Je découvre la plume de l'auteur et j'ai passé un bon moment de lecture avec cette comédie romantique. Nos deux héros devront faire face à l'image qu'ils renvoient aux autres. Même si les raisons sont différentes, ils devront se confronter à la situation pour aller de l'avant.

On ne peut pas dire que leur première rencontre a fait des étincelles car elle sera teintée d'une certaine tension. Notre joueur de football star des Knights ne compte pas laisser Jada critiquer de la sorte ses cupcakes. En effet, notre héros mène une activité parallèle, qui peut sembler risible aux yeux de certains mais qui ne l'est pas à ses yeux. Donovan Dell sait ce qu'il veut et il ne compte pas se laisser "insulter" de la sorte.De plus, il doit impérativement trouver une solution pour sauver sa boutique. Ce que j'ai trouvé intéressant est le fait qu'aucun des deux ne connaissait l'image publique de l'autre. Ce sont donc deux personnages qui se sont tombés l'un sur l'autre et qui n'ont jamais joué la comédie en se découvrant. Pourtant, ils devront bel et bien feindre une relation afin de sauver les meubles. Donovan est soutenu par son ami et associé Nicholas et donc il peut dans un certain sens gérer la pression médiatique. De plus, son image est positive donc il n'a rien à regretter. J'ai aimé ce héros qui saura démontrer à Jada qu'elle n'est pas celle qu'on dépeint dans les médias et qu'elle peut agir comme bon lui semble. On pourrait en quelque sorte parler de enemies to lovers avec cette romance qui saura nous charmer.

Jada Townsend-Matthews est sous le feu des projecteurs car elle a participé à une émission de télé réalité mais elle a osé dire non au Dr John Timmeman. Elle est donc depuis victime des foudres des réseaux sociaux qui seront très vindicatifs. Elle n'a de compte à rendre à personne mais malheureusement les médias ne l'entendent pas de cette façon là. En travaillant à Sugar Blitz le magasin de cupcakes de Donovan, elle va tenter de renverser la tendance et utiliser les médias ainsi que les réseaux sociaux à bon escient. Ce ne sera pas facile car les rapaces rodent et certains seront prêts à tout pour obtenir le scoop de l'année. De plus, John n'a pas dit son dernier mot et semble vouloir jouer le dernier acte d'une pièce de théâtre dont elle est, sans le vouloir, l'héroïne. Pourra t elle trouver le véritable amour au coeur de ce chaos. Rien n'est moins sûr mais ce qui est certain, c'est que Jada va évoluer au fil des pages et que nous allons l'apprécier de plus en plus à sa juste valeur.

Bref, si vous lisez en VO et que vous avez envie d'une délicieuse romance qui saura nous ravir au fil des pages, je ne peux que vous conseiller de lire ce roman de Jamie Wesley. Tous les ingrédients sont réunis pour que la sauce prenne et que nos héros se régalent en partageant de bons moments.

This is such a fun book. Let me be upfront and say this was a SLOOOW burn and the fake dating was cute but this book stalled for sure in parts. This book was rather predictable but it was good overall and having a book with a more diverse cast was great.

I got a free e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This will be a spoiler-free review.

I was pretty excited to read this review but about halfway through I wanted to DNF this book. My biggest problem with this book is the characters. I really didn't like Jada (the MFC) and that didn't change throughout the book. I didn't really care for Donovan...so overall I didn't really care for the relationship or anything they did in general. 

Jada is a spoiled brat who is selfish and only cares about herself. I also don't like the constant victim mentality she has. The entire book is about her feeling sorry for herself and how hard she has it and it was really annoying. I just didn't like her especially since we first meet her and she's rude to Donovan for literally no reason. She's just an unlikeable character to me.

I felt this book was very anticlimactic and I really didn't like the ending of it. I don't understand the drama that happened at the end and it felt very pointless and dramatic for no reason...the book could have ended sooner with no problem in my opinion...the extra drama was unnecessary.

I can understand why people like this book because I don't think it's terrible...I just really dislike the characters which made it impossible for me to enjoy the book or even become remotely invested in the story. However, I'm way more interested in August and Nicholas so if they get books I'll consider picking those up. 

Overall this book wasn't for me. I say go ahead and give it a shot if you think it sounds interesting because I am definitely in the minority when it comes to my feelings about this book.

This book was soooo cute and super sweet (; Fake relationship meets baking and I ate it all up! This was an easy and fun read. Perfect for a vacation or a day at the beach. I definitely recommend picking this one up!

Rating: 3.25

Fake It Till You Bake It was a decent read, while there were some cute and amusing moments I unfortunately just didn’t connect with the main characters.

It is dual POVs and has some great tropes like: opposites attract, fake dating and a workplace romance.

The overall plot was fairly enjoyable, the baking and social media aspect was entertaining and well written. I will say though, there was a lot of repetitive dialogue and some moments that didn’t quite flow. The timeline of the story was also a bit confusing to be honest.

The main characters and their storylines felt a bit one-dimensional. I would have liked just a bit more development or background on them, as it was hard to connect with them at times. The character growth that did occur happened at the last moment and was very rushed.

The romantic development between them was pretty good. Their banter and chemistry was great but there were a few moments that did feel a bit forced. There were also a few spicy scenes that I quite enjoyed.

The last few chapters however, weren’t my favorite; the story just fizzled out for me to be honest. Everything seemed pretty rushed and the conflict resolved itself too quickly. The epilogue was quite heartwarming though.

Overall, just an okay read with some charming moments.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was super cute!! I love fake dating and enemies to lovers, and the cupcakes/football background was a fun setting. Jada gave me a little bit of Eve Brown vibes which was very fun.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book, my thoughts are my own.

This is a review I wanted to post earlier, unfortunately life happens and COVID got to me, it still has me, but I figured I would write a short review before I get even sicker.

So here it is, this book was okay.
There's nothing wrong with an okay book, it just didn't grip me or make me fall utterly and completely in love with it. I liked it enough and it was a quick read, the setting was nice and I enjoyed the overall storyline and characters. It simply did not have that "je ne sais quoi" that makes me love a romance and eternally root for a character/characters and their romance.
I love sports romance and fake dating, so I had been hoping to really love this one.
Unfortunately it wasn't the case, maybe my expectations were too high, there's a lack of discussion or agreement when Donovan takes control of some aspects of our FL life. This annoyed me a lot and is a HUGE personal red flag, I don't care if she grows from it, if it has a positive aspect and result.
The conversation ends when there were no prior boundaries established, no conversation of mutual consent for that power exchange between them.
That is what annoyed me in the book, the rest of it was a nice quick read, that I really enjoyed overall, just again did not love unfortunately.

3/5 stars
Bookarina.

Such a fun debut from Jamie Wesley. I loved the mashup of business, sports, and baking in this fake relationship to romance trope. The characters were easy to love. They were so endearing that I was seeing series opportunities in every chapter. The pacing slowed towards the middle, but still felt like a solid beach read. I wholeheartedly recommend this to fans of Bromance Book Club and Spark House Series books.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review.

If you like baking shows and bachelorette you’ll love this book. It was cute. I’m not one for insta love stories but this one kept me intrigued. It wasn’t my favorite but wasn’t my least favorite either. I enjoyed Donovan’s sensitive side and I loved jadas spitfire personality. There seemed to be a lot of side stories going on and that took away from the romance and their relationship for me. Overall it was a solid 3 star.

Thank you netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this early.

Okay let’s start off with the blurb!

“A reality star and a cupcake-baking football player pretend to be a couple in order to save his bakery in this sweet and sexy romance from Jamie Wesley, Fake It Till You Bake It”

I personally love a good fake dating romance and this one did not disappoint at all. I really enjoyed the storyline and the characters. This was such a good read!

Review ⭐⭐⭐💫 Fake it Till You Bake It by Jamie Wesley

After refusing a broadcasted proposal to the bachelor sweetheart of the nation on a TV show, Jada is now public enemy number 1. Returning home to lick her wounds and working in a small bakery is her only plan until a reporter bullies her into admitting her boss is actually her boyfriend, which is false, the only thing real between them is banter and butterflies. They decided to keep up the charade after they see the beneficial influence them as a couple have on the bakery. A fake relationship should be simple, but when love comes into the mix, it might be the missing ingredient to both their lives.

CW: Gambling addiction (parent), parental neglect, ableism, online bullying.

I loved this story and this couple, they were adorable together and their banter was entertaining and made their chemistry so steamy! To be honest this book was almost a four/high four, but I did not like the last 20% of the book. I thought it completely missed the mark unfortunately. That extra conflicted was not needed at all and made the resolution and their happy ever after feel forced and it shouldn't have been because of how awesome they were a s a couple.

Thank you to the publisher for sending me an arc through Netgalley. As always, all thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.

What a fun story! Jada has so much personality and brings a few stories with her. Those parents, what a shame. And a reality show? I am not a fan of reality TV but have family that just love the shows. So love her character in the bakery. Her grandma is pretty cool too. Donovan is pretty neat. He hides his fears and his interactions with he friends is fun to read. I like the story and how the relationship develops.

Shaky start for me regarding Jada (okay, I disliked her intensely), but that didn't last long as the characters were revealed, letting you know why they were that way and ultimately understanding and liking Jada. You learn it's fake bravado, but it came across as witchiness with a capital B to me, but when you learn of her family's condescension and the fan hate, I guess she had a reason. Although do it against the people wronging you and not against a bakery (someone's livelihood) that never did anything to her (I guess we wouldn't have book though, if she hadn't. {shaking head}) Also, she changed a little too quickly from the beginning scenes to an average human dealing with a lot and why I took one star off. Donovan was great for all his buttoned-up-ness and such a sweet guy with wells of patience which allowed us to get to know the real Jada and see some character progression from both of them. They balanced each other out well. In the end, a sweet story with ups and downs and finally, a happy ending. Donovan's friends were funny and it should be interesting to see what the author has planned for them.

Thank you Jamie Wesley for a fun romance to read. You will enjoy the characters, cupcakes and romance. Happy Reading!

I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy of this book through Netgalley. And these are my honest opinions about it.

After turning down a proposal on a reality dating show, Jada Townsend-Matthews is receiving quite the backlash. She starts working at a cupcake shop in San Diego, alongside the owner Donovan Dell — a professional football player. When they are mistaken as a couple, they realize that pretending to be a couple would help bring more customers to the shop and help Jada’s image.

As a fan of reality dating shows, I loved all of the talk of being there for the ~right~ reasons, capitalizing on social media after the show, etc. The book takes place after the show aired, but there is still lots of talk about her experience on the show, which I loved! I am not a big fan of baking (or cooking in general 😂) so while I couldn’t relate to the joy of baking cupcakes, I still thought it was a cute premise. I didn’t necessarily feel connected to the characters — but I liked how different Jada and Donovan were. They complimented each other well.

Fake It Till You Bake It is a cute story with various elements that I enjoy. I was just hoping to love it more than I did!

Read if you like ~
🧁 baking
🧁 fake dating
🧁 reality dating shows
🧁 opposites attract
🧁 enemies to lovers

First, thank you to netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to read and give an honest review!

This was such a sweet read, pun totally intended. Fake It Til You Bake It will in face give you cavities from its sweetness.

Jada and Donovan spent a fair amount of time denying their feelings, building up the tension with superb banter, and then finally coming to that incredible moment… like finally sinking your teeth into the most delicious cupcake!

I did notice a couple of grammatical/spelling errors, which for me can be distracting and take me out of the story a bit. And I found at times that it was a little repetitive (we’re told quite frequently about Jada’s desire to get through the six months and get her trust fund early on in the book). Also, I felt that the tone of the dialogue didn’t always match the character description (Jada and Donovan have a fun banter… but he’s described as a curmudgeon, he just doesn’t always seem that way. It made that uptight description seem a bit forced).

Overall, though, I absolutely loved this book and would very likely read it again and recommend it to anyone who loves a storyline like this one! Looking for something with a kitchen food fight scene?? Hell yea, this is the one for you!!

Oh me oh my. I can’t even express to you how thoroughly I enjoyed “Fake It Till You Bake It” by Jamie Wesley and how badly I am craving a cupcake.

Jada and Donovan, our enemies to lovers/fake dating couple, are magnetic and one of my favorite romcom couples. They had incredible chemistry and I looked forward to seeing them on page together every single time. I also loved them as individuals who have their own issues and are working on that. I felt a kinship with Jada, who like many in their mid-twenties is just Trying To Figure It Out. I adored Donovan and really appreciated what Jamie Wesley did with his character and his relationship with being financially stable. It was incredibly relatable.

I also love love loved the side characters. From Mrs. T to Olivia to Nicholas and August (who I CANNOT wait to hear more from). I’m thinking we’re getting a sequel or companion novel following August, but I am also very much looking forward to hearing more from Nicholas hopefully. I think I stan? I love a good player turned serious monogamous trope, what can I say.

Something I found super refreshing with “Fake It Till You Bake It” was that we got our classic tropes, but we weren’t burdened by a lack of communication between the love interests. Jada and Donovan were always so honest with each other in moments when most romcoms take a turn and everything falls apart because of miscommunication. Spoiler for the end (if you don’t want to see spoilers, skip the rest of this paragraph): I fully thought when Lila was blackmailing Jada, that Jada would leave Donovan in order to protect him and explain none of the situation–not that she is the type of character who would do that! Her going to him is exactly what she would and did do, but I have romcom trauma. Usually that’s the part where secrets and miscommunication run wild. It was really nice seeing a fully healthy relationship represented on page.

Anyway, I really loved this book and these characters and the representation and I hope to read more from Jamie Wesley soon.

Fake It Till You Bake It by Jamie Wesley is a smoking hot read! Cute, light, a fun read if you are a fan of the "fake dating that becomes real" trope. Fake It Till You Bake It also looks at family relationships and the ways that family expectations can cause damage. There is also the opposites attract trope here as well. One warning - you will walk away wanting cupcakes!

So i really tried to get into this book, but i did not like the characters at all. I am all for fake-dating but i just kept reading and reading and could not get into these characters and their story.

I have an infatuation with rom-coms centered around food. This book was no exception. I loved the cupcakes and the relationship in this story. Loved the enemies-to-lovers trope.