I will literally read anything that has reality TV in the description so it was a no brainer for me to request FAKE IT TILL YOU BAKE IT. The story was so sweet and such a lovely, picturesque romance novel. Jada and Donovan were both joys to read about. The fake dating trope is such a classic and it was done so well in this book. And can we talk about the CUPCAKES? I love when food plays such a big role in books and the cupcakes were no exception. I would recommend this book to anyone!

Books about baking are basically like catnip for me …. add in HOT NFL players doing said baking and well, I’m done for!

This one had a bit of a slow start for me, but once the story got moving, I really enjoyed it! Fake dating and opposites attract in a workplace setting is the perfect trope combo! I loved the side characters, particularly Jada’s Grandmother! This is the perfect set up for a series - looking forward to more!

3.5⭐️

This book started off really strong. I loved the character of Donovan-- our football playing bakery owner--immediately. Meeting Jada is an ugly reminder of how obsessed we are with celebrities, and a nice reminder that they're human, too (which I think a lot of people forget). And we're reminded of this throughout the book as we get to know Donovan and Jada more.

Unfortunately, the book plateaued in the middle. It's clear that the author was going for the enemy-to-lovers trope, which was executed really well, and the fake dating trope--which was okay, but honestly unnecessary. It also felt like she was trying for a slow burn which wasn't as successful. There aren't enough pages to make it work, which I think is why it started to drag.

The ending was satisfying enough, with Jada finally learning to stand up for herself and Donovan learning to let go of control.

This is a pretty quick read and will be great for those who like contemporary romances that are more character driven than plot. It was a nice book with an interesting concept, I just personally feel it could have used a bit more tightening up.

I loved the idea of this, unfortunately the pacing was just too slow for me and I never really felt the chemistry.

This was a really cute book with lots of sizzle and cupcakes too! We have a meet cute, fake dating, and cupcakes. What more could anyone ask for? I can't wait for the next book. (I'm guessing this is the first in a series. The ending certainly implied as much. )

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thanks NetGalley and St Martin's Press for letting read an ARC of this book. I'm a sucker for fake dating tropes, throw in a football player who owns a cupcake store and a female protagonist who tries to win her families acceptance and also went on reality TV and is dealing with the blowback and I was sold. I enjoyed the banter between Jada and Donovan, I could have had a bit more of the fake dating awkward scenarios where they realize they actually like each other but I enjoyed the ones that were in this book. I didn't really feel like the secondary conflict was needed at the end of the book and felt like it was rushed in the conclusion but overall this was a solid romantic comedy. If you like fake dating, drama from reality TV, sort of forbidden relationships (boss/employee and also the fact that Jada is Donavan's football franchise owners granddaughter), baking, playful banter and sarcasm, and you know romance novels this is a solid read.

It looks like this is going to be a series, and I will definitely tune in to read August's book when it comes out.

Look for Bake it Til you Make It June 21st!

This romance was a *sweet* (pun intended) way to kick off some summer reading. It was a fun, light, easy read, and overall I enjoyed it.

I really wanted to love this one because all my favorite ingredients were there: grumpy/sunshine, fake dating, great side characters, and lots of cupcakes. But I just couldn’t connect with the two main characters or their relationship as much I would have liked to.

This is my first book by this author, and I look forward to future books, especially with the promise of an August or Nicholas book!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for a digital ARC of this book!

Fake it Till You Bake It is a modern romance that has a football player and a reality show contestant meeting, clashing, and then well, come on, it is called a romance. Jada Townsend-Matthews was on a reality dating show. The show’s viewers united in not liking Jada and she is having a hard time just walking down the street without being abused. She needs to find a new niche. Donovan Dell is a professional football player who happens to be a baker. He and two of his friends open a bakery named Sugar Blitz. The bakery was doing great but sales have slumped and Donovan needs to do something to perk up sales. When a reporter mistakenly reports that the two of them are an item, they decide to use the mistake to help both of them.

This is a much-simplified plot line. There is more character development and storyline. It is what I might call a “popcorn book” but I do like a good popcorn book from time to time. Do not expect War and Peace. But it is a book that will hold your attention and won’t take too long to read.

“He wanted to be the one to put a smile on her face. He wanted to her to defend him. He wanted to defend her and know that it was real. That they were real. That they didn’t have an expiration date.”

A perfectly sweet (and a little spicy) summer read! We have a football star who also owns a cupcake shop with 2 of his teammates/best friends, and a reality star who has become public enemy number one after dumping the lead on a Bachelor like dating show.

The chemistry between Donovan & Jada was palpable and their banter was just so good. There is great dyslexia representation, and the side characters never failed to make me laugh. Jada’s Grandma was amazing, can I have more Mrs. T content please?

Thank you St Martin’s Press for the gifted copy.

I really wanted to like this one but couldn’t connect to the characters or their relationship. I think this book had a really fun concept with a lot of potential but I really did not enjoy Jada as a character. It was hard for me to build empathy towards the characters and feel invested in their relationship. A lot of the dialogue was cringey and made it hard to get into the book.

The book felt like the Bachelor meets Cupcake Wars and I think readers that are fans of those franchises will enjoy this.

Jada and Donovan are involved in a mutually beneficial fake dating scheme. Donovan is a professional football player with a newly opened cupcake bakery in need of some publicity to drive business, while Jada needs a fake boyfriend to get the public off her back after rejecting a proposal on a reality dating show.

This was cute! It was a quick and light read. It was a tad predictable at times, but in a good way.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the advanced reading copy!

Fake It Till You Bake It by Jamie Wesley is a light, romantic comedy that features a cupcake baking football player and a tough-talking woman. I enjoyed this fun book very much.

Jada Townsend-Matthews is back home after rejecting Dr. John on a nationally televised dating show. She’s the pariah of social media after the rejection, and it’s time she decided what to do with her life. Her grandmother gets her a job at the cupcake shop, Sugar Blitz, run by NFL football player, Donovan Dell.

After a reporter reports that Jada and Donovan are dating, they decide to go ahead and fake date in order to help promote the shop and to boost Jada’s popularity. Will all that time spent together at work, and at night change their feelings for each other?

Fake It Till You Bake is a cute enemies-to-lovers story that included a fun fake dating trope. I enjoyed Jada and Donovan and was rooting for them to get together, as they really complimented each other and had wonderful chemistry together. My favorite character is Grams, she’s one strong woman and she gave the best advice. I also enjoyed Donovan who loves to bake cupcakes, he’s smart enough to know the career of an NFL football play is not long, and he’s looking to find a way to do something he loves and support himself once his career is over.

I recommend Fake it Till You Bake it to anyone who enjoys romance. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

3.5 ⭐️

Football athlete Donovan and a couple of his teammates run a cupcake shop, Sugar Blitz, as a retirement back-up plan. A cynical (but pretty) critic walks in one day, after Donovan just received bad news about the shop’s finances, talk about rubbing salt on a wound. Turns out this cynic is his team owner’s granddaughter and will now be working at Sugar Blitz. Ex-reality TV star Jada, who has become a public enemy, must hold a job for 6 months to gain access to her trust fund. Get this though, one kiss gone viral sends Donovan and Jada on a public fake relationship, which could repair Jada’s image and earn more cupcake sales.

This was cute! I liked that Jada had dyslexia, a learning disability that hindered her from doing well at a job, but Donovan was such a gentle soul that never judged her for that. The San Diego setting, the cupcake shop, Donovan’s friends really set us up well for a series. It’s a good read that I recommend to fans of Farrah Rochon’s books!

This was a cute contemporary romance nemesis to lovers. I think if you Cupcake Wars meet the Bachelor then you might enjoy this one.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a really good. I liked the friends to lovers trope. This also was a nice black love book.

3.5

Incredibly fun contemporary romance featuring two Black leads. Jada is struggling to find her place in the world and ever since she turned down "The Bachelor's" marriage proposal on national television has been getting a lot of hate from the public. Donovan is an uptight professional football player/co-owner of a failing cupcake business. Shenanigans ensue and they end up fake dating while Jada is working at Donovan's cupcake shop.

I really liked both Jada and Donovan, and Jamie Wesley was able to write their contrasting personalities in a way that made it realistic for them to balance each other out. I also liked the hints of side characters that will presumably feature in companion novels.

I did find a couple segments of the book a little clunky, but overall I had a great time with this!

funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.9 ✨

This book was short and fun! Jada is likeable however I did find Donavan a little lack luster and ended up wanting to no more of what was going on behind the scenes than with them. I do think the book has so really fun tropes but would’ve been improved if there was a but more tension and story between the fake dating and the getting together. Overall I think it’s a good book if you just want something light to pick up and I hope it becomes a series with Nicholas and August! I’d definitely read more from this author.

I loved loved loved this read. It was the perfect romance, a little steamy but a great story line also. I enjoyed the plot and enjoyed the BIPOC characters. This was the first I have read or even heard of Jamie Wesley but she is definitely on my radar now. Jada was a strong woman that let her privilege lead her life until she finds her self in a situation that forces her to find her own way, except she still has her grandmother's help. Donovan is a man that allows a strong woman room to grow and celebrates that, pretty sexy. The reality romance show was a great side plot line and lead the main plot line perfectly. I gave this read three stars.

Fake dating? I eat that shi upppp. This book was good! Really good! I loved both characters. I think they were pretty well written and this book gave me major Tessa Bailey vibes who I adore.

Now a lot of people will say that Jada was rude but here me out so are most of the men y’all love. I loved her character and how she was navigating to be able to stand up for herself.

Donovan however, I am ON MY KNEES for him. He was so good to Jada and his family. This was a real man and I adore him.

The plot was good but I do wanna say for NFL players they sure do have a lot of time in hand.

Also the little cliffhanger at the end??? Cannot wait for August’s book!! I feel like he will be my favourite in series.

Overall this was a great book and I recommend it

Totally enjoyed this new author to me.
Author Jamie Wesley gave a great story of a fake romance that turns into a real one.
This book was funny, cute and a quick light hearted read.