This book was a bit of a slog. I appreciated that the issue of social anxiety was highlighted and that it was handled well by the author. I enjoyed the banter between the male and female protagonist in the first half of the novel. I like having alternating chapters presenting the viewpoints of both characters. However, the last half felt interminable. I also didn't like how things devolved into so much drama and went away from the main love story.

Sophie Sullivan is a new-to-me author. I read the blurb on Net Galley and requested this book. I love me a rom/com, add an office romance and that's my jam for sure.

I adored Everly from the very beginning. Her social anxiety makes many of coworkers think she's standoffish. She just doesn't do well with lots of people. Sophie, her BFF, gets her. We all need a Sophie. Enter Chris, the stations manager, who is only there for 18 months, yet he's been harboring some strong feelings from a far for Everly, so much so, that she thinks, he doesn't like her. Everly, she hates celebrating her birthday, and here she's turning 30. When you read why, I would also hate to be celebrating my birthday. Her parents, whom love her, are no help in the department with her social anxiety either. What happens on her 30th bday, is the turning point of so many new things that Everly would never would have tried. And although Chris is the main person who pushes her boundaries, he is suffering on the sidelines, until well, you have to read.

TRFFI is a very slow burn, there I said it, but the funny LOL moments will make up for it. Also, let me just also get this out there, if you think it's going to be balls to the wall sexy times, no it's none of those things either. I don't have to have all the sexy times, it's good to read character development and rooting for the heroine and hero to get together. I know some may even find Everly "annoying, judgmental, etc." add your adjectives. But for me her quirks and inner monologues is made her unique and endearing in my book.

I am definitely going to read more of this author's books.

*An ARC was provided via Net Galley for an honest review.

I loved this relatable book. Definitely could have be a tad shorter since I found myself losing interest, but otherwise a great book. Definitely slow burn style, sweet, romcom book. I did appreciate the realistic approach to anxiety that the main character suffers with. As someone who struggles with anxiety, it is often skipped in books. So I appreciate the author incorporating a realistic view on the main character dealing with anxiety/panic attacks.

Everly works for a radio station as a producer of the mid morning show with her best friend Stacy as the deejay. On her birthday she decides to surprise her boyfriend, Simon, with morning coffee but when she gets to his apartment finds another woman on top of him. At the station she inadvertently spills the beans to Stacy unaware that she just broadcast her troubles. In order to save the station she agrees to a Bachelorette type situation, picking two guys to date each week and then whittling down to the final one. Everly has severe anxiety so the whole process was tortuous but she starts to get closer to her boss, Chris, who up until that point she didn't think he liked her. It was all kind of predictable but I liked the characters and I liked the way they handled the anxiety issues. Most people were kind and protected her but her parents were the ones that were clueless.

I enjoyed the story. I liked that it wasn't an instant Oh My God I Love You romance but more of a slow burn as she got closer to Chris. At times I felt the book could have been a bit shorter but then I would have liked to know what Simon's side of the story was and more about the dates she was on.

This was a fun read with a serious twist. The main character suffers from social anxiety, and the author does a nice job of exploring the intricacies of this condition without faulting to stereotypes. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to other rom-com fans.

Super cute story. I loved that it was centered around a radio station although there was not a lot about the show in the story. I liked the friendship between Everly and her best friend Stacey. It was a good, funny relationship that built on getting stronger and more real. I'm glad the story also touched on Everly's anxiety and how it shaped some of her decisions.

I'm also really glad we had two POV - Everly and Chris. Chris's perspective was nice to get since you got a little more background on what was going on with the station and with managing it.

All in all, it was a cute story.

This had a great premise and, usually, I don't mind a slow burn but this was almost torturous will they/won't they. I could easily see this book being adapted as a Hallmark movie but the actual book was a bit stodgy and slow for me. I think the descriptions of Everly's anxiety were well done but I found myself not caring half way through the book even though I really wanted Chris and Everly to get together. You may have better luck!

Ten Rules for Faking It comes out later this month on December 29, 2020 and you can purchase HERE.

No birthdays. No men. Actually, you know what? I'll amend that. If you happen to find a man who looks like Chris Pine, acts like Chris Hemsworth, smiles like Chris Pratt, and has a body like Chris Evans's, I'll rethink things. But until then? I am officially off the market.

I am thrilled to have been able to read an advanced copy of Sophie Sullivan’s Ten Rules for Faking It.

This story centers around radio producer, Everly Dean. Like many women of a certain age, Everly wished her life would be different before she hit the big 3-0. By 30 she hoped to be married, (or at least on the road to it), secure in her career and, most importantly, comfortable in her own skin. But no one’s life goes perfectly. In fact Sullivan reminds us that even Chandler Bing once said it’s just gum that is perfection.

On Everly’s 30th birthday things go from bad to worse when her bad breakup accidentally gets broadcast on air for the whole world to hear. A horrible scenario for most, this is even worse for the panic ridden Everly.

Backed by her bold best friend’s encouragement and a surprisingly supportive and swoon worthy boss, Everly makes a list of ten things that will help her come out of her shell. So when opportunity strikes to be setup with a bunch of eligible men, who is she to say no?

This was a fun book. Sure, the dating thing has been done before, but this story also takes a lot of care in carving out anxiety related awareness. Everly is not your typically feisty damsel in distress. She’s an insecure leading lady, which is equal parts relatable and refreshing. As someone who has personally heard her fair share of people telling her to just “not worry” about something I really liked that Sullivan added this layer of vulnerability to Everly, and surrounded her with people who were supportive of this part of her.

If you’re looking for a rom com to escape your own worries, look no further.

I loved this book and just couldn’t put it down. Anxiety is something that so many people deal with but it doesn’t get talked about much. Although I didn’t identify with every expression of Everly’s anxiety, there were parts where I was like “Yes, I know exactly how that feels.” The way Everly recognizes how great it is that Chris sees her anxiety but doesn’t back away because of it…just so sweet. Stacey is the best friend Everly could have. She’s understanding, patient and blunt enough to tell Everly over and over how awesome she is until she finally starts to believe it. Chris was great and I would have liked to know him a little more. I loved when he talked or texted with his brothers because it was like getting to see him so genuinely. The parents drove me nuts and I was so glad when Everly finally stood up to them.
I appreciated that the main characters were in their 30s. They’re old enough to realize it’s time to start figuring out what they really want in life and not play games anymore. Everly & Chris’ love story was sweet and the build up to their first kiss was so so good. The radio station contest was fun, although I easily predicted that she wouldn’t pick any of them. That didn’t really matter because like most romcoms, it’s the journey to the HEA ending that makes a book enjoyable.

Loved this one!! Not very often do you find a main character in a romance novel that suffers from mental illness, so this book is really special in my eyes. Everly, while exhausting at times, felt real and I was easily able to connect with her. I would have liked more at the end, but I couldn’t put this one down and had a hard time moving on from it.

I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

Sophie Sullivan is a new author for me, so I was thrilled when I was gifted this ARC by NetGalley. This was just an okay read for me, I wasn't bored by the story but the characters didn't wowed me either. I find the chemistry between Chris and Everly is lukewarm at best. Nevertheless, thanks to NetGalley for this advance copy.

I wish I could give this book more than 5 stars. It is by far the funniest book I have read in ages. The parents drama is sad but funny, the live broadcast of her life is mortifying but hilarious but the over the top piñata is going to have me laughing for a long time. And that is just a few of the hilarious moments in this book. I have already started spreading the word on this not to be missed story. Thanks for the laughs!

*Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Sophie Sullivan for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review

Sometimes giving a book a three star review is complicated. At times, it means the book just wasn't for me and other times it means I loved the book but there were parts that just needed editing or I couldn't get through. This time, it was the latter. I loved this book but less is more. For a sweet romance, I felt like it could have told the story in 100 less pages.

Here is what I loved - The friendship between Everly and Stacey was hilarious and laugh out loud funny. Their individual craziness really kept the book going. Their interactions were always something to look forward to and their relationship was enviable. I also really liked the slow burn between Chris and Everly. I am not a big fan of insta-love stories and this was one of the slowest burns I have seen. Though they were the main characters in the book, it was the extras that kept the book engaging and hilarious - Stacey, Noah, Mom and all of the crew at the radio station. They really picked up what was lacking between Chris and Everly.

My big disappointment with this novel was the lack of romance. Usually with a slow burn, you have an explosive ending. There was no explosive romantic ending. It was a fade to black and the reader is left wanting more. There is a great chemistry between Chris and Everly which is never really explored and I felt gipped.

I also really struggled with Everly. I wanted to like her as she was the main character. But I didn't understand her. She knew she had this terrible anxiety, panic attacks and general mistrust. She didn''t seem to want to get any help for it but was ok with bringing everything down around her. The back and forth on her feelings about Chris became tiresome after a while, almost an immaturity on her part.

I liked this book. I didn't love it. Though, I think others might depending on what they are looking for.

2020 has been the year of romance novels for me - my little brain can't take on any more and I have been keeping my books lighthearted. Ten Rules for Faking It sounds like it would fit that bill, and maybe for others, it will. For me, it fell way flat. And I just couldn't fake it with this one.

The most important part of any story is the characters. In romance novels, this is especially true since they might not be as plot heavy as some other genres and the entire book rests on the chemistry between characters. Unfortunately, I didn't connect to either Everly or Chris. Chris seemed kind of obsessed with Everly without even knowing her and that type of insta-love never sits well with me. He goes on and on about all her great qualities when as the reader, I didn't see any of these qualities in her. She seemed to like her job and hate pretty much everything else. Even her friendship with Stacey felt weirdly fake to me.

As others have mentioned, the representation of Everly's anxiety is a highlight of the book, which to be honest, I wasn't able to finish. Each time I sat down to read I would fall asleep - a telltale sign that it will take me a month to get through a book and I will be disappointed in the end. Hopefully, others will enjoy this one. It's objectively not a bad book, just not the right book for me.

This book has my heart. The beauty of this book is the way in which Sullivan portrays Everly who has a fair amount of social anxiety. I felt seen. There is so much truth to this character and I love how much respect is given to the very real feelings and challenges she has in dealing with her anxiety. Not only that, Sullivan has given Everly two of the most beautiful friends in Stacey and Chris. They are patient and accepting even when they don't understand the depth of what Everly is feeling. Everything from her dislike of birthdays to hating to be the center of attention was so spot on. It was almost a relief to read a character like Everly.

And then Sullivan puts Everly in a rom-com and it's fantastic. I laughed out loud multiple times. I loved the friendship she has with Stacey who is there for her even when she can get frustrated with Everly. I love the friendship she develops with Chris. I'm usually not one for insta-love but what he feels for Everly drew me in instantly. It's a slow burn but so delicious and sweet that I didn't mind in the least. I also loved the relationship Chris has with his siblings. I loved that as quiet and shy Everly is, she finds a way to push all of it aside when it comes down to fighting for her job that she loves. This was a quick read that I couldn't put down. It is a first book for me by this author and I really look forward to reading more from her.

I really enjoyed Sullivan’s writing style! The main character, Everly Dean, does suffer from anxiety and is a bit social phobic.
I really enjoyed this book, it started a little slow but really picked up. Once I got to that part, I couldn’t put it down. The plot is interesting and different than most of the other romance books I’ve read, which makes it a real winner in my mind.

A romance novel with a focus on a main character with anxiety. A fun read!

Everly hates birthdays, and she's just had one of her worst. Everly is a producer at a radio station and on her birthday, she is talking to her best friend, Stacy, about her boyfriend troubles, while unintentionally announcing it on-air as well. After everyone hears about her problems on the radio, kind words begin pouring in for Everly, as well as date requests, which gives her boss, Chris, an idea for a radio "dating show" (similar to The Bachelorette). Everly is at first opposed to the idea because of her social anxiety, but in the end relents as she knows it will help her become the type of person she wants to be. However, while planning and discussing the bachelors and dates, Chris and Everly grow closer and begin to discover that they may have more than just a boss/employee relationship.

I enjoyed this book, particularly the character development. I felt like I really knew all of the characters. The supporting characters were perfect, and I hope to see a follow up book with Stacy and maybe even another with Noah! I'd pickup both of those!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing an ARC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Ten Rules For Faking It is a magnificent contemporary romance by Sophie Sullivan. Ms. Sullivan has provided readers with the treat of a well-written book, a fabulous storyline and a cast of characters that is spectacular. Kudos on making Everly quirky and lovable, but real. Chris is the station manager where Everly works, counting the days till he can move on to his next project. Everly loves her job at the radio station but blunders when she stops her friend from singing Happy Birthday and blurts that she found her boyfriend in bed with another woman...on air. Chris and Everly's story is loaded with problems from Everly's quirks and drama, humor and spice will keep you glued to this book. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from Sophie Sullivan in the future. Ten Rules For Faking it is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

While romance books are definitely my favorite genre of books, there isn't usually a lot of mental health representation. When I found out that Ten Rules for Faking It had a female lead with anxiety, I couldn't wait to dive in and finally enjoy a rom-com with good anxiety representation and a Bachelorette style twist.

I've read plenty of books where one character is secretly pining for the other, but I've never read a book with secret pining and a dual point of view. Ten Rules for Faking It was told from both Everly and Chris' perspective - something that I really really enjoyed. Chris was pining for Everly from very early in the book, but unlike in a lot of romance novels, we as readers actually got to read about his interest in Everly. Getting to learn about his infatuation and crush on her from his POV really helped heighten their chemistry and made the two of them so easy to root for.

I was really, really impressed with how Ten Rules for Faking It handled the main character (Everly) having anxiety. As someone with anxiety, I don't often see myself reflected in the romance books I read. I really loved reading about how Everly's friends rallied around her to support her through her anxiety. Her best friend (Stacey) in particular was a great character with a ton of growth - in the beginning she didn't always respect Everly's boundaries and sometimes triggered her anxiety. By the end of the novel, Stacey was much better about helping Everly with her anxiety and not putting her in situations where it would be inflamed.

Everly and Chris' romance was a classic slow burn relationship - for a period they each thought that their attraction was unrequited. Even when they each started to acknowledge their attraction for each other, they were still boss and employee, which definitely complicated things. The execution of this slow burn was immaculate - it allowed their chemistry to really reach its full potential and made the payoff (the happy ever after) feel earned and worth the build up and wait.

Ten Rules for Faking It is a fun, lighthearted romance with interesting characters, a sweet slow burn romance, and a fun take on The Bachelor premise. I'd highly recommend this one for fans of reality TV dating shows (especially The Bachelorette) and for people who love the slow burn romance trope. If you enjoyed this book, you should check out Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston and Smitten by the Brit by Melonie Johnson.

Some Rom-Com's are just fluff while some are simply not realistic, but this book...this one was just right! This story hit all the marks I look for in a Rom-com: relatable characters, sassy smart dialogue, a swoon worthy love interest and laughter.
This is my first book by Sophie Sullivan and I really appreciated how she writes about the main character, Everly, and her experiences with anxiety. As the story unfolded, I related to Everly and her anxiety in new situations. Chris is a perfect hero, and I love how he notices things about Everly that no one else does. My favorite part of this book was the humor! I laughed out loud so many times. The way Sullivan balances romance and humor with the serious issue of anxiety is to be applauded. I will definitely be looking for more stories by this author!