Such a cute romantic comedy. Lighthearted and heartwarming. I loved the storyline, the character development! Very well-written and looking forward to reading more from this author.

Have a cupcake or two on hand when you read this book. This is a fun, lighthearted romance with fake dating and enemies to lovers. A reality TV star and a pro football player come together to pretend they are a couple. Let the fun begin! Somewhat predictable, but a quick read.

This is a deliciously cute rom-com! It has everything from a meet cute that has Jada insulting Donovan's bakery thus turning them into semi-enemies, to a fake-dating scheme, and to all the yummy cupcakes. This is for those who love their romances light and funny with a side of some more serious topics. A great summer read!

Donovan Dell is a successful professional football player for the Knights and the co-owner of Sugar Blitz, a new cupcakery in San Diego. WIth profits declining for the past six weeks, he knows he needs to do something to keep his dream alive.

Jada, granddaughter of the Knight’s owner, is a reality show star who is hated because she turned down a marriage proposal from the show’s bachelor on national TV. When her grandmother proposes she work for Donovan to gain some real world experience, neither Jada nor Donavan think it is a good fit. However, when word gets out that Jada and Donovan are dating, Sugar Blitz becomes the newest hotspot in town.

Fake It Till You Bake It checks all of my boxes on paper: meet-cute, fake relationship, friends-to-lovers, and cupcakes. Jada is no-nonsense and freely gives her opinions. Donovan is a number-crunching, reserved man who doesn’t care for all of the negative social media attention following Jada. They clash, but there is a strong attraction and mutual respect. However, when backed into a corner, Jada implies Donovan is her boyfriend. Thinking Donovan would rebuke the lie, she’s surprised that he plays along. And both are shocked at the positive responses, which lead to more sales. Of course, there is only so long they can pretend when the attraction is so strong. I appreciate that Jada took the time to figure out who she is before committing to something bigger.

As cute and perfect the book should have been, something was lacking for me. The premise is perfect: a bit of sports, fake dating, finding one’s self… but I never fully got into the story, and there isn’t one specific reason why. The characters are enjoyable, likable, and together they make an adorable couple, yet both fell a bit flat. Donovan’s character isn’t all that memorable, and Jada had all of the issues. Additionally, I didn’t care for the storyline involving the TV producer who wanted to connect with Jada. The whole thing felt a bit contrived and unrealistic. And finally, a huge pet-peeve of mine, the couple literally gets their HEA on the last page of the book.

In the end, I really wanted to love Fake It Till You Bake It but I just didn’t. Still, if you enjoy fake relationships, reality TV, and cupcakes, this one may be a winner for you.

My Rating: B-

3 Stars
This had a lot going for it...
I mean who doesn't love cupcakes! Also, the man is an NFL player, big, manly, and yum. He crosses paths with a woman who was a reality player...she is feeling the wrath of the social media public because she turned down the coveted proposal on Nation Wide TV.

Due to a number of situations, she starts working at the cupcake store, a reporter thinks he has a scoop of them being a couple, and both decide to make a go of the scheme to make the store popular and her more Social Media Loved.

It is opposites together, attracted and fake becoming true.

Getting to happily ever after has bumps in the road for Jada and Donovan. From instant attraction to internet famous gone wrong, the couple finally figures out what is holding them back and get past the family baggage and their past relationships to find love and a forever together. Throw in some really good cupcakes and you have a great romantic read.

Fake It Till You Bake It by Jamie Wesley is out today. Thank you @stmartinspress for a review copy.

Fake dating in a cupcake shop with a hint of celebrity culture? Don’t mind if I do.

Jada made it to the finale of a popular dating show just to turn down “Mr. Perfect” and now she is unsure of what to do next all while being bashed online. Donovan owns a cupcake bakery that isn’t doing as well as hoped while waiting for his pro football contract to be renewed.

Jada ends up working at the cupcake store and they end up fake dating to bring customers to the store and to distract people from the dating show.

This was a fun read. Great for the summer, especially if you have access to cupcakes because it will definitely make you hungry. Jada also has dyslexia and I liked the way it was discussed.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. This was my first book by this author. It was a sweet light hearted romance with a HEA ending.
Donovan owns a bakery with his 2 best friends and they also are all NFL players. However, the bakery isn't doing as good as they had hoped and are trying to find a way to keep their dream alive. Headed to ask his NFL boss Mrs. T for pointers. He never dreamed he would leave with a new employee.
Jada just hasn't found her way yet. She's trying but always ends up failing and making more of a mess for her life. She has a meeting with her grandmother, owner of the Knights football team and hopes she can talk her into letting her have her trust fund early. But her grandmother has a different idea.
Really enjoyed this book and can't wait to see what happened to August!

Fake It Till You Bake It is an adorable romcom about an NFL star who owns a cupcake store with some of teammates who ends up in a fake relationship with the granddaughter of the owner of his team to help her quell rumors after she rejected a proposal on a Bachelor kind of show. I mean, a fake dating trope mixed with football players who bake and a reality tv show star, how perfect is that? Really, this book just brought me joy, particularly during a really stressful week. It was sweet and mushy with witty banter, goofy supporting characters, laugh out loud moments and a make you weak at the knees romance. The perfect escape.

An NFL player that bakes cupcakes? I don't know about you, but that's all you have to give me to sell me on a book. Something about big and tough but with a sweet side just calls to me.

Jada has recently returned home after rejecting a proposal on a reality dating show. She finds herself working for Sugar Blitz, a new cupcake bakery, with NFL player Donovan as her boss. But a simple reporter misunderstanding turns into a chance to save the bakery from going under and fix Jada's reputation with a simple catch-- Jada and Donovan have to fake dating. How hard could it be?

Fake dating is a trope I find myself picking up again and again. They can often be a little predictable, but I think most stories are and that does not take away any of the cuteness, or steamy moments, between these two. Their chemistry is addicting and there's not just the sweet, fluffy moments as we see some more complicated moments and how they impact our lives: addiction (gambling), social media, family influence. Not only was I smiling my way through, but shedding more than a few tears during these deeper scenes.

Emotional and captivating, I couldn't help but be drawn to this short, but memorable, read.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Jamie Wesley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a cute romantic comedy with a slow burn, fake relationship. Jada and Donovan meet under unusual circumstances and end up working together. Parts made me smile and Jada's struggle to find her place in the world was at moments sad. I'm sure we will being seeing more of these characters in future books.

I loved this book. I mean how do you say no to beautiful main characters, cupcakes and comedy.

I enjoyed reading about these characters, they have a little meet cute thing going on here, maybe a smidge of enemies to lovers. It was a little over the top with the "bad guy" and I honestly didn't believe that part but I was already so in love with Jada that I just cruised past it.

This is a great summer read, it's quick and easy. The characters are likable and the story isn't too deep. It would be best read by the pool or in the sun.

He's black, he plays football AND he bakes cupcakes?! What more could you want in a love interest? 2022 is the year of black romance and I am devouring everything that is being published, this book was no exception. I loved this story. The chemistry between our main characters created the most beautiful dynamic and it made the story so fun to read. The love was a little quick, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

Thank you #Netgalley for an early read of #FakeitTillyouBakeit

Such a delicious, sweet treat! Fake dating while baking by gorgeous footballers – how fun is that??

Jada Townsend-Matthews is a social influencer currently being ravaged by on-line trolls for refusing a marriage proposal from the “bachelor” on a wildly popular reality show. She’s in hiding and trying to blend in some place where nobody knows her. Jada and her bestie walk into a cupcake shop and the owner challenges her to deny the yumminess of his pastries.

Donovan is a pro footballer and cupcake entrepreneur as a side gig. He co-owns Sugar Blitz with his baller buddies and is thrown off by the beauty currently side-eyeing his cupcakes. At a meeting with his team owner, Mrs. T (AKA Jada’s Grandma), Jada coincidentally walks in looking for employment advice from “Grams” (AKA Donovan’s Mrs. T). Grams offers Jada as an option to help Donavan’s bakery up its game in the cupcake playing arena.

Jada’s sucky meddling parents are cutting her off and she has several months before she can gain access to the trust fund her Grams has set up for her. So, she NEEDS the job – being an impulsive and insecure trust fund socialite isn’t going to pay the bills her lifestyle requires. Donovan has based his life on setting goals and sticking to obtaining those goals in an orderly fashion. In other words, no time for any drama queens.

A pesky on-line entertainment blogger/journalist recognizes Jada at the register. Suddenly there is a real kiss (for show) and the couple is thrust into a fake dating relationship and another social media blast. Lots of back and forth – are they fake dating or should they really take the chance on a real relationship hilariousness. Once the jilted “bachelor” shows up begging for Jada to reconsider her marriage refusal, Donovan knows Jada is it for him. Sorry, too late -- now she decides she needs to find out if she can make it on her own. Don’t worry they get their HEA in a grand finale, and it is swoon-worthy for sure.

Fake It Till You Bake It is a funny, charming and sexy read. Jamie Wesley does a superb job of mixing the humor (come on, a cupcake baking football player) and the craziness of the social media bullying obstacles. She also weaves some fun side characters who will be making MVP appearances of their own in future installments. Overall, an enjoyable, Instagram worthy rom-com for the summer beach reading season.

I was provided an ARC from St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an honest review.

This book was okay. It was very predictable with an "enemies to fake lovers to actual lovers" trope. I didn't feel a connection with the characters so that's one of the reasons for only rating this book 3 stars. This book should be able to stand out because of the diversity and POC representation, but I just really didn't like the main character Jada combined with that I feel like I've read a bunch of different cupcake/dessert/bakery romances in the past and I'm just kind of over them. I had higher hopes for this book, but it just felt like it fell flat.

Sadly I didn't enjoy this. I made it to half way and I was just bored. There was only one kissing scene and it lacked consent. Nothing else was really happening. She was going back and forth to work at the cupcake shop and people were rude because of who she was.. It just kept going on and on that way.
There was never any real world building. It was just like telling us the setting but not telling us anything about it. If you're going to say something is sterile, tell us why. I know Donovan said he thought the steel was great, but I would have liked it more had they been talking about the way the place smelled, and what drew people to it. I guess I just wanted more.
Maybe this is because I built this up too much in my head. I was thinking of that bakery by football players in Austin, Tx (since I'm in Texas) and maybe I was too eager for it to be like that? I don't know, but I just couldn't get into it. This review is a bit after pub date because I had planned to listen to the audio so I could at least finish it, but there wasn't one.
This was one of my most anticipated books of the year. And unfortunately, it didn't deliver for me. I was bored and I wanted more. Just more everything. (Well everything besides the repetition lol)

We all know how much I love romances set around food, and Fake It Till You Bake It is no exception. It is a quick and easy read that had me smiling throughout the book.

I loved the progression of Jada and Donovon’s relationship. Of course, it was obvious that they would end up in a real relationship, but I truly enjoyed going on the journey with them. Donovon clearly respects and cares for Jada and is willing to stand up for her when she is belittled by her parents. Jada not only comes into her own professionally while working for Sugar Blitz, but she also helps the business develp and grow. It is clear as you read that they make each other better as romantic partners should.

I appreciated that Fake It Till You Bake It turned gender norms on their head. It is a group of professional football players who own and run the cupcake bakery, and the young woman who comes to work for them almost burns down the shop. Similarly, many owners of NFL teams are men, but the San Diego Knights is owned by a powerful woman of color.

I’ve been reading a lot of books recently with different takes on Bachelor-style dating shows, and it was interesting to get the perspective of someone who had been on the show and experienced negative reprecussions from turning down a proposal on the show. It sets Jada up as someone with integrity as she was unwilling to get engaged just for the sake of television. The book also sets up Dr. John, her potential fiancé as someon akin to a comic book villain.

I do enjoy when a romance novel highlights the main characters’ relationships with their families. I love that Jada is close to her grandmother and wants to prove herself to her. The book also begins with a conversation Donovon has with his sister. Of course, Fake It Till You Bake It also addresses Donovon’s strained relationship with gambling addict father and the ways Jada’s parents make her feel inadequate. These familial relationships shine a light on the way Jada and Donovon behave in romantic relationships.

I was expecting Jada and Donovon to break up at some point towards the end of the book, but the way it happens felt abrupt and forced. It made the ending feel a little rushed and like Wesley was just trying to hit certain expected points in the story.

Of course, I immediately had to get a cupcake upon finishing Fake It Till You Bake It. Grab a cupcake and dig into this delightful romance.

“Fake it Till You Bake It” was a cute book, but the development of the main couple’s romance just felt so rushed to me. I didn’t really get to root for them because it was so sudden with little anticipation, which I found hard to become emotionally attached to. The bedroom scene was hot, but I believe there was only one and given he quick development of their attraction/relationship, I was a bit surprised by that. I appreciated the inclusion of showing why stereotypes can’t be trusted, Black medical statistics, and learning disabilities inclusion. It was a decent romance, but not one of my faves. 3 stars ⭐️. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley.

Read/Listen If You Like:
❤️ Romances in the Spotlight
❤️ Fake Dating
❤️ Enemies to Lovers
❤️ Dual POV
❤️ Slow Burn

Book Review:
This was a cute slow burn Romcom with the premise of fake dating that was mutually beneficial as Donovan’s cupcake shop needed the business that their public fake dating was bringing to the shop and Jada needed her reputation to be rehabbed after dumping an eligible bachelor on national TV.

What I liked: the banter and build up of their relationship through the fake dating and the interconnection between them to help along the storyline of their fake dating scheme. I also liked the length and payoff of the slow burn as they didn’t jump right into bed and didn’t do so until they declared real feelings for each other.

What I didn’t like: the references to Donovan being a “principal” and Jada being a student that was in trouble when he would talk in stern ways as her boss. It just felt weird and creepy to describe it in that way when I think of principal and student being completely unacceptable dynamic and frankly gross to reference.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of this book! I am so grateful to obtain a copy to read in advance of its release in exchange for my honest feedback!

4.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The title and the cover originally pulled me in and then I read the synopsis and I knew it was going to be a book I would enjoy.

I struggled to get into it at first because I wasn't really liking the characters. Jada comes off as a ditzy spoiled rich girl who doesn't care about anything but fashion and looking pretty and I wasn't getting on with Donovan's personality. That being said the further into the book I got the more and more I started liking the characters and the more you find out there is more to them then what meets the eye.

This is a fake dating, opposites attract romance. I would say there is a little bit of instalust happening as well, but I didn't mind that. With fake dating I always expect something to happen that will break the couple up in the end for them to inevitably get back together a few pages later. There was a lot of things happening that I was sure was going to break them up, but they always stuck together, and I loved that which is why when the breakup still happened it came out of the blue and really didn't make sense to me.

This book was funny with a little bit of steam thrown in as well as dealing with some hard topics. I hope the author plans to write more books because I would love to get a book for Donovan's other 2 friends as well as Jada's friend.