Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the eARC of Ten Rules For Faking It by Sophie Sullivan.

Ten Rules For Faking It is a sweet Rom Com centered around Everly Dean. Everly works at a radio station and her birthday she thirtieth birthday she discovers that her boyfriend is cheating on her. She is devastated. When she gets to work, she tells her best friend Stacey who also works at the radio station. As she vents to her friend, Everly doesn’t really that they are live on the air. Now, everyone knows. Everly also suffers from severe social anxiety and this almost sets her over the edge. Her boss, Chris, comes up with an idea to help lift her spirits and boost the ratings of the radio station Everly will go out on dates with different men and then the viewers will vote on the two remaining bachelors. Everly agrees. She has made a list of 10 rules to help her come out of her shell. As Everly meets her suitors, she discovers that she is developing feelings for her boss, Chris. Chris is smitten with Everly as well. When the time comes for Everly to decide to make her choice will she follow through or follow her heart?

This was a sweet story about finding love in the most unexpected way and walking through your fears. It’s about finding “your person.” I did feel like this was a slow burn and that the story could have been condensed. Overall, this was a fun read. I would recommend this book for fans of rom coms. This one earns 3 stars. It will be released on 1/5/2021.

I loved this book. Sullivan gave Everly's character such fullness that I want to HUG both the character and the author. Thank you for giving us a well-rounded view of a woman with anxiety that isn't a cliche. There is such a trend right now with chick lit full of anxiety-suffering women and (being someone who can fully relate) I have yet to read a single one that lives up to the complexities of it as this portrayal of Everly does.
Chris is a dream-guy, obviously. Stacey is a great friend, also not a stereotypical sidekick caricature, which I loved. Will she get her own book with Rob? I would read it!
Thank you so much for the ARC. This really was one of the best reads of this genre for me this year. Can't wait until it comes out. I am already suggesting it to our book club for 2021.

I absolutely LOVED this book! The main characters were real and complex, and I thought the author's bold decision to have the heroine suffer from severe anxiety was a huge attribute to the book. People can relate, yes, but those that feel like anxious people can "just calm down" etc. really have the insight into the silent, often debilitating issue. I enjoyed the dating segment of the radio show and how it relates to the budding attraction between our hero and heroine. A 5 star read!

Thank you for a arc in exchange for an honest review!
These thoughts are all my own. I was looking forward to reading this book, even though it is written in a third person pov i still gave it a try! Personally I liked the theme of the story, but it was a but excessive. The beginning was very quick, then we get to a chapter where we learn of Chris secretly liking Everly, but not doing anything about it because he's her boss, and she's anxious. anxious at work, anxious on the dates, anxious around her boho parents. I ended up DNFing around 75 percent because i simply didnt enjoy it anymore

Spoilery discussion ahead.

Everly has the worst birthday ever, arriving home to discover her boyfriend in the sack with his assistant. She goes to work, because she can't let Stacey, her best friend and partner in their morning radio show, swing in the wind, as Everly is Stacey's producer. Everly is usually very quiet in the way of those with extreme social anxiety, but she lets it all go about the crappy boyfriend and scummy men in general . . . and discovers too late that Stacey had flipped the switch and they were on their air--she'd meant to sing "Happy birthday."

So the entire world (or so it seemed) heard the rant, which incidentally zoomed the listener quotient, a lucky break as Chris, the manager, is getting a nasty phone call from his dad (who owns the studio) to fire the pair. But he doesn't want to for a number of reasons, with secretly liking Everly at the top.

In a brainstorm, they come up with an idea: finding Everly a perfect date. The radio listeners can nominate guys.

So there's the setup, all accomplished in the first couple chapters.

Now I have to get generally spoilery.

The beginning took off like a rocket, but then we got chapter after chapter of Chris secretly liking Everly, but not doing anything about it because he's her boss, and she's anxious. anxious at work, anxious on the dates, anxious around her boho parents. She has panic attacks and nerve storms one after another, as Chris tries to back her up, while hiding his feelings.

Chapter after chapter, repeatedly the same note.

The characters are lovely, some of the dates funny, but the central romance stays on this single note, with the strongest emotion being Everly's really well described panic attacks, until the last quarter of the book. Then things begin to move rapidly again, with the expected bad scene, followed by a cascade of resolution that pulls everything together in the last few pages.

Nice writing, great characters, fun beginning, but that middle needed a lot more romance and fewer of the (very vividly described) anxiety scenes to really work for me.

Sophie Sullivan takes readers on a realistic journey in “Ten Rules for Faking It.” The characters are well fleshed out and feel realistic; they are flawed and lovable, and feel like they could jump off of the page and be your friends in real life.
Sullivan took great care in addressing the main character’s struggles of living with anxiety. It’s not portrayed as a crutch, or something to get over, but rather as a characteristic that is a part of who she is, and something that she can work with instead of against. The respect and care is woven into the story beautifully.

It’s a charming, slow-burn romcom with a bachelorette kind of contest after Everly reveals on air about how she ended her relationship. I liked that Everly, the lead character, is someone who has social anxiety issues and she tries to overcome them by facing the situations head on now. Chris was absolutely adorable and their chemistry started off right away but they stay away from each other for a long time. Everly’s friend was her support system and was a hoot as well.

Everly’s mind voice was hilarious and the dialogues she thinks over in her mind were laugh out funny. I wish there were more scenes between Chris and Everly as there was so much angst between them that needed to be addressed. A fun, light and enjoyable romcom!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for my advanced copy!

A charming slow burn that I couldn’t put down. I really loved Everly’s character! She was complex, unique and felt real. I also appreciated that Sullivan took great care in writing her challenges with social anxiety, Everly’s storyline with Chris was frustrating at times but it was true to her character and I’m just impatient with some romance tropes. Speaking of Chris- I loved his character too. He was layered and nuanced; which is sometimes hard to find in male protagonists. Would’ve liked a little more heat, but this read was so sweet and endearing, I finished it in 2 sittings!

I think this was absolutely adorable. I loved all of the characters and Everly’s social anxiety is so relatable for me. It’s a little long for my romcom expectations though. It goes on and on about details that aren’t needed and that would help trim it down immensely if they were removed. I wish this book had a little steam because it makes all that angst unbearable without it. I still enjoyed the book and would definitely recommend it!

Thank you so much for approving my request. I started this title, but I just cannot connect with the plot and characters at this time. I will not be reviewing this title for now. I look forward to working again with you in the future.

Kind regards,

Brittney

Not my favorite romance book (particularly with the lack of actual romance between the two leads...) but not bad either. Overall I enjoyed it but not as much as I thought I was going to. In particular I thought the radio contest could have been more integrated and the romance between the leads felt as developed as a half baked cupcake. However Everly’s story in particular was a great representation of social anxiety and I found all of the characters enjoyable as a whole. Definitely a slow burn but worth a read if you’re a fan.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sophie Sullivan for the advanced read of 10 Rules for Faking it in exchange for an honest review.

Another fun read that may have been a tad bit too long but was still good. It was cute and the writing was solid and effective. I enjoyed Everly . She was a cute character and one who I really rooted for through the book . I especially enjoyed the way the book portrayed social anxiety in a real way.

Thank you #netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

This book was good and kind of slow-burn, so I enjoyed that aspect! I was glad to see a book giving some representation to social anxiety and some of the impacts it can have on someone's life. That being said, it's only getting three stars because it wasn't as entertaining/funny as I thought it would be. The romance was there, but not as strongly as I would have liked. That being said, still a good read and worth your time!

In a crazy time when all I want to read is lighthearted and fun, this book was TOTALLY it!!
Laugh out loud funny, romantic, Bachelorette-like, crazy parents, and great characters—it had all the things!!
I can’t wait to read more from this author!

This book was really cute; radio personalities, bachelorette style dating, co-workers with feelings for each other, and great secondary characters! Everly and Chris are likeable and funny, the dating show part of the book was a really unique idea and well done. I'd recommend this as a light read, contemporary romance novel.

Every is not a fan of birthdays. I like the name Everly. She is a radio show producer. I liked Everly. I liked the friendship with Stacey

Fun and entertaining romance that you'll enjoy from start to finish! I love that the topic of anxiety and social anxiety is at the forefront of the plot. Everly Dean decides that this will be the year that she overcomes her fears and gains a new lease on life. Her ten rules give a whole new meaning to "fake it til you make it". Heartwarming and endearing, I recommend this book for lovers of chick lit and romance. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to review this ARC.

This was a very cute romance story. It’s not everyday you read a story where the main character has severe social anxiety, so while I cringed at some of her choices, I could sympathize with why she made them. I also loved how the author should the characters being both frustrated and happy with each other it made the relationship more authentic.

I loved this book! This author was a new to me one, and I just couldn't put this down. The characters were so real and engaging. I devoured page after page and then was so happy, yet sad, when it was over. I look forward to more from this author. LOVED IT!

I absolutely loved the anxiety representation in this book! Its something that hits so many of us so it was refreshing to see in a romantic setting! It was definitely a unique plot and while I wish it actually had more steamy romance but I liked the story along the way.