I found Fake It Till You Bake It to be a cute fake dating romance. There were points that I felt it was a little slow, but overall I enjoyed reading it. It's possible that I felt it was slow because when I read it I was tired so I missed some things. I am very much looking forward to reading the second book in this series with August as the lead.
I enjoyed that the male lead, Donovan, wasn't just a macho jock, while he was a professional football player we hardly saw him in his role as a player, we primarily saw him working as a baker in the cupcake bakery that he owns with some of his buds. I really liked that we got to see him as a more than a jock, which can be an over played trope. But him also having a side hustle with the hobby he loves, that is traditionally seen as a feminine hobby was so refreshing.
I also thought it was nice to see the female lead Jada, embracing her learning disability and learning that she doesn't have to be defined by it. I also liked that when she was on the dating show that seemed very similar to the Bachelor she wasn't willing to compromise when it came to love, while she liked the bachelor on the show, she didn't see them having a future together and didn't want to lead him on future. The fact that she became a viral internet sensation was an unfortunate consequence of her decision but she stands by it.

This was a super cute fake dating story. Donovan is a super serious football player that owns a bakery. And Jada is the most hated woman on reality tv. The two really started off rocky when Jada made comments about the bakery but when they started, “fake dating” the two became really close. It was cute, I liked their friendly banter, the way that Donovan helped Jada overcome her insecurities and how Jada helped Donovan break his barriers down as well. Jada kept Donovan on his heels he was so out of his league. Opposites attract and when they bring out the best in one another, it is 10x better. I enjoyed this read. I received a arc from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I loved everything about this book! I am always attracted to books that deal with fake romance and baking so this one was calling my name, but man I didn't think I would love it as much as I did. I just felt like the characters were fabulous and I appreciated the cute bakery. I can't wait to read more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley, St Martin’s Press and Jamie Wesley for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this one since I requested it without reading much of the synopsis - I’m a sucker for baking romances now! I loved the characters and the storyline. It was actually quite unique and I loved seeing another aspect to the athlete in this novel because we really hear next to nothing about his career as he plans for what comes after. The banter was amazing and I would definitely recommend!

Thank you to Netgalley + the publishers for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"Fake It Till You Bake It" by Jamie Wesley, in which a reality star and a cupcake-baking football player pretend to be a couple in order to save his bakery.

When reality star Jada Townsend-Matthew finds herself working at San Diego's newest cupcake bakery, Sugar Blitz, she ends up working with pro football player Donovan Dell. A reporter mistakes them as a couple. so the two decide to embark in a fake relationship. Since they both can benefit from the fake relationship, what could go wrong?

"Fake It Till You Bake It" is a sweet story about faking it till you make it, literally. Making baked goods that is.

I’m a sucker for fake dating AND opposites attract so this already had my interest before I started. The characters had amazing chemistry and loved the heat factor.

I loved this little story so much! It’s everything I want in a romance: sweet, funny, and spicy. I loved Jada and Donovan so much. I loved their backgrounds and their growth throughout the book. The supporting characters were great, too. Mrs. T was a firebird. I am a sucker for the fake dating trope and I feel like this one was done so well. I will definitely read another one by this author!

One of my favourite tropes to read is the fake dating/engaged trope but it is so rarely done well. I loved how this book grabbed the trope and made it work in the best possible ways. I also enjoyed that the two people who are “in a relationship” have so little knowledge of each other but that just makes it all the more fun.

The blatant nod to The Bachelor made me chuckle and the Sugar Blitz made me hungry. (I will admit that I am still not interested in football but I will read more about August and Nicholas if there are more books.) The characters charmed me with the friendships and the lively interactions. There was just so much in this world that I enjoyed.

There was one significant sex scene that was easy to skip as I don’t read them. I was happy to find it was not heavy though out the whole book so this could a romance for many readers. I hope you check it out and get a cupcake along the way!

I received an arc via the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Light and entertaining romantic comedy with fun characters and dialogue that made me chortle with laughter. Jada is a trust fund baby trying to discover what she wants to do with her future while football star Donovan has already decided that he wants to run a cupcake bakery. Jada and Donovan have sparks flying in the romance department since she decides that her job will be working with Donovan and he is trying to win her heart over to the deliciousness that are his cupcakes. Jada’a grandmother is the instigator for the two of them ending up together since she gives Jada an ultimatum that she has to have a job for six months before she can get her trust fund money. I loved the interactions between the characters. It was like watching a rom-com on television and imagining who would play each part. Jada was delightfully sarcastic and somewhat spoiled while Donovan was surprisingly humble for a star football player. The setting was perfect, a cupcake bakery and all of the yummy flavors that I could almost taste. I really wanted to visit the Sugar Blitz and get an apple crumb cupcake myself! The story was realistic as well as original and the plot was fast-paced. Of course, the romance between the two protagonists was predictable but it was an engaging read to get the two of them together instead of sparring with one another. The characters were like actors who stepped out of a screen and onto the page, and I enjoyed the development of their budding relationship. This is just a plain fun book to read, with not a lot of drama and a lot of laughs.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

#FakeItTillYouBakeIt:⁣
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Listen, when I hear a quick stand off that sings like an enemies to lovers, I get giddy. I want the enemies so strong that one tried to make a voodoo doll to curse them and instead made a love doll. That’s the enemies I feel. Fake It Till You Bake It is right up there with the enemies to lovers beginning turned fake date. ⁣
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Y’all know I’m down any kind of baking book. Throw in a reality star, yes y’all. Thanks to Farrah Rochon, I’ve been salivating for sports romances, so bam, a hint of football. That’s my recipe for a good romcom. Chef’s kids, case closed. All the other fun sayings. ⁣
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This is probably the 3rd or 4th book I’ve read this month that has someone in the public spotlight getting harassed to the point of it being excessive. I really hope y’all are out here letting people live their lives, regardless of what their profession is. I really liked Donovan and his grumpy, yet patient personality. He seemed like someone you’d love to have in your life. He was so kind and gentle and ugh, I was definitely rooting for him and Jada.⁣
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Beware, you WILL want to raid your nearest bakery for only the best and freshest cupcakes after reading this. I especially craved a chocolate peanut butter one. ❤️⁣
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Overall, a sweet and fun romcom that I breezed through in about a day. It dabbles in a slew of tropes in the best way and I need books on the rest of the crew at Sugar Blitz.⁣
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Thank you so much @smpromance for the gifted copy! Fake It Till You Bake It is out today!⁣
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QOTD: favorite sweet? Mine is definitely a cupcake ❤️

A cute and flirty summer romcom!

There should be no surprise that I enjoyed this book – I LOVE a fake dating trope! Perhaps I love it so much because the characters inevitably reveal little pieces of themselves, sometimes without realizing it. Though both were vulnerable with each other, Jada was exceptionally outspoken and honest, which I loved as an outspoken and honest woman myself. I especially appreciated that Donovan wasn’t intimidated by this; in fact, he was attracted to Jada, and not in spite of it but because of it!

I loved that these big, “manly” football players were not only business savvy, but also amazing bakers, of all things! (Thanks, Jamie Wesley, for smashing gender and athlete expectations!) I do wish Nick and August had made a little more of an appearance in the story, but there seemed to be more to August’s story, plus a cliffhanger that I’m hoping is a segue to a companion series novel. (PLEASE!)

Honestly, my only complaint is that I was expecting Jada to do more baking based on the title but all in all, I enjoyed this book. It opens slowly, but things take off pretty early in the story, and the quick pace remains throughout the rest of the book. If you’re looking for a light and pretty fast read for the summer, I’d recommend this.

A very fun book that I didn’t want to put down. Interesting take on a Bachelor-eske show where the main female character, Jada, rejects the Bachelor. As she faces a lot of social media backlash, her family decides that she needs to grow up and stop being so impulsive. Donovan, our lead male character, does nothing without looking from every vantage point first - whether it’s renewing his contract with his football team or opening up a cupcake shop with his two closest friends. He is never impulsive, and it shows in his failing shop.

I liked how the MCs grew as individuals and how they pushed each other, even before they were a couple. It was about challenging each other to be better, while supporting each other and defending one another. Cute book, fun premise. Gave me the warm fuzzies!

Tropes: enemies to lovers turned fake dating, banter, dyslexia rep

📖Book: Fake It Until You Bake It
⭐️Rating: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
✍🏼Author: Jamie Wesley
📚Genre: Romance
🗏 Pages: 336 – Medium Paced
💕Tropes: Fake Dating, Enemies to Lovers, Hallmark Movies, Open Door, Forced Proximity
⚠️Warnings: Toxic Relationship, Addiction, Ableism, Sexism

After a reality dating show disaster, Jada becomes a social media target, leading her to work at a cupcake bakery. This bakery is owned by the Mr. panties in a bunch - football player, Donvan. When rumors that these two might be dating, the two play along to get some good PR. One thing leads to another, and you have a charming enemies to lovers' romance that will have you drooling for some more. With a decent amount of spice and some cute banter, this will satisfy you all with the sweet deliciousness Jamie has baked up. At times I did feel it was predictable, but with romance novels, most of the time, you know what you are signing up for, and this is what we want. Four stars for the readability of the annoying italics.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and St Martins Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 stars

THIS WAS SO DAMN CUTE. This is what contemporary romance should be!! I absolutely loved this book - I was hooked from the first page. It was witty and funny, and with an ex-NFL MMC who bakes?? What more could you want! If you like contemporary romance in any capacity, READ THIS.

A true light-hearted, contemporary romance that combines all of your favorite troupes: including reality dating and NFL players. As well as the #booktok favorites: fake relationship, enemies to lovers, and opposites attract. The characters are likable and witty - leading to a light and fluffy, yet satisfying romcom.

Grab yourself a cupcake or two as you read this story!

Donovan's career on the field is doing much better than his cupcake shop. Jada's hated because she said no to a proposal on a reality show. Fate, aka her grandmother/his team's owner, throws them together to help Jada find a career and increase sales at Donovan's shop. Win-Win, right? Till they're mistaken for a couple. Faking a relationship leads to real feelings, and then what?

An enjoyable enemies to lovers romance with a pact to work together and fake dating--so much to love!

**received an ARC on netgalley**

I thank Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ecopy in exchange for honest opinion.

Set up in San Diego,Donovan, a football player who also invested in a bakery, is looking to bring the sales up which dwindled down within a month.
Jada is a notorious reality star who turns down proposal on the tv show.
They both end up together at Donovan's cupcake shop and an unexpected situation makes them wonder if they can take advantage that will bring advantage to them both.
Funny, witty and light hearted, this is an amazing book to read on a lazy weekend.

Thank you to SMP Romance, Jamie Wesley, and Netgalley for this free e-arc in exchange for my honest review!

plot: 5/5
pacing: 5/5
characters: 5/5
writing: 5/5
enjoyment: 5/5

final rating: 5/5 stars

Fake it Till You Bake it is a fake dating romance between the Sugar Blitz Cupcakery co-owner who is also a football star name Donovan Dell and a woman named Jada who is piecing her reputation back together after the final season of dating show My One and Only aired. Jada’s goal is to access her trust fund, but to do so, her Grams says that Jada has to keep a stable job for 6 months. In this time, Jada and Donovan encounter the pressures of social media. After a surprising encounter with a journalist, Jada gets herself and Donovan thrown into the facade of them dating. However, as time passes and Jada and Donovan get to know one another better, their relationship begins to transition from strictly press to possibly something more real.

I really enjoyed the chemistry that both characters had with one another. Donovan and Jada were polar opposites, but their personalities complimented each other so well. I loved how they both supported and defended one another no matter what, and how they both help the other grow.

I loved the writing style, fast paced plot, and how the book took place primarily in Sugar Blitz. Jada and Donovan both had very likable characters and I enjoyed the additional hints of comedy that the side characters Nicholas and August provided as well.

Towards the end, I did question whether or not this book would be one of my top reads of the year, but based on the final chapter and epilogue, I knew that this was by far one of my favorites. I loved the way it ended and I felt like it really reflected both characters’ true personalities and it was a way to show how they both helped the other grow/change.

This book has learning disability rep (dyslexia) and I really loved how Jada wasn't ashamed of it and how Donovan always defended her whenever someone made a comment about it. Over all, this book was amazing, and I really hope that August and/or Nicholas will get their own book as well!

This was such a cute, light hearted read. I love a fake dating troupe and this one was very well done! It’s a fast read that is entertaining and charming. Some parts might be a little over the top, but I loved it:

Fake It Til You Bake It follows Donovan, a pro football player who owns his own cupcake shop and Jada, social media’s enemy #1 for turning down a proposal on a reality dating show. Even though Jada tries to lay low and starts working for Donovan, a reporter is mistaken and thinks they are a couple. They decide to take advantage of the situation and use it to build up Jada’s reputation again. Little did they know that this would lead to them falling in love. This novel was super cute and not at all what I was expecting, but I loved every minute of it.