Fake It Till You Bake It by Jamie Wesley contains several tropes, enemies to lovers, fake relationship and forced proximity. And, in the capable hands of Jamie Wesley a story emerges that is so delicately delicious and satisfying that the reader is left not necessarily needing more, but certainly craving more. I can only hope that some of the secondary characters are given their chance to shine, especially Donovan’s partners and Jada’s best friend. Jada Townsend-Matthews is a despised internet villain after turning down a proposal from dreamy Dr. John on a reality dating show. Jada is impulsive and outspoken, traits which are on full display when she makes disparaging comments about the cupcakes and décor of Sugar Blitz in front of owner, regimented and Uber organized Donovan Dell. With sales tanking, the last thing that Donovan needs to hear is some rude (and beautiful) woman criticizing his establishment. Donovan intends for Sugar Blitz to be a large part of his endeavors after him retires from football. Both Donovan and Jada are blindsided when his boss and team owner, who happens to be Jada’s grandmother, asks Donovan to give the rudderless Jada a job. Wow, that should be easy!! As the two are practically forced to work together, they find some truths about each other. Donovan is actually supportive and sensitive, and Jada is hard working and innovative. However, will Jada’s judgmental family, the internet trolls and Jada’s would-be suitor derail her newly minted confidence and cause her to walk away from Donovan? Ms. Wesley’s story is so emotionally rich and loaded with goodness that the reader can taste each morsel. To say I loved this story would be an understatement!!!
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing to me read this ARC for my honest opinion!



Reviewed on Google Play

This was a funny and yummy read! Prepare to be hungry while reading it! I loved the witty banter and the well developed characters. Plus, it was set in San Diego, which is one of my favorite cities. Who doesn't look a good romance book filled with entertaining characters, cupcakes, and sports. Plus, the side characters were a hoot! Great and quick read. Perfect for a relaxing day!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

Book received for free through NetGalley

So adorably cute. I absolutely loved this from the beginning till the end. Can’t wait to read more.

I enjoyed Fake It Till You Bake It! Cupcakes, fake dating, football players and food fights – sign me up! What I really loved about this couple was their communication. They talked everything out, and it was clear that they were going to last.

Fake it till you Bake it: I was really surprised at how much I enjoyed this read. It was light, fun and who doesn’t like a man baking 👀 (3 well built muscular football players who also on the side own and run a cupcake shop) I enjoyed the beginning I loved both Jada and Donovan‘s characters the chemistry between them slow burn… which I enjoy!When I got to the middle of the book it start getting a little bit long, dragging a bit. Nevertheless it started picking up and I enjoyed it had very good troops I loved that the characters were both POC they’re work ethic & joy for doing their jobs chefs kiss*The banter between them I loved as well as each characters development coming to the end of the book was amazing. I really did enjoy this book I didn’t know what to expect out of it but it really surprised me and I enjoyed it, it was nice easy read. Thank you NetGallery & St.Martins for allowing me to give this book an honest review! Congratulations to Jamie on this novel coming out June 22’ !!!! Also Nicholas & August I loved, would love to see stories for both of them!!!

This was such an adorable contemporary romance. I loved the main characters and their banter that they had with each other. The setting was also a fun part of the story.

This book was a fun rom com! The main characters had great chemistry and this book was a fun easy read. The plot was entertaining but slightly predictable.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher a copy to honestly review.

Fake It Till You Bake It features a reality tv star embroiled in scandal and a cupcake baking NFL star in a fake romance.

I devoured it like it was one of those smores cupcakes they kept describing.

Reading this book was lovey. It gave a slow but natural progression to an almost enemies to lovers setting. Football player Donovan and soul-searching Jade couldn’t be more opposite with Donovan’s need for order and structure vs Jada’s impulsive personality. An unexpected dive into fake dating to help Jada’s reputation as well as the reputation of Donovan’s bakery leads to the couple getting to know each other beyond the surface level and unexpectedly falling in love. I love the fake dating trope and would love to have seen even more of their fake dating in public spaces! Their relationship grew naturally and you could see how opposites could actually attract. I also finished the book looking forward to August’s love story and Nicholas’s love story. I would have loved to have seen a little more of Jada’s story but it was mostly balanced and I wasn’t left too wanting. Would definitely recommend to those who love a fake dating story with a small splash of enemies to lovers.

This is an excellent romance story. I really enjoy the stories where the opposites attract.
Jada is hiding from a bad experience with a reality dating show when she meets Donovan. Donovan is a professional football player that recently opened a cupcake shop with two of his teammates. Despite being a professional football player the business is not going well. Jada finds herself working for him, and the next thing she knows people are talking about them dating. But really they're not. But instead of setting the record straight, they decide to keep up the act because it turns out to be good for both of them. It's not a problem until feelings get involved.

I know it's weird to say a book is cute, but this was definitely a cute book. I am very glad that I was able to read this book and I would recommend it to everyone.

Thank you to NetGalley and Edelweiss publishing for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is an honest review given for the ARC that was received.
The sugar in this read is sweet and rewarding. Loved that Jada and Donovan wete honest and truthful with each other throughout the entire book with no secrets. The love of family even though certain members set limitations on their love just because hero and heroine chose to be their true selves regardless of the disapprovals that were given.

Fake it Till You Bake It was a light hearted read featuring Donovan, a pro football player / cupcake bakery owner and Jada, a former contestant on a “Bachelor” esque dating show who also happens to be the granddaughter of the San Diego football teams owner. Cue a fake relationship trope with a little dating show drama and The Game tv show and you pretty much have read this book.

Overall the story was cute but the characters could have used a bit more development. Their love story was a little rushed and we didn’t get to fall in love with them and their love story. All in all, love seeing more and more stories featuring BIPOC love but want a little more depth.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!

Overall I thought this book was decent! I really loved the concept and was very intrigued by the tropes because I absolutely LOVE fake dating. Unfortunately tho I felt like the fake dating aspect fell a little flat. They didn't start fake dating until a little under 50% through the book and at that point they already kinda knew they were into each other so that tension and mystery that usually comes with fake dating was missing. Also, I think maybe this is just me but some of the moments I found to be a bit corny but I think that just comes with the territory of Romcoms.

With that being said, there were some things I loved about this book! First of all, the Crocs!! I absolutely loved that scene so much! The chemistry between Jada and Donovan was also very well written. Their spicy scenes were very enjoyable. The scene on the talk show when he helps her frost the cupcake! I mean come on, I was swooning!! I also love Jada's character! She was still trying to find herself and her path but she was always confident and proud of who she is which I found very inspiring. Overall a fun read but it fell flat for me in a few areas.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸!!

This was SUCH a fun read! Loved seeing men baking, but also loved the dating show angle. I think the couple's relationship was authentic and well-developed, and I look forward to more books (cause I wanna know the other guys's stories now too)!

Fake It Till You Bake It by Jamie Wesley **** (Amazon *****) 10/04/2022
(Book 1)

Fun, charming, cupcakes, fake relationship, sexy, reality tv, football.

This was a really fun fake-to-real relationship trope. Jada is in her mid-twenties, rich, chaotic, headstrong and still trying to find her purpose in life especially after being on a romantic reality TV show. Donovan is a 30-year-old private, organized, precise, football player and cupcake bakery owner, with his two best friends and teammates. Their meet-cute is the opposite of love at first sight and simply adorable as they are both attracted to yet can’t sand each other.

I found it refreshing that it took about 1/4 of the book to get to the fake dating part. This really helps develop each character on their own and build a foundation of their feelings making the shift from fake to real feel organic and natural. Though this book was a bit of a slow burn it still managed to be quite sexy as they fight off their attraction to each other. I loved how they supported each other and how they both grew. I did however find the ending to be a bit too quick. I know Jada made a choice that was meant to surprise us but it came on pretty fast. That being said I still really enjoyed this sweet, sexy and delicious romance. I’m so very excited for August’s book, he seemed so sweet and stoic.

Special thank you to #NetGalley, #JamieWesley and #StMartinsGriffin for sharing this digital copy for my honest thoughts on #FakeItTillYouBakeIt.

I love the fake dating trope! I also love baking so I was excited about this book! It is such a page-turning, easy read. Really great for anyone who's looking to dive into a book and tune out the world for a little while! I really hope this is going to be a series!

While there were a few parts where I felt like the plot was a little slow, there was chemistry with the characters the whole way through. Love this book!

A cute and quick read centered on a fake dating romance trope between a professional football player, Donovan, and a former reality TV contestant, Jada. They work together in the bakery that Donovan owns with two of his teammates and through a series of baking mishaps, they each find their strengths in business and make a great pair.

I enjoyed the light-hearted dialogue and easy reading. If you’re looking for a book without the graphic scenes and with a lighter storyline, this would be a great choice. If you’re looking for deep character development woven into the romance, then this may not hit the mark. I hope the other bakery owners get a storyline like others have speculated – I’d read those, too.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the chance to read this!

Fake It Till You Bake It is a cute, light, contemporary romance with the fake dating trope. The fake dating came about early and I really liked that, especially after Jada and Donovan’s disastrous first meet. And they kept being thrown together for appearances which is another favorite tactic of mine.

I love the bakery setting and the three footballers running the business. I can see a fun trilogy with these guys. Jada and Donovan had opposing personalities and helped each other grow which was nice to see.

Something didn’t sit right with the break up bit, but then again, I was enjoying their relationship and could’ve just kept reading haha. I loved reading this story and can’t wait for more.

Fake dating is a favorite trope of mine, and I thought the premise of this book was super cute. It's clearly the start of a trilogy for each of our football bakers. The little community of the bakery is one of my favorite parts of the book. Mrs T gave strong Lady Danbury from Bridgerton vibes which was also appreciated. What I didn't like was the end, the career success so suddenly and the immediate repair of the relationship was a reach. It's too much of a jump from birthdays at a cupcake store to charity galas. There was also something off about the dialogue. I liked it, but I didn't find myself needing to pick the book back up.

Jada Townsend-Matthews is the most reviled woman in America after turning down a proposal on a reality dating show. When she comes home to lick her wounds, Jada finds herself working at San Diego's newest cupcake bakery, Sugar Blitz, alongside the uptight owner and professional football player Donovan Dell.
When a reporter mistakenly believes Jada and Donovan are an item, they realize they can use the misunderstanding to their advantage and agree to a fake date each other, till it’s not fake anymore.
Fake it till you bake it is a cute and light-hearted read. I enjoyed the banter between Jada and Donovan, it was adorable and Jada thinking of Donovan as Professor Dill was funny. Not to mention their chemistry, which was off the charts Hot. I liked the premise, footballers turn bakers and the characters, only the breakup felt surreal.