Jamie absolutely killed it! I loved this book so much. It was wholesome and funny. Y’all will love this

Fake It Til You Bake It hooked me right from the beginning. I loved how sassy and strong our main character, Jada is. Donovan was truly a romance novel's dream man. Mrs T made me laugh and simultaneously want a Grams hug. The characters were top notch likeable.

One thing that bugged me throughout was the fact that Donovan is a current NFL player but he doesn't practice or condition. I would have loved to see more football story line and less reality TV story line. I'm looking forward to reading August story next!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

This was a sweet romance (pun intended) and I loved the setting of a cupcake shop and seeing Jada work hard at event planning. The main characters felt a little flat to me personally although I did love their banter and flirting. I think the supporting stars such as Jada's grandma, Nick, and August really shown in this book! I felt like the third act breakup was a little unnecessary and would've preferred to see the drama with Lila more fleshed out and prolonged to see how they handled it together as a couple in order to grow from it.

his is perfect for fans of Jasmine Guillory and Lyssa Kay Adams.

Infamous reality TV star and an athlete who owns a cupcake shop? Fake dating? Yes and yes!

Jada and Donovan could not be more opposite but when circumstances come together and fake dating seems to benefit them both, what could go wrong?

Between the banter, friends (and customers!) who are like family (I hope we see more of August and Nicholas 🙏🏼😍), and all the cupcake talk I really enjoyed this book!!

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin’s press for the opportunity to read and review this book!

I love this very amusing romantic comedy. Former reality star Jada gets off on the wrong foot with Donovan when she insults NFL star and bakery owner's cupcakes before she has even tried one. Though he thinks that she is beautiful, he finds her impulsive and bougie. Jada thinks he's overly serious but gorgeous. Jada ends up working with him in the bakery. To change her reviled image and to help his struggling business, they pretend to be dating. As they get to know each other, love can't be far behind. I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher. This is my honest and voluntarily given review. The story, the characters, the dialogue, and the humor pulled me in right away. I love Jada and Donovan's honesty and candidness. I love how they saw below each other surfaces and protected each other. This is my first book by the author and I look forward to reading more of her books. I hope this is the start of a series and there will be books focusing on Donovan's business partners and fellow teammates.

Loved the fake dating and family drama. Great read that left me craving cupcakes!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Fake dating! Sizzle! Family drama! Fun read that I couldn't put down.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

FAKE IT TILL YOU BAKE IT is romantic fiction at its best, filled with charm, missed opportunities, swoon worthy characters and baked goods. Jamie Wesley manages to fit in all the necessities plus plenty of rom com humor in this sweet tale of fake romance turned real between a sports star turned baker and a reality star turned hot mess. This adult book is a joy to read. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley

Description:
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.

Thoughts:
I loved the premise of the story and was drawn in by the cover. Jada and Donovan both have their flaws, but there is a lot to like about them as well. They bring the hood out in each other and boy do they bring the steam. They both overcome family drama and can relate to each other on that level. I enjoyed all of the references to baking! I have a strong sweet tooth!

My only real problem with the story is the timeline. They go from hating each other to head over heels in love in a matter of days! Then they are meeting the parents and it all happens to quickly to seem real. If someone was head over heels for me in three days, I’d be a bit freaked out.

Overall, it’s a fun, steamy read. Just don’t get caught up in the timeline!

Read If:
🧁 You like the fake dating troupe.
🧁 You love a book with some steam.
🧁 You enjoy lots of references to baking and cupcakes.
🧁 You don’t mind a quick timeline.
🧁 You like family drama.

Honestly, I was really hoping to enjoy this way more than I did. At first it was alright and it picked up especially because of the fake dating scheme. However, that was quickly discarded and it felt like this book was just kind of... pointless? As much as I enjoyed some of the banter, I didn't really feel any attachment to the characters or any need for the drama. It felt like there were no stakes even though the book felt like it was trying to have stakes?

Honestly, there were some moments that I did enjoy. The way Jade grew to realize her full potential and gain her confidence was really great. I feel like I wanted more of her personal growth and the romance kind of hindered that. I think just for vibes this book would definitely be something fun, and maybe as an audiobook it would be more entertaining. But for me, this just lacked a spark that I really wanted in this.

I loved this so much! If you give me a book with a cupcake shop as a central plotline, I will devour it. This was a really sweet romance with two protagonists I enjoyed. I felt like their storyline was unique-- the reality TV show angle was so clever, and highly entertaining. The romance felt realistic. Loved!

Fake It Till You Bake It follows a reality tv star and a football player/cupcake shop owner in a fun opposites attract romance story. Jada Townsend-Matthews became famous on a reality dating show and is now looking for her next opportunity until she receives her inheritance. Her grandmother, the owner of the San Diego Knights football team, offers Jada a deal to receive her inheritance early. Jada will receive the money if she is able to hold down a job for six months. This brings her to the employment of Donovan Dell.

Donovan Dell is a San Diego football player who is also the co-owner of a cupcake shop, Sugar Blitz, with two of his teammates. Right away the concept of the ex-football player opening a bakery was a fun idea to include in the novel as it reminded me of the three former players in real life who opened Cupcake Guys in Austin, Texas and became more well-known with surface pro commercials shown in the US beginning in 2020. Also, with three of them owning the shop, I could automatically picture two additional novels created to make this a series with one novel for each of the men.

Donovan agrees to employ Jada as a favor for Jada’s grandmother. Once Jada begins working there, media speculation emerges, and the public begins to believe the two are an item. Since it seems to increase business, the two of them agree to fake date. The chemistry they shared was apparent on every page and I enjoyed the two of them slowly lowering their guard to get to know the other. Jada’s dyslexia were a heart-warming addition to her character as it helped show a vulnerability. While I enjoyed this part of her, I still had a very difficult time understanding her rudeness. Her banter, at times, with Donovan read as sugar-wrapped insults where the writing was trying to pass them off as witty, but they came off as mean. While she had hidden esteem issues, it was difficult to connect with her using it as an excuse, in a way, to be conceited and rude to others. I understand the idea of creating this tougher exterior that will be melted away, but unfortunately it did not read that way to me.

Overall, Donovan and Jada were sweet together and I loved their opposites attract romance. Their timeline was a little on the insta-love side, but I could see their connection and how a relationship would work between them. The side characters were all enjoyable and worked well with the main two. Even though it was not a big deal in the story, one detail that stood out was Jada’s grandmother was a POC and an owner of a billion-dollar football team. Both in the real world and in many stories, there are POC players or coaches in sports, but I cannot recall any where they were an owner. It was not a major talking point of the story, but just was a detail that I noticed. As all the characters and the bakery, itself, with the amazing baked goods (the descriptions do make you want a cupcake immediately), I really do hope that this turns into a series, and I can revisit this set of characters soon!

**I want to give a special thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, St. Martin’s Griffin, for a review copy of this entertaining novel. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**

I wanted to like this book more than I did because the plot seemed cute. But ultimately, the execution just seemed a little weak and there were a lot of plot holes or questions that I had about the plot that seemed to make no sense. I liked the characters ok and I assume this is going to be a trilogy where each of the bakery owners gets their own book (it’s 3 football players who own a bakery and they do all the baking while being professional football players - HOW IS THIS SUSTAINABLE?!?) Sorry, I am really just fixated on this and I need to let it go.

The story of Jada and Donovan. They clash when they first meet, but while a fake relationship will help them both, will it lead to more?
A great read with great characters. I like how it is told from both points of view and hope his co-owners at the bakery get their own stories next.

Jada didn't expect the vitriol when she turned down a proposal on a reality show nor did she expect her parents to cut her off financially. Donovan didn't expect to fall for the woman who insulted him and his cupcakes. Donovan is the more interesting character- a football player who loves to bake. Jada, on the other hand, is pretty annoying Their fake relationship, which started by accident. turns to love and, of course, conflict and then, of course, well, you know. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. This is as trope-y as can be but it's also entertaining if you want a light read for the beach.

A sweet, fast, and fun romance. At first I thought it might not be my thing–I'm not into perfectly sexy people being hot for each other–but this book quickly reveals itself to be more than about attraction. It's about imperfection and acceptance...and delicious, delicious cupcakes.

This was a cute fake dating story. I liked Donovan a lot, but will admit I was hoping for a little more football because unlike our heroine, Jada, I actually love the sport.

I loved this meet cute. Jada definitely has no issues speaking her mind and I loved how Donovan handled her.

I also loved the disability representation in this book. I love how Jada wasn't afraid to talk about her learning disability nor was she afraid to use accommodations. Also, absolutely loved how Donovan reacted.

I would have liked more conversations between Jada and Donovan. They had great passion but I didn't feel like they had enough depth.

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley. This is my honest review.

This book is every bit as cute as it sounds. Outwardly, Jada has it all together. Inwardly, she's an insecure mess thanks to her parents' constant needling. They don't understand her free-spirited approach. But Donovan appreciates the breath of sunshine she brings to his regimented life. He can't resist the attraction he feels for her, however reluctantly. Their fake relationship quickly turns real and very hot. I loved how Donovan stood up for Jada with her parents. He's sweet and supportive and exactly what she needs.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I wanted to like this book, but I had a really hard time getting into it. It took me until over the 50% mark for the story to really get interesting, and it just didn't seem worth it.

I liked the concept of fake dating + bake shop. I mean, who doesn't love all the cupcakes?!

But, the story both dragged and the falling in love felt rushed to me.

Just eh for me.

This was a cute, sweet (like cupcakes) romance with enjoyable characters and plot.

Fake relationships can be hit or miss, but I found this one done well and I liked how their dislike for each other grew, but also that it didn't take too long for their relationship to blossom. I also liked the plot of her being fresh off rejecting a man on a dating show as that was new to me.

It was missing a little something as it didn't completely captivate me, but I enjoyed this story