Thank you to @penguinteen for the gifted egalley!

I finished this one in one day and I think overall it was an okay read. I liked Lund’s first book much better. While I’m a young adult lover, this one had too much teenage angst for me.

Topics discussed: friend betrayals, single parent woes, coming of age, toxic relationships and friendships!

Drama, fake dating, mean girls vibes galore!

Still recommend as a good summer read!

Cameron Lund is one of my FAVORITE Ya Contemporary writers. This book DID NOT DISAPPOINT. I feel like screaming about it. This book was so full of tropes but done in the best way, especially fake dating, and hate to date! Penny drunkenly kisses her boyfriends best friend, whom which she hates, Kai, which is also her best friend Olivia's boyfriend. Can we say MESSY!?

Penny decides to fake date Kai to try and win back her ex and actually enjoy her summer. There is so much drama and I loved every second of it. It truly reads like what high school kids sound like. There is so much teenage angst, emotions, self reflection, growth, all in one book. I think that this is such a fun and exciting YA read that most people will enjoy! And that ending... LOVED IT!

This book was amazing! I really loved the idea of finding yourself. This book had all of my favorite tropes wrapped up in one. Enemies to lovers is a favorite of mine as well as there’s only one bed trope and the fake dating trope. I really loved how this book made you feel like you’re back in high school with all the drama going on every other chapter somebody’s getting betrayed and there’s new fights going on and petty comments and it was really fun to feel like you’re back in that age. My favorite part of the book had to be Kai I love how early on you can tell that he likes her but he just goes along with whatever piece of her he can get. This book was another win by the author and I will definitely be reading any new books she has planned.

Sweet, fun, quirky fast-paced read just in time for summer. Friendships, relationships, drama, laughter and true emotions are all a part of this read. It’s a must from me. Enjoy.

I'd like to thank NetGalley for this eARC. This book was a super cute read. I give this book 3 out of 5 stars. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Okay, WOW!! I absolutely loved this book! I didn’t read Lund’s debut but I definitely will be going back and doing so. This was the perfect mix of fun summer fake-dating and finding-yourself teenage story and I so so enjoyed it! Penny is a relatable main character, part of the popular crowd with the perfect boyfriend which she throws away after kissing her best friend’s boyfriend. While not many may do this exactly, the relatable part was the way she handled everything. This book pretty accurately represented the modern day popular crowd and the pressure to conform and fit in so that you maintain the popularity status even though you lose yourself in the process. Penny was no different and seeing her develop over the course of the book was so well done. I absolutely adored Kai and thought he was such an endearing character and I shipped them so hard! The book is told with “Then” and “Now” sections and I thought they mixed really well. I did get frustrated at the end because I thought it was a pretty basic way to stir up the 3/4 point conflict. I had predicted a portion of it and wish the climax part been a little more unique instead of going such a predictable route. That being said, I loved the actual ending of the book and will definitely be picking up more of this author’s books!

Heartbreakers & Fakers was an absolutely cute book! I found myself rooting for characters I wouldn't normally root for, and I thought this was a fun summer book!

Last year, The Best Laid Plans took me by surprise, becoming my favorite YA romance of 2020, so obviously, Heartbreakers and Fakers was one of my most anticipated reads of 2021. After getting off to a somewhat rocky start, I'm happy to report I loved it...maybe not as much as its predecessor, but that's okay.

Heartbreakers and Fakers is like the love child of Mean Girls and Gossip Girl. It screams "privilege" and "entitlement" for much of the first half, and the main character, Penny, drove me crazy. But seeing her being educated by two side characters (Sarah and Kai) and witnessing her transformation throughout the second half made me so happy to have this book in my hands. Penny's character growth is exactly why I love reading YA. It gives me hope that another generation will see that being popular in high school doesn't mean a damn thing; it's the kind of person you are on the inside that will define you as an adult.

I'm not the target audience for Heartbreakers and Fakers, but it had a warm nostalgic feel that I really needed right now. It took me back to 9th grade, going to the movies with my friends to see Mean Girls and feeling seen for maybe the first time. I was desperate to be accepted; I wanted everyone to see past my imperfections and be ranked higher on the high school pecking order, simply so I could breath a little easier while walking those hallways past the ruthless elite. Maybe that's why I didn't give up on Penny right away---I saw something in her that spoke to 9th grade me.

If you like high school drama and the fake dating trope, this may be just the book for you. But remember, it's very much targeted to teens, so if seventeen-year-olds fighting over boys doesn't sound like a good time for you, maybe skip this one. 🥴

Best paired with Long Story Short by Taylor Swift and perfect for fans of Gossip Girl and To All the Boys I've Loved Before.

Overall, a really smart way to do so many common tropes. Plus, I really enjoyed Cameron Lund's writing. I am going to have to go back for that debut now.

As a sucker for a good rom-com, this was everything I didn't know I needed! I'll start by warning, if you're not into the whole fake dating trope, this probably isn't the story for you. HOWEVER, if you're open to some predictably, you'll be rewarded with cuteness and romance galore.

There is rarely a moment I'm not in the mood for a romcom, but I have to say that when I picked this up, I really wasn't. That changed in less than ten pages. A good rom-com is when even though the plot is predictable, you can't help but be sucked into another romance. Besides, one of the best parts of romcoms is just getting to see who the characters are, the drama, the shipping, and reading until your OTP finally gets it together and becomes a couple.

If this wasn't enough to persuade you, it's SUMMER (in the northern hemisphere) and such a great time to pick up a quick contemporary romance novel! Yes, there are many out there in the world, but if you're looking for a cute story about romance, friendship, and growth that is filled with great characters and teenage drama, this is for you!

Thank you prh audio for the ALC.

I decided to give this book a chance even after I didn’t care for this authors debut. I liked her writing so I figured it’s possible i could enjoy this one.

I’m just not a fan of whiny teen characters. I love YA so much but some of these books are too much.

I literally rolled my eyes so many times at the main character Penelope and all of her choices. I understand teens aren’t the best but somehow Lund makes them seem so terrible.

I do think she’s a good writer and I hope to one day enjoy one of her books but for now I’ll just skip her books.

✩✩✩✩/5 stars
Genres: contemporary romance, YA
Age 14+ (TW: -intimacy, -profanity)
Page count: 352
Tropes: enemies to lovers, friends to lovers, love triangle, one bed

Pros: Though there were a few downsides to this book, I ultimately enjoyed it, and the concept of it. I read it in one day, and there were many times when I couldn’t put it down.

I appreciated one of the main characters being a POC, and there being a gay character and a bi character.

There was definitely a very powerful and valuable life lesson tied into the book.

If you enjoyed To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, you should read this!

Cons: There were times when I wanted to whack the main character over the head with a baseball bat. She was extremely irritating and rude (which I guess can be relatable, but I wasn’t loving it).

Also, in multiple instances the writing made me cringe.

I wish Lund included more POC characters, and elaborated more on the LGBTQIA+ characters.

The plot of the story was generic and one that has been used in many movies and other books. It made this specific read very predictable.

I can see how it is a relatable story to high schoolers, but there aren’t many special aspects that made it stand out from other books.

•••

My favorite quote:

“The idea of being someone’s girlfriend made me feel more powerful than being alone. But depending on someone else isn’t power. Using someone to make yourself feel less alone isn’t strength.” - Heartbreakers and Fakers, Cameron Lund

*This quote was taken from an unfinished version of the book. Everything is subject to change.

I think Heartbreakers and Fakers was pretty good, just not for me. I’d still recommend it though!

A huge thank you to Penguin Teen for the finished copy & eARC of this title, I took the book to the pool with me on Memorial Day and it was THE absolute best to kick off the start of summer with! After reading Lund’s debut, Best Laid Plans, I had high hopes for this book and it did not disappoint!

Fake dating, testing your friendships & finding out who you are - all a part of the recipe that makes this book a delectable read with plenty of nostalgic vibes for your teen years. This treasure trove of layered tropes was so fun to read, giving off all the 90’s from com vibes like She’s All That / Drive Me Crazy and I was all about it!

Penny wakes up after what should’ve been the best start to summer ever, but instead she finds out things have gone incredibly wrong. & the only person still talking to her is her frenemy, Kai. As we get to know the characters with present day timeline and flashbacks, you discover flawed characters full of the best kind of relatable teenage drama, constant mistakes and growing past them.

The writing style makes this book a delightful easy read, it left me ready and excited for even more from this author!

Also, ANY book where the characters go to Disney just has a special place in my heart ❤️

Do you know what’s better than enemies to lovers? Enemies to lovers and fake dating! Who knew I needed these tropes together in my life? I loved this book so much!😍 I immediately connected with the characters and was fully invested in the book after the first chapter. I couldn’t put it down.

Penny has the perfect life. After being dubbed Pukey Penelope by her arch-nemesis, Kai, in elementary, Penny has worked her butt off to be where she is now. Her best friend, Olivia, is the most popular girl in school and her boyfriend, Jordan Parker, is beyond perfect. She couldn’t be happier. Until one night, she throws it all away, and it’s Kai’s fault, as usual. She has to fix it, and her only option is to fake date Kai. Once they get Jordan and Olivia back, they can both go back to hating each other. But of course, things never go as planned. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I had a blast reading about Penny and Kai. I honestly couldn’t get enough of them. Their banter cracked me up. 🤣

This story definitely gave me Mean Girls vibes, and I loved it. Olivia would have given Regina George a run for her money. 😳

If you love both enemies to lovers and fake dating, this is the book for you! ❤️ I gave this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A pretty boring book, but I really enjoyed the author’s writing style. While their were some exciting parts, there weren’t enough for me…

It was really hard to get into this book. Every character seemed like an asshole and yes I know teenagers are usually assholes and complicated people that often make bad decisions. But I really don’t think a single good decision was made in this book. Not a one. Loved the absolute mess that is that friend group though; I love drama.

I was very lucky to get an ARC of this book from Penguin Teen a few months ago and was excited to read this during my vacation. When I saw their TikTok talking about this book, I knew I had to pick it up immediately. Fake dating? Enemies to lovers? This was exactly what I wanted in a summer read and the fact that this book takes place the summer before senior year, made it all better.

Penelope (Penny) has ruined her life. She kissed her best friends boyfriend, Kai, and is now single and friendless due to her actions. She can't figure out why she kissed Kai, she hates him, but she did and now she has to live with the consequences. And it gets worse when her best friend, Olivia, starts dating Penny's ex - Jordan. Desperate to win her boyfriend and her best friend back, Penny hatches a plan to fake date Kai to make them jealous and hopefully push her and Kai back into their ex's arms. But what if the fake dating starts to turn into real dating? And what if her best friend isn't who she really thought she was?

This book has a lot of elements going on through it. We have Penny's relationship with Olivia, her best friend, and her boyfriend, Jordan, at stake. We have her enemy Kai. And we have her issues with her mom, who's never home and always seems to bring a new guy home. The relationships in this book get a little murky, but it was one of my favorite parts. Seeing all the weaving webs spinning around this story, complicating things as they move along, it was pretty well thought out!

One thing I loved to see was Penny's self growth. When we first meet her, Penny is happy to be Olivia's sidekick. Olivia is #1, Penny is #2, and then we have her friends in spots #3, #4, and #5. Plus, with Olivia being the top dog, everyone else just has to follow behind. It's very Mean Girls-esque with Olivia as Regina George and Penny as Gretchen Weiners.

Olivia is a horrible friend and just a mean person in general. She's genuinely cruel to people and the more she interacts with Penny, the more we see how bad of a friend she actually is. Penny isn't a good friend either though. She's judgemental and constantly worried about her public appearance. She thinks about how she looks, what she says, who she hangs out with, all for the approval of Olivia and her "friends". And Jordan is a bad boyfriend too. It's clear he likes Penny, but he doesn't really care for her, not like Penny cares for him.

When Kai comes in the picture, it's clear he and Penny don't get along. But the more we see them interact, the clearer it becomes that they have a lot in common. And these commonalities are pushing them closer and closer together as they try to drive Olivia and Jordan apart. Especially when Penny doesn't have many people she can rely on. 

I felt so bad as Penny tried to get through to her Mom. She just wants to spend time with her, but she's always busy with work and with her dates. Penny feels like she's left behind and it only goes to show that all she wants is to be liked and wanted. Honestly, I could relate to Penny and her desire to just fit in. But I was so happy to see her come out of her shell and realize that she doesn't need to work so hard for people to like her or change herself to fit in. 

Overall, this book was such a good summer read. It occurs in the summertime between junior and senior year, and brings on the friendships, romances, and summer fun that we all wish for and miss having. I definitely recommend this for anyone looking for a great teen romance filled with humor and self reflection. I can't wait to read more from this author!

Penny Harris has been living her best life! She is dating the boy of her dreams. Her best friend is dating his best friend and the summer before their senior year of high school has just begun.

But when Penny wakes up after hungover after the huge end of school year party, she learns she drunkenly made out with her bestie's boyfriend, Kai, ruining not only her friendship and her perfect relationship, but her entire summer they had filled with all the best plans. To make matters worse, Her now ex-best friend Olivia and her ex-boyfriend Jordan are suddenly a couple.

Penny cannot believe herself. Why would she make out with Kai? He wasn't just the boyfriend of her best friend or the best friend of her boyfriend, he has been the guy who made her the butt of every joke since the fifth grade. How could she have kissed her nemesis and ruined everything so phenomenally?

The solution comes to her in the form of damage control. She and Kai should pretend to date each other to make Jordan and Olivia jealous. Solid plan, right? Because why not fix this trust issue with more lies? But, things start to backfire even more when Penny gets to know the real Kai and learns that she may not hate him as much as she thought she did.

While there is so much superficiality in this group of high school students, Cameron Lund doesn't even try to ignore that fact or cover it up and that is the whole point. On the surface this is about faking things to get back into the good graces of people you hurt by hurting them more by trying to make them jealous. But if you peel back the layers, you get to see these characters realize what they are doing and take efforts in being better people. You get to watch how people react to the understanding that things are not always what they seem and certain relationships that are made between people are fake even if you can't see it every day.

I absolutely LOVED this adorable YA read. I loved how flawed the characters were. I found how easy it was to actually NOT hate them for the mistakes they made when they took strides to better themselves. This was such a fun read.

This book is all about the teen drama and learning to be yourself and not live worried about what others think. It's a great message all wrapped up in some of the best tropes of the genre as presented by realistically written, relatable characters.
Even though I spent a big part of the book wanting to knock some sense into Penny in the hopes that she realized that things were definitely not as great as she imagined them to be, I loved the way that Lund slowly reveals all the cracks on the things that Penny thinks are solid and all the quirks that made others better than she thought.
All around a great, entertaining read that comes with a great message and solid talking/thinking points.

Many happy thanks to NetGalley and Razorbill for the early read!

Y’all, if you are looking for a fun YA book, look no further than Heartbreakers and Fakers! This is a fun fake dating story that will take you back to your high school days.

Penelope (Penny) is at the end of her junior year and gearing up for what she hopes to be the best summer. Well, at a party to celebrate the beginning of the summer, she gets caught kissing Kai… too bad she has a boyfriend. Her boyfriend breaks up with her the next morning, OBVIOUSLY.

What comes next is a fake dating scheme between Penny and Kai to help get their ex boy/girlfriend back. Nothing can go wrong, right?

Read this if you loved the To All The Boys I Loved Before trilogy. Kai is no Peter but I still loved him.

Thank you @penguinteen for an ARC and for also sending a finished copy!