Thank you net galley for the advance reader copy of this novel. This was a contemporary romance. I didn't like the language or some of the content of this book. Will try again.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Okay, first off- WOW! A few years ago, I started reading contemporary romances only once in a while and only when they caught my eye. They usually aren't my go-to genre but OH MY GOSH! This book had me blushing and giggling along with the MCs. What's not to love about Fake it Till You Bake it? POC characters, fake dating, an adorable cupcake shop, slow-burn, and spicy spice. This book had me hooked from the first chapter, the characters are so loveable and I loved their growth and dynamic throughout the story. I feel like Wesley did an amazing job with not only the writing and the plot but I never once felt like the story was rushed in any way. I would HIGHLY recommend this book for romance lovers and to romance dabblers, like myself.

I love fake dating tropes they are one of my favorite and this was such a cute fun read. It’s one of those stories that makes you happy. I really loved Jada and Donovan. I really appreciated how Jada seemed closed off and uptight but she was really just trying to protect herself after the world deemed her a terrible person for turning down a proposal on a reality dating show. I loved how the story addressed how many times women are vilified in media vs men but it never felt preachy. I love how Donovan and Jada are very different personalities but I felt like their differences made their banter and chemistry feel more real.

The pace in the beginning is a bit slower and there’s quite a bit of build up before Jada and Donovan really get together but it’s not unbearable. The side characters are amazing and Mrs. T, August and Nicholas were amazing additions. I’m excited to see if maybe the next book is about August.

The ending was good and I enjoyed the epilogue. I do wish so often that romance books wouldn’t have miscommunication be the crux of the issues but it always seems to happen.

Overall a cute happy book filled with fun witty banter.

Thank you St. Martins Press / St. Martins Griffin for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review

Hot on the heels of a dramatic exit of a reality dating show, Jada is floundering. Not sure of her place in life she’s facing the disapproval of rapid reality fans as well as her intellectual family.

When she first meets Donovan, a football star who also owns and runs a cupcake shop, they clash in a war of words.

When circumstances force them together, a fake dating plan to help her image and boost his business ensues.

I love a good fake dating, enemies to lovers plot and this was a quick, fun, lighthearted read that I thoroughly enjoyed.

I enjoyed this book! I love fake dating stories because you just know they'll catch feelings and try to not acknowledge them. It's so rewarding when they admit it. Donovan and his co-owners and team mates run a small cupcake shop when they are not playing football, which is where the book starts. Jada and Donavan's meet cute was a great start to their story. Overall, one of my favorite things about the book was how Jada grew throughout. I loved watching her transformation and learning more about herself and her capabilities. It was the first book by Jamie Wesley that I've read, I can't wait to read more.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The title and synopsis really drew me into the book. Unfortunately, I don't feel like I read the book I was lead to believe I was reading. I didn't even remember this involved the fake dating trope until it was introduced practically a third of the way into the story!

The biggest problem is pacing. A lot of this story drags but then moments that shouldn't be rushed are almost glossed over. I had trouble staying interested. Honestly, I think I finished it because it's not that long. It was rather predictable.

I also couldn't connect to the characters, though it's not their fault. They are decently done but I was too often told how they were feeling instead of experiencing it. I didn't get to take that journey with them. Mrs. T is by far the most interesting character and she's hardly in it.

This is obviously setting up a series of books but as it stands, I don't know that I'd keep going with them.

I thought this was so CUTE! I have always loved books that have some enemies-to-lovers trope. And what's not to love about cupcakes! I think Donovan and Jada were such a cute couple and I hope we get to see them in the sequel? I wish the breakup didn't happen, but that's just me being selfish... I 100 percent recommend this book!

Donovan & Jada.
Fake Dating and Enemies to Lovers (kind of)

Donovan is a pro football player & a baker who co owns a cupcake shop. Jada is a breakout reality tv star (or villain depending on who you ask). With a not so cute meet these two clash personalities at her very first visit to the cupcake shop. Jada is in her finding herself season. Donovan has a plan and a spreadsheet to go with it. These two couldn’t be more different. When they cross paths again in her grandmothers office who also happens to own the team he plays for and it’s another not so cute meet.
Jada ends up working in the cupcake shop. She is recognized by customers, fans, and haters. Her lies are catching up with her and she puts Donovan on the spot, and now they have to continue the ruse. The social media buzz creates much needed business for the bakery so this thing between them is not all bad or is it?

This is a cute story. I mean who doesn’t love a man that knows how to bake. The fake dating to real dating wasn’t a given even though it was apparent to everyone else.

I give it 4.5 stars. There a few pop cultures references and odd word choices that don’t transition well.
I recommend this book.
I was provided an arc by NetGalley and St. Martins Griffin in exchange for my honest review

Maybe I shouldn't have requested this as ake dating is my least favorite trope, but I wanted to read a romance genre book with two Black leads. While the book had its moments, overall the characters came across as bit flat and their chemistry was underwhelming.

I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Jada is fresh off a reality dating show where she turned down Dr. John's proposal. She's a little lost in the world and the internet trolls hate her for breaking Dr. John's heart. Her grams owns the San Diego Knights football team and sets her up to work at Sugar Blitz, a cupcake shop owned by 3 of the teams players.

I liked the side characters more than the MC's. I felt like MC's descriptions were repetitive. We get it, Jada's "bougie" and Donovan is uptight with a principal type authority.

I loved the side characters. Nicholas was funny, Ella was sweet, grams was the best. I am curious to learn more about Olivia and August (that ending left me intrigued).

Overall, the book was okay. If you like fake dating, grumpy MC's and a second shot at redemption, this one is for you.

Fake it ‘Til You Bake it is a fun romantic romp featuring two characters who have to do a lot of growing to land themselves a sweet ending.

Jada Townsend-Matthews is one of those people who is famous for being famous.  A rich heiress living off of her trust fund, she’s become a reality television star on a Bachelor-like program, and it’s been working out pretty well for her – until she turns down the proposal of the popular Dr. John on a dating show and America instantly turns on her. Jada comes home to San Diego, and while she’s there she wanders into a new cupcake shop called Sugar Blitz, which is owned and operated by NFL star Donovan Dell.  Orderly Donovan and snotty Jada get on about as well as oil and water, and their encounter ends with harsh words.

Jada’s grandma Mrs. T. has a solution to her granddaughter’s attitude problem, and it’s to cut off Jada’s cash flow if she doesn’t land a stable job.  Jada decides she’ll prove herself to her family – by working with Donovan, at Sugar Blitz, as organized by Mrs. T. When a tabloid report links the two of them together, Jada suggests to Donovan that they pose as a happy couple in order to fix the bakery’s cash flow problems and rehab her image.  But what happens when their fake romance suddenly becomes all too real?

Fake It ‘Til You Bake It is a funny, charming romantic comedy with some great secondary characters (I loved Mrs. T. and Sloane in particular!).  Jada and Donovan have wonderful chemistry, and they manage to evolve from enemies to friends to lovers credibly.  They have a wonderful love story, and I’m interested in what the author might be cooking up for Sloane in the next book.

I love it when a couple rubs off on one another, and thus when Jada becomes a bit more responsible and career-orientated while Donovan allows spontaneity into his life, I was delighted.  And yeah, this book has some of the most delicious baking descriptions I’ve read in a long time.

What else can I say?  Fake it ‘Til You Bake it is romantic, charming and a wonderful ride of a romance.

Buy it at: Amazon, Audible or your local independent retailer
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Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my review!

I thought this book was pretty cute and enjoyed the read, but it definitely had some drawbacks! It’s a lighthearted romance about a reality star turned pariah and a football player who owns a failing cupcake shop. It had a lot of representation and reverse gender norms, which was good to read. It also has the fake dating trope which is one of my favorites!

The thing I didn’t like is it felt like there were too many things going on at the same time. I think if there hadn’t been so many plot points the author was trying to hit and she made Jada and Donovan’s relationship ebb and flow more naturally, it would have come off a lot better. It just started getting a little flat and repetitive after a while.

I do love that the ending really set this up for a series of interconnected romances - my favorite! With a bit more editing and finesse, I think this has the potential to be a very cute and enjoyable contemporary romance!

This book is a delight, I very much enjoyed Wesley’s debut. She writes characters that are charming, witty and incredibly likable. You will be cheering for Jada to figure out her life and for Donovan to realize that there is more to living than being successful. The romance is swoony and while the sex is a bit of a slow-burn it’s plenty steamy! Oh and beware, all the yummy cupcakes will make you mighty hungry. And I, for one, can’t wait to read the other shop partners/football players stories.

An enjoyable contemporary romance featuring a spoiled rich girl and a professional athlete. POC representation and all the tropes ;-)

This isn't my typical choice of novel, but the premise was interesting.

The opening chapter is really fun. Both the hero and heroine are famous, but neither knows who the other one is, making for an interesting interaction. There's a lot of tension in the beginning which adds to the awkward vibe. The supporting cast provides some entertainment too.

It's great to see a rom-com with diverse characters.

I didn't make it through the whole story as I'm a sweet/clean romance reader who is bothered by cursing, and a lot of sexual tension (that's not to say it's a terrible read - just not my personal preference).

If you like rom-coms with awkward moments, sexual tension and food, you'll probably enjoy this read.

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

I loved the fake dating trope and the idea was really soo sweet! It did fall a little flat for me as I felt like their romance was forced. Each character is so loveable and I did enjoy reading this.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me an ARC in exchange of my honest opinion.

Definitely a fun romance. not my typical read but the story was fast paced enough that I wanted to stick with it. Charming and delightful I would recommend to readers who enjoy a mix of light and a little bit of weight.

I liked the book. I don’t think I would reread it since it wasn’t a favorite, but it was certainly enjoyable while I did read it. I personally love celebrity romances, however, I do usually prefer them to be normal person and celebrity/royalty/etc. I found the romance between or two main characters to be a little lackluster and way to quick to the feelings, even for a romance novel. I still would love to check out more by this author and would still recommend this book to other readers. Every time I did pick up the book, I starting craving cupcakes, but I think that’s a little typical for a book about food.

This was a little bit of a struggle for me. I found Jada so entitled, it was hard to get in her corner. The animosity between her and the reality show seemed a bit contrived and prob could be eliminated without hindering the plot.

I loved this so much, I don't even know where to start! So here are 10 reasons to read this book:

1. If you would dive onto a concrete floor to save a cupcake.
2. Enemies to lovers.
3. Fake dating.
4. Grumpy/Sunshine? More like Grumpy/Grumpy.
5. A hilariously coincidental G.I Jada joke (iykyk)
6. August.
7. The CHEMISTRY.
8. Cupcake baking football players.
9. Did I mention August?
10. Honest and healthy communication between the love interests.

*I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*