This was definitely a quick fun read! Jada and Donovan definitely had a lot of chemistry in their interactions, but I also appreciated how much they supported each another. It was refreshing for Jada to have an already established best friend, and I wish we were able to see more of Olivia. You can tell she’s going to bat for Jada no matter what. I totally expected her to also join the book club? But she also never really showed back up at the cupcake shop either. She usually just ended up back at Jada’s place, which is fine. I just expected her to be constantly in the bake shop since she is the one who dragged Jada there in the first place. Speaking of friends, I adore Kendra, the book club host. She’s pushy and bossy but in a fun, charismatic way, and I hope we see more of her. I think this is supposed to be a series. The epilogue makes it seem like it’s going to be.
Donovan’s besties Nicholas and August are also a lot of fun in their own ways. They all balance each other out: Donovan is the micromanager, type-A, driven and focused friend; Nicholas is the Devil may care, charismatic, fun loving, player friend; and August is quiet, stoic, loyal, and wise friend. To me, August is the stabilizer.
The plot was an interesting one to me. I did guess where it was going quite a few times, but the journey to the plot points was fun. I enjoyed the antics, but I also enjoyed the more serious discussions around dyslexia and gambling addictions and difficult family relationships.
Where the book lost me a bit was very near the end when something happens that just didn’t need to happen? The story could have ended up in the same place without it, and it was just kind of irritating. I am being intentionally vague here.
However, I am interested to see what comes next in this (possible) series!

While this book was very much up my alley- being a black girl and a baker myself- I quickly realized this one wasn’t for me.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the copy of this book.

The concept was really cute and I love a good fake dating story, but it was really quite sloooooow burn and the fact they didn’t actually get together basically until the end just didn’t do it for me.
I also found it really wordy and just missing a little something extra.

I liked the leads separately, Jada is nice and sassy, and it felt realistic and modern to me, but overall I felt it’s just an ok read. 3 stars for me.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.

This was such a good read! FAKE DATING TROPE?! The best. I loved Jada and Donovan so much and I always enjoy the banter and tension that comes with fake dating along with the cuteness of it all. Overall very glad I read this! I wonder if they’ll be a 2nd book?

This book follows a reality star and a cupcake baking football player wrapped up in a fake dating scheme. This was definitely a cute, lighthearted and easy read. I really loved Jada and Donovan as characters and they were really fun to read about. Unfortunately, this isn’t a romcom that I see really standing out to me in the long run. I found it a bit predictable at times and a bit too cheesy for me. This is not the day I didn’t enjoy my time though and I can see how this would totally work for someone else. I’m interested to check out more from this author however and I think if you’re interested in this book, you should for sure give it a try!

I have some mixed feelings about this book. I liked the premise of seeing the other side of the story of a reality TV villain. I liked that it was the man who had the stereotypical romance novel job at the cupcake shop.

But the conversations between Jada and Donovan felt stiff and stilted like they were play acting banter without it feeling real. I also found it hard to feel bad for the "sad little rich girl" who doesn't have access to her trust fund and needs to *gasp* get a job to pay her bills.

I wanted to love this book but it didn't do it for me. 2.5 stars. I didn't hate it but I also didn't particularly care for it.

I loved the idea of this and the synopsis. The whole story fell a bit short for me. I think I am just over baking romance books. There are too many centered around food competitions and baking shops.

Cute ROM Com! Quick easy read. Great for a rainy day or poolside. Predictable, as are most books in this classification. A little racy a couple of times, (most of us don't need instructions) and some potty mouth, but I've seen worse. The characters were colorful with some good dialogue and situations. A fun book to read. I was provided an advanced copy of the book at my request and was under no obligation to provide a review. The opinions expressed are my own. Thanks to the author, St. Martin's press, and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book.

This novel is about Jada Townsend-Matthews, reality show villain and not sure what she wants to do with her life and Donovan Dell, football player and owner of Sugar Blitz, a cupcake bakery. Jada is all over the place while Donovan prefers a controlled and well-planned life. What will happen when these two clash?!

What happens is that I have a blast reading this book! It had so many elements that I love, fake dating, reality TV, football, cupcakes! This was a perfect end of summer romance book to read! It was such a breeze to read and get sucked into this world. The supporting characters really shined as well. My only complaint is that now I want cupcakes. Badly.

It was a very light, a little cheesy (in a very good way), and lovely book to read. I hope there is a sequel!

I feel bad but could not get into this book. I love the premise but something was off for me. It was a slow build that did not give me the angst I look for.

Easy, fun read but a bit predictable. Glad I read it! It was a good vacation book for poolside reading

It was very cute. Jada Donovan are the perfect match on paper. Donovan is super sexy (I mean…hello…football playing baker?) and Jada is a reality TV star. I didn’t find myself rooting for them as a couple, but it was a lovely, quick-read story for those who want a cookie cutter, perfect ending. 3.5 stars.

This was a cute, somewhat predictable story. I liked the characters, though I didn’t feel the chemistry between them. I don’t think I’m interested enough in the other characters to read future books in this series.

I’m really enjoying the fake dating trope. I also enjoy steam and angst which this book delivered. I loved how the main characters bounced off each other in this book. It was predictable and fun in an entertaining way.

This book was cute, but really lacked substance. The FMC could come off as a little annoying and the MMC was definitely a little uptight. The only shining moments in the book were when the MMC's teammates were in a scene. I would gladly read a book just about August. This book just didn't do it for me, but I'm sure others will love it.

This book is *chefs kiss*

It took me a bit to pick it up as I'm a mood reader, but once I did, I immediately remembered why I had requested this arc in the first place!

The chemistry between the MCs was amazing and I just loved this story so much

BOOK REVIEW: Fake It Till You Bake It by Jamie Wesley
2022 Publication Date: June 21

⭐️⭐️⭐️️

T.I.M.E. Most Anticipated Books Of 2022

CONNECT WITH A BOOK | T.I.M.E. SIMPLE LIVING TIP
When you are looking for a mate, keep this in mind... If they can cook, you won't have too...

T.I.M.E. BOOK REVIEW:
Often a good chef will "style the plate" so the way the food looks will emulate what you are about to taste. With Fake It Till You Bake It, Jamie Wesley has also styled our plate perfectly for what we are about to read!

What is on the menu? A pro football star who runs a cupcake shop in the off-season — and who also bakes all the cupcakes too!... Paired with a "bougie" gal who has a real talent for tackling him body, mind and soul faster than any NFL defensive line.

Expect this cupcake of a story to arrive with lots of sweet entanglements... With a side of steamy, spicy romance that earns my T.I.M.E. Jalapeno Rating: 🌶🌶 (Medium Spicy).

Perfect for readers who want to take a break with a favorite cupcake and a book to match!...✨😎✨

Pages: 328
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Sub-Genre: Fake Relationship Romance | Steamy Romance
T.I.M.E. Jalapeno Rating:️ 🌶🌶 (Medium Spicy)
Time Period: Present Day
Location: San Diego (California)

IF YOU LIKE THIS BOOK THEN TRY…
Book: Here For The Drama by Kate Bromley
Movie: Green Card

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Fresh off a public shaming as the "woman who turned down the perfect proposal" on a reality dating show, Jada Townsend-Matthews returns home to San Diego determined to lay low and lick her wounds.

But when she takes a job at the city's newest cupcake bakery, Sugar Blitz, she finds herself working alongside the uptight owner and professional football player Donovan Dell.

When a reporter mistakes Jada and Donovan for a couple, they decide to play along and pretend to be in a relationship.

The plan is simple. Keep up the ruse long enough to give Jada a chance to get past the fallout of disappointing the reality dating show's fans. And also help out Sugar Blitz as those same fans are eager to watch this new relationship blossom and grab a dozen cupcakes in the process!

But as they grow closer, Jada and Donovan start to wonder if their fake relationship might just be the real thing...

Fake It Till You Bake It is a perfect "cupcake of a story" to curl up with and enjoy. With its steamy romance and delicious bakery setting, this book is sure to satisfy anyone's sweet tooth!

BOOK CLUB DISCUSSION:
• Can a fake reality lead us to understand the truth?
• Sometimes the best relationships are the ones we least expect.
• Discuss the concept of finding love on a reality show... And why that seems to appeal to an audience

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All my book reviews can be seen at This Is My Everybody | Simple Living | Denise Wilbanks at thisismyeverybody.com/blog/what-book-should-i-read

♡ Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

This is a cute fluffy romance about Donovan, a brawny football player who happens to own a struggling bakery and Jada, a reality tv star who is trying to figure out what do with her life. Despite a disastrous meet cute where Jada insults Donovan's cupcakes, a "what a small world!" coincidence results in Jada taking a job at Donovan's bakery at the insistence of her grandma who is the arbiter of her trust fund and ALSO the owner of the football team that Donovan plays for.

It's another fake dating turned real situation complete with a lot of steamy tension and angst (it's a bit of a slow burn but it does eventually get to the steam). I found the ending a little chaotic and both Donovan and Jada can get a little caricature-y at times but overall its a fun quick read for any romance lover!

Overall this was a super cute concept but the pacing was very off to me and the inevitable breakup scene before they found themselves again just didn’t work. Cute read but some problems.

Fake It Till You Bake It had the perfect ingredients to make an absolutely delectable romance: A cupcake shop, a fake dating trope with a dash of enemies-to-lovers, and a healthy pour of white hot chemistry. It all made for a delicious rom com that left me with a huge smile on my face.

Huge thank you to netgalley and Griffin for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.