This book started out with the enemies to lovers trope, then slid into fake dating, with a side of insta-love.. Jada is what I would call “high maintenance”. She was just burned on a reality TV dating show in which the Bachelor type character proposed to her, but she spurned his proposal because her gut was telling her something wasn’t right. Now she’s the most hated woman on social media and just wants to hide away. Donovan is a star defensive back for a football team who loves to bake in his spare time and has just opened a cupcake shop with two other members of the team. When Jada comes in with a friend and insults his shop for seemingly no reason, they are immediately antagonistic, but at the same time, sparks are flying. Because her grandmother is the football team owner, and Jada needs a job, her grandma ends up manipulating Donovan into giving Jada a job at his shop. Pretty soon, they find themselves in a fake dating situation, and it’s not much longer before they realize maybe they don’t hate each other after all.

This was an okay romance, but Jada and Donovan’s romance between just didn’t quite click with me. Jada was very good at self-sabotaging herself under the guise of being open and honest, and Donovan was rather rigid and a bit smug. I was also confused about the whole setup of the story. As active pro football players, there’s no possible way that Donovan and two other members of his team would have time to work full time at an outside business, and certainly not one that involves them constantly eating large quantities of sugar. Professional sports players follow incredibly demanding and rigid eating and training schedules year round. They spend hours in the gym as well as studying film and running drills to keep their skills sharp. From the blurb, I assumed Donovan was retired, but when I realized he was an active player, there was no way for me to suspend disbelief on this plot point and threw me out of the story. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

This was a cute and quick read. It took me a minute to get on the Jada train, because she started so hot, and for what? There's a way to speak your mind without being just plain rude, you know? But as the story went on, I warmed up to her and enjoyed seeing how her and Donovan's relationship developed and progressed-- although I will say that the story seemed to drag at some points because it didn't feel like much was happening. The chemistry was a little lackluster for me until we got a ways in, and I think that could have had to do with the dragging, as well. I liked seeing Jada become more confident in her skills and talents, and I liked Donovan's friends a lot. I enjoyed it overall and look forward to seeing what happens with August in the next book. I hope we can get a little MORE of everything with the next one.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I was not familiar with Jamie Wesley's work so I was not sure what to expect. Fake It Until You Bake It is a fun light-hearted rom-com that has great representation.

Jada recently shocked the world when she turned down a proposal on a reality tv dating show. Donovan Dell, a NFL player, who happens to own a cupcake shop with two of his teammates is struggling to keep his cupcakery afloat. Jada and Donovan's path's cross and they hatch a plan to have a fake dating relationship which would help both of them in the end. Little did they know that sparks would fly.

It was refreshing to see male athletes not cast as dumb jocks but as successful businessmen who also happened to be athletes not to mention bakers.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4. I rounded up due to Wesley's success at not shying away from some harder topics like gambling addiction, dyslexia, extreme parental criticism, and absentee parents.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts & opinions are my own.

We've got Fake Dating, cupcakes, AND handsome and wholesome football players? Yes please.

This was my first book by the author and I absolutely adored it. This is probably one of few Romance novels I've read where, even when I was frustrated by man characters, never did I actually dislike them. Both Jada and Donovan are class acts, and I love how this story truly showed how they were great for each other. Writing a point of view from Donovan's side kept us in the loop about his perspective and feelings throughout the story, which really helped flesh him into just as whole of a character as Jada instead of just a leading man. His steadiness and her vivacity were a delight, and meeting each other brought them to a balance of those traits like a healthy relationship should!

This romance was sweet and healthy and wholesome. Even in the spice, the undercurrent was always one of devotion and tenderness. Between the leading couple and the delectable cupcakes sprinkled throughout, my sweet tooth is very satisfied.

Another plus? The supporting cast. We get our glimpses of who could be the leads in a companion novel and I'm so, so glad to see that August's story would appear to be next based off the ending. I will definitely be picking up whatever sequel/companion there is to come!

Thank you St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for this advanced copy for review!

This was overall a cute and fun story, there was definite chemistry between the characters and I enjoyed the opposites attract element to their dynamic. I did have some issues with the writing, I found that there were certain lines that just didn't feel like a real human thought and felt awkward reading. I would say this book is something to look for when wanting to read something quick, fun and easy. A possible companion novel was teased in this book and I am interested in checking that out.

A book with cupcakes, amazing banter, a not so friendly meet cute, and two lead characters you just want to root for. I couldn’t imagine not enjoying this book from Jamie Wesley. Not only did I enjoy this but I absolutely loved it. Fake It Till You Bake It was a five star read for me.

The book is about Donovan Del a football player for the San Diego Knights and of owner of Sugar Blitz a donut shop he co owns with his two best friends/teammates. The shop isn’t doing so well a few months since opening. That why he is bothered when he hears a lovely potential costumer dissing his business. While he changes the customer’s mind on the donuts she left the shop not liking him to much. To bad for him that customer turns out to be Jada Townsend-Matthews the granddaughter of the Knights owner. Jada is a beautiful women, with a way with people, but tends to not be responsible has yet to find her passion and career she loves which is something her family hold against her. Jada is coming off a horrible stint from a reality tv show in which she still dealing with the back lash. So much so she is pretty much in hiding. Her grandmother gives her one last chance to earn her trust fund. Work at a business of her choosing for four months and come up with a plan for the future in that time and she gets the money. To bad for Jada her grandmother gets her a job a Donovan’s cup cake shop.. So now Donovan and Jada are to work together and when a reporter comes in a mistakes them for a couple they start faking a relationship. So what happens when it starts not being a fake relationship?

Seriously this book has so much I love to read in romance. Amazing banter, foodie romance, a lead working to find themselves in this world, a bachelor tie in, sports and fake dating. My favorite thing about this book was Jada and Donovan’s chemistry. It was hot from the second they spoke to each other. And once they got to know each other and understand one another it was even more special. Jada became one of my favorite characters. I love her personality and the heart of gold she has when she loves and connects with you. What made her special for me was the struggle to find her passions which I related to so much. Donovan was amazing as well. They way he became protected of Jada when she need it but wouldn’t voice it was just heartwarming. This book was funny without ever having to make the characters do over the top things. A great crew of side characters. Really hoping for a August book next. Also that ending love confession swooning everywhere. Just a romance that I wanted to keep reading. and hope more people pick up.

Very thankful to Netgalley and St Martins Press for this awesome read.

Okay well for some reason Netgalley won’t let me download this one in their app. I tried to download the book it won’t download? I really wanted to read this but I’m not able to.

Fake It Till You Bake it is such a funny book. Very cute indeed. I enjoyed the fake dating trope. The characters are fun and relatable. This is a book I could live in! I loved the lingo and the chemistry the characters had with each other.

Content Warning: cyber-bullying

I thought this was a cute foodie romance involving cupcakes. Of course it was the cover that drew me to the story and it perfectly suits the story.

Donovan is a football player with a sweet tooth! He is the owner of a cupcake bakery. I could just imagine a big man with this delicate, frosted cupcakes and I’d smile. The moment he meets Jada, they get off on the wrong foot but once they start spending more time together we see that Jada isn’t the snobbish girl he first met. She’s very sweet and personable actually, compared to Donovans sometimes gruff and stern personality.

The building romance between Donovan and Jada is pretty steady. The do notice one another, then get into a fake-dating situation until they decide to give in to the undeniable attraction between them. There was good banter between them, and they did make a good couple. I did wish there was more chemistry between them because at times it felt a bit forced. I wanted more of a build up since they did come off irritated with one another at first meeting and hinted at an enemies to lover romance. But I’d say this is a more light-hearted romance than anything too intense.


Why you should read it:
*quick, light-hearted romance
*diverse cast of characters
*a football player who sells cupcakes

Why you might not want to read it:
*chemistry felt forced at times

My Thoughts:

I thought this was enjoyable but sometimes the chemistry between Don and Jada felt forced. I did like the characters though! If you want a light-hearted romance that has football, cupcakes, dating show and fake dating, then this is the book for you!

This is such a cute story! I love the premise of our lead being a pro athlete and also
Indulging in his love for baking. I also adore a fake dating trope and any instance of reality tv being brought into a plot. Donovan and Jada are the couple you wouldn’t imagine to work so well together, but they do and their chemistry is FIRE! I really hope this is a series because I’d love to see further development with some of the side characters. The premise is brilliant, the writing is superbly engaging and overall this is a touchdown in the fourth quarter! Loved it!

This was a fun enemies-to-lovers/fake dating/opposites attract romance.

I really enjoyed the progression of Jada and Donovan’s relationship. I liked how Jada turned Donovan’s life upside down and made it not so predictable. And I really liked how Donovan was so supportive of Jada and assured her that she was capable.

Of course the situations they found themselves in were funny, sweet, and sexy.

The only thing I didn’t love was how often Jada’s trust fund was mentioned in the beginning. It was a little annoying and didn’t make her a likable character at the beginning (at least to me).

I am looking forward to seeing what comes next from this series and the other characters.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Fake It Till You Bake It is a fun romance between a cupcake-baking football star and the team owner's reality-star granddaughter. While I'm always a fan of the fake-dating trope, something about this book just didn't quite work for me. The initial tension between Jada and Donovan disappeared too quickly, and many of Jada's relationships (with her friend, with her grandmother, etc.) felt underdeveloped. I loved the premise, but the pacing with off and it didn't quite come together.

Well hot freaking damn this was brilliant! Bookstagram is going to eat this up. It was sweet, Spicy, real and fresh. It felt different and I loved it. I can't wait to read more by this author.

I thought it was a cute feel good story of Jada and Donovan. Jada who her family considers a misfit not fitting into the family medical business is doing all she can to make her grandmother proud and gain her trust fund. Jada's grandmother is the owner of the football team that Donovan is a player of and owner with his two team mates of the Sugar Blitz cupcake shop. Jada's grandmother, Mrs T, asks Donovan to give her granddaughter a job without knowing that Donovan and Jada already had a run in at the cupcake show with neither being aware of who the other person is. Jada who appeared on "My One and Only" show like the "Bachelor" turns down the marriage proposal and becomes the pariah on social media. She makes up a story that she has a love interest at home and when called out to tell who the love interest is, kisses Donovan. What turns out as a fake relationship quickly becomes real.

This was such a quick and easy read!! The representation was top-tier and the fake dating >>> (which was instigated by the female mc ofc… we love olive smith energy). Honestly, the only thing I wasn't a huge fan of was the insane possessiveness Donovan was exerting. Like don't get me wrong, I love when fictional men give off alpha vibes but Donovan was really out here growling over every little thing... But other than that, I'd definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a fast and fun read <3

*I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers. The following thoughts are my own*

Fake It Till You Bake It is a delightful, fast-paced rom-com perfect for summer or anytime you need a smile.

Fans of The Bachelor or Love Island might have fun with this one, because our female main character, Jada is a reality dating show alum hiding out from the backlash of turning down America's leading man. In order to prove to her family that she's got her life together, Jada takes a job at a cupcake shop owned by Donovan, an NFL player with a not-so-hidden sweet side. When confronted by a tabloid gossip-monger in the shop, Jada pretends that Donovan is her new sweetie to stave off the difficult questions about why she left her reality show. The social media buzz gets the shop some much-needed business, so Donovan and Jada decide to keep up the charade even though real feelings are starting to emerge.

It's a dual POV romance, so you get to follow the emotional journey of both Jada and Donovan throughout. Both characters have such nuanced backstories and you get a sense of how their pasts have shaped them, which I love to see in romances because it creates more authentic moments for me as a reader. The family moments in this book were particularly bittersweet for both characters—I appreciated that both Jada and Donovan had difficult and moving interactions with their respective families because they came across as more true to life.

The romantic tension between Jada and Donovan is instant, as is the push and pull between attraction and annoyance. Their banter was charming and funny. Despite the fake dating elements of the story, it felt a little insta-lovey for me. I think fake dating is at its best when it's drawn out a touch more. And without specifically spoiling the ending, I felt the end conflict for Jada and Donovan felt super unnecessary and I would have rather spent my pages elsewhere with these characters. It's these last two issues that had me rating this one a 3.5-star rating because the pacing just felt off. However, I still thoroughly enjoyed this book. Fake It Till You Bake It is very much like the cupcakes in the book—creative, sweet, and will have you craving a second helping.

A sequel is sort of teased at the end, so I'm hoping that a second helping will be coming soon!

Perfect for fans of:
Make it Sweet by Kristen Callihan
Intercepted by Alexa Martin
The Bachelor

This was such a fun and entertaining read!
Fake dating, enemies to lovers, meddling friends- I couldn't ask for more.
Donovan is an absolute dream, so supportive, patient and loving!
I really hope this ecomes a series because I need Nicholas and August to find their HEAs as well.

A cute premise but the dialogue and narration fell flat for me. Worth checking out for fans of faking dating tropes.

Who doesn’t love a romcom with some cupcakes?! This was my first book from this author, and it definitely won’t be my last! This was a slow burn enemies to loves, fake dating romcom. I really enjoyed the dual POVs and getting to know some of the new regulars of the cupcake shop. What I am really excited about though was that cliffhanger at the end!! Can’t wait!

Thank you St Martin Press for Emmy early copy!

This one is a cute and light read full of football players, baking and interesting characters. The two main characters fall into the lovely tropes of enemies to lover and fake dating while each trying to get their lives and careers more on track. Added in is some bromance, unique theme nights and lovely side characters to keep you entertained.