Reality star meets cupcake-baking football player and pretend to be a couple. The fake relationship has its benefits. Jada is trying to rehab her public image; she turned down a proposal on a reality dating show. Donovan's new cupcake bakery needs good publicity and a solid customer base. When Jada finds herself working at the bakery (thanks to a meddling good-hearted grandmother), a reporter mistakes them for a couple so they roll with it.

When a main character is unlikeable, it is very hard for me to fully enjoy the story. Jada was a whining, selfish, clueless young woman that didn't appreciate the opportunities in her path. Donovan seemed charming and headstrong, essentially a catch. Jada's first impression was of her talking shit about Donovan's bakery. It was downhill from there for me.

Funny one liners and the writing style is what kept me reading to the end. If you like cute fake-to-fall-in-love stories, then read Fake It Till You Bake It. Otherwise, you can skip this one.

Happy Pub Day, Jamie Wesley! Fake It Till You Bake It is now available.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins.

~LiteraryMarie

4.5 stars = I loved it! Would re-read.

This was delightful! I loved the chemistry between the two characters as well as the premise (Professional football players who launch a cupcake business). Each character's development was interesting (although Jada's was emphasized more) and satisfying. The pacing was perfect - nothing dragged, and new developments kept me turning pages. But the end I had my fingers crossed that this was kicking off a series starring the three business partners/football players, and the ending makes me believe that is where this is headed. And I am here for all of it - highly recommend! (Language, sex)

3.5/5
POC romance featuring baked goods, hate to love, fake dating, in a sports background (though this is not so prominent), grumpy sunshine,.. really it has all the tropes I love in a romance book!

But to be honest, I didn't fall in love with the characters' instantly. I found Jada a little too jarring and Donovan a little too uptight (in not a very good way) in the beginning. But slowly and surely I saw their characters growing and evolving. I liked Jada's sass and I liked how steadfast Donovan was, and their chemistry! Could have done without repetition (9 times, I counted) of the word "bougie" however.

All in all, a quick light hearted read. Extra props for positive portrayal of dyslexia!

This one is a fun combination of fake dating and a foodie romance! Jada takes a job at a bakery after talking bad about in front of the owner to try convince her grandmother that she is capable of keeping a job. Donovan is the owner of the cupcake shop that Jada insulted but he realizes he needs more customer so agrees to take Jada on so she can boost sales. Donovan and Jada soon start a fake relationship to help each of them with their public images, Donovan for his store and Jada because after turning down a proposal on national TV both could use some good press. I really enjoyed their relationship, it started out fake but both realized pretty soon that there was more there. I will say I could have used a little more on Donovan being a professional athlete. This book took place over a good chunk on time and it was never discussed that he would be away for a lot of time for games and practices. I also really enjoyed the family relationships in this book as well as the friendships. I always enjoy when the characters have great relationships with other people in books. This one does get steamy in case you like or don't like that. Thank you St. Martin's Press for my #gifted copy for review!

such a cute rom com!! These characters had amazing chemistry and i could not put the book down! I loved the interactions and the fake dating. I cannot say no to fake dating ever!! I think fans of romance will love this one.

🧁Fake It Till You Bake It
Author: Jamie Wesley ( @jamiewesleywrites )

🥰: Huge thank you to @netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

🗓Release Date: June 21st, 2022

👩🏾‍💻: Wait, hold up.. fake dating, black love, and a football player all in one book? Need I say more? First and foremost, happy late pub day to this cute, light-hearted read that was published yesterday. If you need a quick read to get you out of your slump then this is just the novel for you with its hilarious banter, pure chemistry, and it’s amazing character development.

This was SUCH a sweet, slow burn enemies to lovers, fake dating romance between Jada, a former reality star with dyslexia and Donovan, a NFL football player turned cupcake bakery owner who band together to help save his dying business.

The dyslexia rep was a surprise for me but SOOOO well done!! I really felt for Jada and the ways she's learned to compensate for her disability, stand up for the accommodations she needs and deal with less than supportive parents.

This was a fun, somewhat steamy, dual POV romance recommended for fans of Alexa Martin. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

A sweet (pun intended) read, light hearted read. The story features two people who are mistakenly identified as a couple and they take advantage of the situation and fake a relationship. They both hope to improve their circumstances (she has a bad image due to a reality dating show, he is an pro football player with a cupcake business that could use some publicity). A cute, fairly quick read.

I received this eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

And with that, I wish I could give it a better one. Diverse cast, cupcakes, fake-dating. It was right up my alley and I went into it hopeful.

For one, the characters aren’t likeable. And that’s not a requirement in a story but when it comes to romance, I would like to like them at least a little bit. Or maybe it was their chemistry I didn’t like. It wasn’t natural, it really did feel forced.

Jada is dyslexic which was really nice to see and Donovan is stiff, rigid so there was relatability to the characters. It ends there though for me. Especially with Donovan.

Part of that comes down to the harried feeling of the timeline of the book. It feels like it happens very fast. A week, two? More like one. And then, there’s the three month epilogue at the end of the book.

Donovan however is literally possessive. I don’t like possessive men. That’s a huge turn off and it’s honestly disturbing to me. Possession isn’t attractive, partners aren’t property. What makes it worse is he’s like this over a woman that he doesn’t really know. They’re fake dating, they don’t know each other all that well, and this is how he acts?

Dude is literally growling at other men? That’s not hot. It’s frightful.

There is also a sex scene and it’s not good. How is it too long and feeling rushed at the same time? I couldn’t really enjoy the writing of the book at all because there are pacing issue more or less throughout the entire thing.

I desperately wanted to like this book but it wasn’t possible. Flat characters, possessive men and characters who also don’t seem to really be into each other because that was not chemistry, I just couldn’t.

So from me, it get’s a one (1) star rating.

Cupcakes and romance? Say no more! Jamie Wesley’s Fake It Till You Bake It, which comes out on June 21st, is the sweet romance you need this summer!

This romance was so cute and honestly worth reading just for the drool-inducing descriptions of cupcakes in the story.

Fake dating has always been a favorite trope of mine and this one was done so well and just made me love this trope even more!

I loved the different personalities of the main characters and how Jada and Donovan complemented each other. Plus the fact that Donovan is a stern grumpy pants while Jada is a sassy sunshine makes this story even more delicious! Add in a few amazing bestie side characters and you have a recipe for a great romcom!

I seriously need to read August’s book ASAP so I hope it comes out soon! But in the meantime, Donovan and Jada’s story is so much fun and is definitely one to add to your Summer TBR!

*I received an ARC from St. Martin’s Press in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you so much to the publisher and to Netgalley for an arc of this book.

I really wanted to love this one! I liked the dynamics between the characters and I enjoyed the cupcakes and baking! Ultimately I found the pacing was off and that the book needed a bit of an edit, which may have happened with the finished published novel.
Having 2 conflicts happen after the 88% mark did not make sense to me because it led to 2 very fast resolutions that were suppose to be (I think) climaxes in both the story lines and the growth for the characters. , but it ended up falling short for me. I also wish we got more out of the side characters and were able to know them more fully.

This is a fun enemies to lovers story. Jada is a spoiled woman who can't seems to find a place to fit in. When she turns down the latest bachelor on a reality show, she becomes a hated internet sensation. In order to get her trust fund released, her grandmother insists that she try working for a living and has convinced one of the football players on the team she owns to give Jada a job.
Unfortunately, Jada had been in his cupcake store the day before and insulted the product. Donovan agrees to let her work in his shop unaware of the fact that she is an internet sensation. When her drama finds it's way to his store, she convinces him to be her fake boyfriend.
Fake becomes real the longer they interact at the store as they seem to help each other grow and become better people. The interaction between the two is great and the other football owners of the shop add to the fun.
I received an advanced copy of this book in return for an honest review.

In this easy breezy summer read. You will find an enemy to lover, and fake relationship between a reality star (Jada) and a baker ( Donovan). If you enjoyed watching the craziness of the reality show " The Bachelor". "Fake it till you bake It ', offers you a possible storyline of what can happen afterward.
I enjoyed the hilarious banter between the two main characters. Plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. This romance is as sweet as the cupcakes created in Donovan's Bakery. You might even want to get in the kitchen and make up some confectionary treats. I sure did!! Or at least go visit my local baker.

This is such a fantastic and adorable romance. Cupcakes, football, romance, reality shows- all the makings of a heartwarming novel that will warm your heart with its grumpy/sunshine pairing.

Definitely a five star read for me, and will go on my upcoming rec lists!

This was fun and charming and I really enjoyed reading this book. I feel like you definitely have to go with the flow of the quick romance, going from fake romance to real but it worked for me. I loved the football player/bakery owner angle, that is just fun right there. I felt like these two eventually click in a great way, despite their differences and just worked!

✨when there are sexy football player heroes involved, those cupcakes aren’t the only cake I need 😏✨

Tell me what you think about this: I think rom-coms that read like a movie should be labeled that way. The way I would go flocking to the bookstore getting as many of those as I could is embarrassing 😅

This book felt like a sweet warm hug and watching a hallmark movie to unwind after a long day 😍🥺 It is sweet, simple and perfect for those of us looking for a palette cleanser or a simple contemporary to pull us out a book slump.

Tropes:
😏 enemies to friends to lovers
👫🏽 fake dating
📚dyslexic heroine
📹reality tv star heroine
🏈 football player hero
🧁they have to help a struggling bakery
😍 hallmark movie in a book
🙌🏽 own voices representation

Wesley has this way with words and writing descriptions that makes me feel like the book is coming alive in front of me 😍 The entire time I was reading this, a movie was playing in my mind. I loved every moment of this 😍🙌🏽

The characters were well written, the plot was very well paced, the discussion of jada’s dyslexia was addressed seamlessly, and the feel of the book the entire time was easy to read and light-hearted 🙌🏽🙌🏽

I will say, do not go into this book thinking you are going to get a story or characters that are super new and revolutionary. But many times, I am completely alright with that being the case. Sometimes you just need, a good, simple, and no fuss romance book that you can read all in one sitting. This is exactly that book if you are looking for that.

Every now and then, we feel the need to reach for a book that will cause us no fuss, just good feelings. Just sweet, simple romance. Next time you are in that mood, pick this book up 🙌🏽

(Best part? It’s still open door 🤫😏 which I do not find often in these kinds of books)

I can’t wait for the next book!

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 stars | 🌶 .5/ 5 steam

Thank you to SMP Romance, Netgalley, and Jamie Wesley for an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion ❤️

Fake It Till You Bake It is such a sweet read (literally)! Jada and Donovan are so cute together and have the best chemistry. There are so many things I enjoy about this book, from Jada's personality to the vindictive acts of some of side characters/antagonists to the details that make everything come to life. The plot as well was great, especially as someone who likes reality TV, romance, cupcakes, and a good pair of shoes. I think my only complaint is that I was able to put this down for weeks at a time without the insane urge to pick it back up (though that can be blamed on me getting sucked into a smut spiral oops). However, I was able to pick it back up and keep up with it even though I hadn't read it for weeks, which I think is a great trait in a book!

Overall, FITYBI is heaps of fun with lots of sugar and a pinch of spice. I can already feel this becoming a series with the next book being about one of the other bakers! This is definitely a series I'll be continuing if it does, and I look forward to seeing what else the author has to offer!

This book had some of my favorite romance elements and just the blurb captured my attention.

Fake relationship
Sports romance (football to boot which is my favorite sport)

I couldn't wait to dive into this book and it did not disappoint! It was a sweet, cute and easy read and that is what's needed sometimes. I read this book quite quickly and was enthralled by the chemistry between Jada and Donovan. All in all I would definitely recommend this book.

LOVED this one! Fake dating is one of my favorite tropes to start with and this was done so well. Their banter was so good and the relationship and individual character development was so fun to read.

Fake It Till You Bake It has been high on my TBR for months, and I was so lucky and excited to have been accepted for an arc. I had very high hopes for this book, so much so that I predicted it would be a 5 star read.
I was absolutely right.
Fake It Till You Bake It portrayed one of the most refreshingly mature and healthy relationships I’ve seen in a rom com. Jada and Donovan were open and honest with each other and tackled (pun intended) conflicts together rather than let them tear them apart. The tension was tangible and the banter top notch, and I loved how the characters contrasted and complimented each other. Fake dating is one of my favourite tropes and Jamie Wesley absolutely did it justice. FITYBI was fun and original, while still bearing everything I love about a classic trope. On numerous occasions I was nearly startled by how healthy the connection between the main characters was. Miscommunication was rare and never lasted long, and they stood by each other through thick and thin. Jamie Wesley truly captured the ideal relationship through the beautiful love story of Jada and Donovan.
Beyond the romance, I loved all the side characters (and disliked those I was meant to!) and I can’t wait to see more of them in future books!

Overall, an easy 5/5 stars and I cannot wait for the next instalments in this series of interconnected standalones! I cannot wait to pick up a physical copy 💗