Faking Reality is a coming-of-age story dealing with themes such as empowerment, desire to escape, appearance versus reality, fame, family, love and heartbreak, wealth, culture and race, social media, and gender identity. This book really emphasized the importance of family, being true to oneself, and going after what you want. It also reinforced the fact that “reality” TV isn’t always real and isn’t always as glamorous as it seems.

This ended up being a DNF for me. It just ended up not being my cup of tea. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review the book.

I'm not sure what I expected when I picked up Faking Reality, but I was ultimately disappointed. Full of expected tropes, it was not the unique YA contemporary romance promised, and it sorely lacked any depth or character development to at least make it enjoyable.

There were moments when Dakota was an interesting protagonist; she was honest with her emotions and had a unique family dynamic, especially with the reality tv filming. But unfortunately, it felt like none of her projects ever played out fully and even the whole reality tv thing was never really explained. It seems pretty unlikely that a reality show on HGTV would be so popular for over a decade that it would inspire SNL skits...

I can understand why Dakota was in love with Leo - they've grown up together. With her unusual family and celebrity, it makes sense she would be interested in the most stable, normal person in her life. However, Leo is kind of a jerk, and their relationship ends up being pretty unhealthy. Even when he knows how Dakota feels about him, he's not shy with the romantic PDA in front of her with no care for how it would make her feel. He can't stand her being interested in anyone else but has no desire to be with her. And as soon as Leo starts dating Lindsay and Dakota starts dating Alex, I just felt bad for Lindsay and Alex. There was no attempt to develop these characters or relationships, and it was clear they were just there to cause drama until Leo realised he was *gasp* interested in Dakota.

I did appreciate the Japanese elements in the narrative; they felt authentic and added a much-needed dose of realism in a very unrealistic story. The scenes in Leo's family's restaurant were the most enjoyable to read.

The more time passes, and the more I think about it, I can't seem to figure out the point of Faking Reality. If this had been about two friends overcoming feelings to remain friends, or two childhood friends falling for each other, it would have felt more contemporary and less expected. But, instead, the dependence on tropes led to a predictable and unnecessary story.

I find it funny that this was maybe the first time I read any book by a Japanese descendant, considering how the Japanese culture interests me and I even took a course in the university about the generations of immigrants. But I'm digressing, although Dakota does mention some things I've seen in my course as she narrates.

Dakota is the daughter of the stars in a popular reality TV show and that's she's been all her life, which has led her to many inconveniences and a couple of traumas. Because if that, she prefers to live in her bubble, trusting very few people in. One of them is her childhood friend and major crush, Leo Matsuda. But now he has a girlfriend, she can't continue to dream of the day she'll be out of the friendzone and decides to find an actual date for the Sweet Sixteen extravaganza the show runner is planning for her in the last season.

I'd give this a 3+ but still not enough to round it up to 4. All the Japanese culture inserts are really nice and surely a good immersion especially for those not familiar, but it wasn't enough to save how messy the plot gets.

It may be a me problem, and other readers might love this—I did mention I don't find easily things about Japanese culture so they might not find it either—but Dakota and Leo's friendship bothered me a lot. And I feel it wasn't intentional or if it was the book didn't treat it the right way, because the way their relationship goes in the story felt very unhealthy. It's sad, because Leo is a great guy who just couldn't deal with Dakota's feelings for him. YA books are not here to teach anything, but I wish they had either showed a good way to solve the friendzone problem or showed it some other way. Less romance as the end goal and more coming of age, perhaps?

I also found it hard to connect with Dakota and even with Leo (because I kept hating how he was dealing with everything). To be honest, I can't say any character was my favorite, and their flaws would get me at times.

And as mentioned, the plot is a little messy. Maybe, it took too long for the book to get to the point, that is Dakota trying to get over Leo and find a date to her party. This only happens around halfway, actually. On the other hand, this gave the two enough time for their conflict to appear and explode.

I feel the actual audience will enjoy it much more than me, an old lady for them. There's a lot for them to enjoy along the way and maybe they won't be as bothered and judgmental with the main romance as I was. But for me, this story needed more editing to maybe become whatever the official summary leads us to think it is.


Honest review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.

Full disclosure: I'm really conflicted about this book. First of all, it took forever to get through because the writing style was so research-heavy for a YA romance novel. Also, the explanation of the Japanese made the writing stilted as well. It may have been better to just write out the Japanese phrases and let readers look them up and use context clues to figure out what was said. Three characters in the book annoyed the crap out of me: Leo, Alex, and Phil. I mean if I was Dakota, I would have dumped both Leo and Alex and dated myself or a much better guy. They were just so... immature? Self-absorbed? I'm not sure what it was about Leo and Alex, but at least with Phil you know everybody hated him. Then there's the whole American Dirt diaspora where, yes, the author married into a Japanese family and is close with her Japanese family, but she's also kind of benefitting off of the sales of a book about a part Japanese teen who doesn't seem to be concerned with cultural appropriation and its correlations with anti-Asian hate.

Don't get me wrong: the book is good. The storyline premises is good and entertaining. The character development just seems a bit off and you can feel the heavy research coming through the words on the page which makes it a hard read and a little hard to like a lot.

Faking Reality isn't for me.
This is a DNF for me.
The writing style just isn't something I can waste my time reading.
It's okay, but it isn't worth the time, since there are so many other books on my TBR list.
Sorry

This is such a fun story. I was particularly fond of the restaurant setting and seeing the importance of the food and culture in Leo’s family. This was also a great contrast to Dakota’s family and the weird reality being part of reality TV creates. Their friendship is well written and throughout the book I was hoping they would end up together, but more importantly I just wanted to see them both happy. The story is definitely dramatic and a little over the top thanks to the magic of TV that Dakota’s life brings so if you’re looking for the drama with your romance this is a great read.

Faking Reality is a wonderful read. Sara Fujimura wrote a great book. I love the Japanese culture that was showcased. The characters Dakota & Leo were the best. I would like to thank NetGalley for a eARC. I'm giving this book a 4 out of 5 stars. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was adorable! It was a pretty quick read but you really develop this relationship with Dakota and Leo that had me staying up late. There was a non binary character and Japanese influence throughout the novel. You couldn’t not like Dakota she is inclusive, polite, and self aware.

This book was a lot of fun! Dakota has literally grown up on her parents’ TV show, which, as her 16th birthday approaches, is coming to its end. She tries to keep her school life as separate from her TV life as she can, but it’s not always easy. Neither is having a serious crush on her best friend.

Leo, the best friend, struggles with family expectations, especially as the only son. His grandfather, in particular, puts pressure on him to work in the family restaurant, while he has some other goals.

When the TV producers want to throw an over-the-top 16th birthday party for Dakota, things take an interesting turn, as they try to find her the perfect date. Grudgingly, Leo takes the job.

This was sweet, with real messages about the struggles of growing up famous, living up to family expectations, and more. The conclusion was satisfying.

Possible Objectionable Material:
One of Dakota’s friends is genderqueer. People are sometimes mean to her. Some mild cursing. Mild teenage rebellion and sneakiness.

Who Might Like This Book:
People who like coming-of-age stories. Fans of Japanese cuisine—Dakota’s descriptions of food are pretty enticing! Appropriate for tweens on up.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Also reviewed at http://biblioquacious.blogspot.com/2021/08/july-releases-for-summer-downtime.html

This was a book that I ended up not finishing due to lack of interest in content. For that reason I was unable to rate more than one star.

THIS BOOK!!! Young Adult at t's best! Funny, romantic, and teens. What more could you want? Except maybe a sequel lol

DNF at 25%. Could not get myself into this story. Will probably try again at another date.

*Thank you to the publisher for this eARC.

Fantastic book! Faking Reality is a fun, contemporary romance. Sara Fujimura creates loveable, relatable characters that you instantly fall in love with. I also love how Sara weaves in Japanese culture as a large part of the story. I felt like I not only got to enjoy a fun story, but I learned a lot about Japanese culture and food as well. I love that our main character is on an HGTV show! We get to see what her "real life" is like and what it's like working alongside her parents in front of the camera. I highly recommend this book.

3.5 Stars

Faking Reality by Sara Fujimura is a feel-good story following the daughter of HGTV stars. With an extravagant Sweet 16 party and a main character who is secretly in love with her best friend, this one contains plenty of drama. I especially enjoyed the portrayal of friendship, an aspect I’m sure will appeal to fans of the friends to lovers trope.

When Dakota, the daughter of HGTV stars, has a homecoming disaster go viral, she swears off letting her love life become a plot in her parents’ show. When the show reaches its final season, however, the network plans an extravagant Sweet 16 party for Dakota, complete with a list of potential dates. What no one knows is that Dakota is secretly in love with her best friend, who also happens to be camera shy.

❀ LIKEABLE MAIN CHARACTER

The main character is likeable, although I had some trouble connecting with her. As the daughter of reality TV stars, Dakota grew up in the spotlight, and I really felt for her as her private life leaks into the public eye. I love reading about reality shows, and the behind the scenes access we get through Dakota is interesting, but it’s a little hard to believe that Dakota is as famous as the book claims. However, I enjoyed reading about her skills with tools and construction, and this brought some originality to her character.

❀ BOOK ABOUT FRIENDSHIP

What I especially enjoyed about the book is the way the author explores friendship. It’s easy to feel Dakota and Leo’s connection, and I loved the unwavering support they have for each other. The two make each other stronger, and I liked the way Dakota is able to use her HGTV experience to help Leo with his family’s restaurant. Friendship is one of my favourite things to read about, so I was glad to see it well portrayed here.

❀ AN UPBEAT STORY

Faking Reality by Sara Fujimura is an upbeat story about friendship, and being stuck in the friend zone. I loved the HGTV show elements, and the main character is enjoyable, if a little hard to connect with. The book’s depiction of friendship is one of my favourite parts, and I am sure that fans of the friends to lovers trope will enjoy this one.

This was another good YA read from Sara Fujimura!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher of the book.

honestly, i was so excited for this book and just the plot and to see the kid of HGTV stars play out, especially in a high school setting, since i think that always leads for a really good plot. and i even think that i read another book like this, so i was excited to get to this. and plus that this is told to be like my big fat greek weeding, which is honestly one of my favorite movies. but, this was kind of a let down.

but, i will say is that i did really liked getting to know the characters, especially dakota and leo as they are our leads. and i feel like it was super cool to see them interact and just to see them do their thing. and i honestly feel like they felt like real teenagers, and not some adult look at teenagers, and what they think teenagers should be. and i feel like they had their cringey moments, which was embarrassing for me, but i feel like it was still decent in my mind.

but, as much i did think having parents be on HGTV, it was kind of unbelievable. like for one, i feel like they had these moments were it would have worked better if they were on a sitcom or something. since, i do think that it was based of fixer upper, and the success that the show has gotten, and the empire chip and joe did for themselves. but, like her parents had like 12 seasons of this show, 12 seasons about them flipping houses, which would get boring, compared to fixer upper which has like 6 seasons when everyone actually loved that show. and also the time when they talked about SNL talking about and doing some little skit about them, which was just so stupid because i don't think they'd focus on some teenage girl.

and her family was also kind of a mess. like, by the description and even a little in the book, is that it made it seem like dakota and her family were so close and that they were to be the closed family thanks to the show, but, than they would have these moments when they were just not getting along, which i think was so stupid, but i feel like they just needed to clean that aspect of that book fixed and not so messy.

Such a good book! I loved this one! Def worth the read. It was everything I was expecting and more, I loved the character development.

Title: Faking Reality
Author: Sara Fujimura
Pub. Date: July 13, 2021
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This will be a spoiler free review. Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review. I blew through this book.

I read 60% of it in one night, staying up far too late for a work night. I paid the price the next day, but it was worth it. Then I spent all day really looking forward to getting home so I could finish it.

Overall, this was a cute YA contemporary read that sucks you in and keeps you wanting more. I loved Dakota – so much. She was fun and relatable and just a really great character. She cares so deeply for those she claims as family. Her personality is great, and I loved her friendship with Leo.

I also loved Leo. But, and yes, there’s a but – I spent most of this book annoyed as hell at him. When feelings come to light, the way he reacts is…

Let’s just say I think he handled it wrong. And then everything that happens after that – he definitely handled it wrong. I didn’t get the sense that he was doing anything on purpose, but he was still a pretty shitty friend for a while.

I was all on board for a friends to lovers (or something more) story, and there were a lot of twists, turns and stops along the way. I just wanted to reach into the book and hug Dakota, because she got the raw end of that deal for a while. And while I hurt for her, I did really enjoy the personal growth that came out of it.

I just really liked her character. Her whole life has been in the public eye and I think she handles it pretty well. It’s not always smooth sailing and easy and it does put a target on her back, but she’s so damn strong, resilient and fucking brilliant.

Outside of Dakota and Leo – the whole cast of characters is great, honestly. Between Nevaeh, Dakota’s parents, Leo’s family, Stephanie and Alex – everyone is so great. The only two that can suck it, are Phil and whatever that conceited loser actor boy’s name is. Phil was just a jerk. The other guy, while wholly unlikable, he was kind of good for some comedic relief honestly. But everyone else was fantastic and you end up loving all of them.

Nevaeh’s out there style and fierce loyalty, Dakota’s parents who are supportive and a lot of fun, Leo’s family who is a big bunch of loving chaos and delicious food, Stephanie who is a badass and always in Dakota’s corner, and precious Alex who was exactly what Dakota needed.

I went into this book expecting to enjoy it – so it met my expectations. I inhaled it in two nights, didn’t want to put it down. I wanted to know how it all ended. Other than Leo’s obstinance and terrible life choices for most of the book, he’s really great. When he’s with Dakota, their chemistry is adorable. If you’re looking for a quick, light and fun YA contemporary read, then you should probably check this one out!

I was excited to read this book but I felt like it fell flat. I just didn't connect with the characters in the way I was hoping I would.

It was a cute fluff read but I felt like it could have been so much better with more character depth or plot. It was so easy to see that Koty was going to end up with Leo that the middle part seemed unnecessary.

I wouldn't call it a good or bad book. Just okay.