weave humor and romance with poignant themes. This is a delightful story about naming our fears, conquering them, and appreciating the ebb and flow of life along the way.
The characters are well-crafted and the dialogue is great too. This is a quick read with a satisfying conclusion and I appreciated the gentle reminder to celebrate my actual life and not the one portrayed on my Instagram feed.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the complimentary copy. All opinions stated here are my own.

LOVED this book! The story of Bree as she navigates here life and struggles (with money, bad relationships, tough family stuff - all the things we all have!!) is so incredibly relatable, I could not put the book down. I read it in one afternoon.

I felt instantly connected to Bree, and her story. I could understand her struggles, her desire for more, and her difficulty in trying to figure out what more even looks like.

The story is very relevant to 2020, with Instagram influencers and the staged images we see being a focal point in the story. It also referenced concepts similar to “The Secret” with the idea of manifesting your destiny. Whether or not these things influence Bree we see play out during the story in a smooth, easy to read, fun novel.

5 stars without a doubt! I had never read any Kristin Rockaway before this but I am now an official fan.

Bree Bozeman's life didn't turn out the way she had hoped it would. She dropped out of college and became a delivery girl, then her car broke down leaving her with no transportation, no job, and not a whole lot of prospects. When her sister gives her a self-help book, she vows to put the effort in to try and turn her life around. Bree decides to start an Instagram account as a way of planning out the dream life she's aspiring to have, but when one of her posts gets a huge boost from none other than the author of her sister's self-help book, Bree's suddenly thrust into the life of a nano-influencer.

Suddenly, everything starts falling into place. Brands want to collaborate with her, she's receiving free things in the mail (even if they are a little shady or ugly), and Bree finally starts believing she's going somewhere and making something out of her life. The best part about all this new found confidence? Her romance with the hot pro-surfer next door. But things start to go downhill fast, and Bree realizes this may not be the life she was imagining.

This is a weird one for me. I liked it, but at the same time didn't. I didn't fully love Bree as a character, I found a lot about her personality to be very frustrating, but at the same time her intentions were always good. I enjoyed her relationship with her sister and friend, Mari. I don't think the relationship between her and Trey worked for me, I just didn't feel any real chemistry between them. Obviously, everything with Instagram and valuing your life and success over how many likes or followers you have was spot on for this day and age, but it was refreshing to see Bree sort of realize that there's more to life than what strangers on the internet think of you. So, while I didn't fully love this, I'd still recommend if you're looking for a quick contemporary.

Bree is in her mid-twenties and completely lost. She dropped out of college 4-years ago and has been working app-based jobs since. Now her car’s broken down and she’s more screwed than ever before. That is until she reads a book recommended by her older sister written by a guru to help her achieve her goals. Bree’s inspired and decides to turn herself into the next Instagram influencer. But at what cost?

The gorgeous rental next door is now occupied by its owner, pro surfer Trey Cantu who is the complete opposite of Bree. But he helps her overcome her fears of the ocean and realize what she really wants out of life.

She’s Faking It is Kristin Rockaway’s latest summery release. This wasn’t a bad read by any means, but not what I was looking for. The main character was very hard to like and although she was described as different an unique, it wasn’t shown much. The romance was lackluster; this was more of a personal growth story than a romance. 3/5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Graydon House and Kristin Rockaway for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

If you're looking for a fun, light beach read just stop what you're doing and get this book into your hands stat! This book is everything and more that you didn't think you needed to get into the summer groove.

Bree is living out her days in an apartment on Pacific Beach in California and suddenly, her life just takes a crap on her. Her boyfriend recently dumped her and left the country to go on a "find himself" mission in South America. Her car breaks down and now she can't work (she was a food delivery driver). Her life is in shambles and her super organized, super successful sister tries to help her out.

Bree starts an Instagram page and is starting to become an influencer. In the mean time she meets her neighbor, Trey, who lives in her dream home. Bree starts going down a path with Instagram and self-help guru Demi DiPalma and ends up going down a path that isn't quite what she pictured.

Oh yes, there's romance. Yes, there's some drama. At one point in time my mouth was gaped open because things had to change, things had to happen, COME ON BREE GET IT TOGETHER!! Yes, I may have shouted at the book a few times. I also laughed out loud on a few occasions too!

I really enjoyed the sisterly bond in this book. There was even a little bit of growth between the sisters and I just loved it. Despite some petty drama (and in what family is there never any drama) the sisters rise above it and Bree is all the better for it. This is just a really enjoyable, wholesome novel.

4 stars.  I am a fan of Kristin Rockaway so I had a feeling I'd love this from the get go (and I was right). This is such a light, funny, palm to your face at times read that I HIGHLY suggest you read. This is perfect for a day at the beach or just something to put you in a summery mood. I read this one WAY too fast...I couldn't put it down!

Bree Bozeman is at loose ends. Ever since she dropped out of college she has been floating through life, barely getting by, mostly just avoiding making tough decisions. When her car breaks down during another endless evening as a GrubGetter, Bree knows she’s reached an all time low and has limited options. When her sister gives her a book from self-help guru Demi DiPalma and swears it changed her life, Bree thinks she has nothing left to loose. She creates a new Instagram account to make a vision board for her life and put “good vibes” out into the inverse. When new opportunities start rolling in, Bree wonders if Demi DiPalma was onto something. These new opportunities will require Bree to make big decisions and take action and more importantly break a lifetime of avoiding the hard question, what exactly does she want from life?

Overall, I was disappointed in this novel. I like the premise and think the situation that Bree finds herself in after dropping out of college and is at loose ends to be relatable. However, it all felt a little shallow. What drew me to this novel was the exploration of social media and self-help culture. There were a few too many easy coincidences and while I liked Bree well enough I never really cared about her because she didn’t really seem to care about anything until the very end.

I flew through this book on a few days and I knew I would based on how much I enjoyed How to Hack a Heartbreak. Bree can’t catch a break lately. Her boyfriend moved to the Amazon, her car broke down and her student loan bills just keep piling. No car means no Grubgetter gig, which means no income. After reading a self-help book, she decided to try her hand at becoming an influencer via Instagram. Except it doesn’t go very well. The only thing that seems to be going well for a hot minute is her love life. We all know that’s going to somehow get messed up.

Not everyone has a clear path in life and this is Bree. She does figure it out in the end and I was happy with the path she chose.

I absolutely loved She's Faking It by @kristinrockaway ! Set in Pacific Beach, Bree is down on her luck and everything seems to be going wrong. After her sister gives her a book by a famous lifestyle guru, Bree must decide whether she can manifest her happiness into existance or if happiness is something she needs to create for herself. This book grabbed me from the start and I loved how Bree was so relatable and likable. I liked how the author showed that its ok if you dont know what your passion is in life, that you will find it when you are ready. I also loved that this book made me laugh so many times when Bree gets herself into trouble! I had never read this author before but will definitely be getting more books from her. This one was the perfect read for summer and you should all put it on your tbrs! She's Faking It comes out June 30th! Thank you @netgalley and @harlequinbooks foe the advance copy!

I loved the beach setting of this book and the confident character of Bree! Even though if you asked her, she probably would disagree. It was so refreshing to see someone portrayed who had confidence about themselves and, in a way, about what they are doing with their life despite everything that it keeps throwing at them.

There's a lot of reality behind the glossy instagram filters covered in this book. Really makes you think about the truth behind the uploads sometimes. With a serious underlying message the book is still quirky, full of fun and humour and romance. The bond between siblings is great as well.

Thank you so much for this ARC!

This book was such a welcome change in reading! After reading a few thrillers, this was such a nice break. I flew through this book in 2 days.

The Instagram influencer phenomenon is real! When I read about Demi's program I had to admit I would have fallen for it too. I really liked Bree even with her poor decision making skills. I loved Natasha (I'm such a Natasha) and I loved Trey too.

Lots of great lessons in this light hearted book.

I really liked this one but would have enjoyed getting to know Bree a bit more.

Many thanks to the author, the publishers, and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

This was a very quick read! I wish that there had been more development between Bree and Trey because it all seemed kind of rushed and almost thrown in as an after thought. I still enjoyed the book and will look forward to more of her books in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an ARC for an honest review.

I loved just about everything about this book!
I feel like all of us have a little bit of Bree in us. Sometimes we do feel like we have to fake it until we make it and that’s exactly what she does!
Everything in her life seems to be going wrong, but when she’s not exactly sure how “right” is supposed to look for her, she doesn’t know what to do.
Bree’s sister makes her read a self help book and then, pretty much overnight, her life changes thanks to Instagram.

I loved the authors views on social media, our fake front we put on for everyone to see, and the fake side of it all. It hit home a lot, I think.

Definitely a great read that I think would not only entertain, but benefit many!

Bree Bozeman is a twenty-five year old woman trying to figure out her path in life. Deeply in debt, without a stable job or ride she turns to Instagram Lifestyle Influencer, Demi DiPalma to determine her #aspirationalplan.
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I really liked the concept of this story and was definitely entertained trying to figure out who Demi is based on in real life. I came to the conclusion she is Rachael Hollis with a bit of Gwyneth Paltrow thrown in. Am I right - who knows but I sure did have fun considering it!
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What I struggled with was Bree and her decisions. I can understand how she got to the point that she did, but kept hoping she would surprise with her choices. Unfortunately that never really happened and I felt like I couldn't connect with her. I will admit if I can't get behind the main character I struggle with the book. The Instagram influencer angle definitely kept me reading and I appreciated how it shaped Bree. I just wish the story had veered from how I predicted it would.
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Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin/Graydon House for a DRG in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book was everything I needed it to be exactly when I needed it. After a string of 20+ thriller novels, Krisitn Rockaway's easy breezy writing was so relaxing and relatable it felt like I was on a vacation. This is 100% a book you need to pack in your beach bag this summer!

Down in the dumps after multiple failed life choices Bree is introduced to a "lifestyle guru" who seems to change her life for the better when she decides to start an instagram and become an "influencer". Her life is finally moving in the right direction, or so it seems, after years of being completely stagnant. But are followers and likes really going to keep Bree afloat in the long run?

This story just flowed from page to page so easily. Reading about Bree was like reading about a friend that really, really needed to take her head out of the sand. No, not everything in this story is believable - but a lot of the comparisons are spot on (especially with social media and the way it can really burrow into your brain in a way you don't plan for it to).

I wish the romance would have played a bigger role, because I liked it, but the self growth and awareness really was the star of the show and I still really enjoyed it! It was fantastic to watch Bree grow and blossom throughout the story.

I will be looking for more from Rockaway.

The main character, Bree, has ended up in a place in life that she was not expecting. She is broke, a little lost, and fumbling to figure out where she is going next. She takes some questionable steps towards a different path through social media and self-help gurus. A romance is part of the story but at its heart, this book is about finding yourself. Bree is a relatable character and you are definitely rooting for her to figure things out. I did have a hard time understanding how one event during her college days had such a huge impact on her decisions but it was easy to see how each decision thereafter built on each other. This book definitely shines an unflattering light on how social media influences us and paints a picture very different from reality.

Thank you to Kristin Rockaway, Harlequin, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

So fun and breezy! A very worthy dive into being inspired by an Instagram influencer, and then trying your hand at it. What's real and what's fake takes a center turn, and we get to experience everything as we see the worth in realism vs. a painted reality. I loved it, and I now want to read everything by Kristin Rockaway. So engaging! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy!