Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It pains me to say this, but this book just didn't do it for me. The premise was cute, but the execution just didn't work. It was slow, repetitive and the characters were flat. The first 75% was tough to get through and I found myself skimming just to finish. Things picked up the last quarter, but I wish it didn't take so long for things to get interesting. Overall, the writing wasn't cohesive and felt like a paint by numbers approach to writing a book. It was formulaic and lacked the depth I was hoping for. I think the author is talented, but this one was a miss for me.

Cute romance about a spoiled girl hiding from a viral story and a good looking football player. They fake a relationship to stop the social media craziness in her life but end up falling in love for real. It was perfectly fine until the end…when the drama and the problem that caused their issues gets resolved in a matter of a few pages.

This was so sweet (pun intended!). Really fun story that combines really tv, pro sports, cupcakes, and love. I loved the strong female character in Jada, and thought the three football playing entrepreneur bakers were fantastic. Really cute romance that would make a fantastic spring/summer read.

Fake It Till You Bake It has my absolute favorite trope—fake dating/relationship. Jada and Donovan each had their own reasons for tolerating the other, but the chemistry was there. And after the slow burn, the sparks became an inferno. While it was initially hard for me to believe their emotional connection when they started out on such a bad foot, I still sensed their physical, which was wonderfully sprinkled throughout the book, building up to a very steamy moment between them.

The stakes didn't seem high enough for me, but it didn't stop me from enjoying this story and wanting to read more within the Sugar Blitz world with so many dashing men to satisfy that craving. I would have enjoyed more groveling after the black moment but was satisfied with their HEA. I must say the author has a very strong Romantic voice and I'm looking forward to reading more of her works.

Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this romance in exchange for an honest review.

This book started a little bit slow, but the pace picked up and it was a really cute story. Jada was a little bit annoying to me at the start, but she really redeemed herself as the story went on. The story also had me laugh out lout

This was the first book I've read by the author, but I would read another in the future.

I felt the story was corny and predictable, even with the implausible plot. (Incredibly hot football pro meets sassy, spoiled rich girl who needs him to give her a job) It is not a style of writing I enjoy, therefore I chose not to finish this book.

Fake-dating story line with just a fun approach to the common romance tropes. A fun quick read with great character chemistry.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A football player who owns a cupcake shop that’s slowing down in business, a reality star dating contestant hiding from angry fans, and a first meeting that doesn’t go so well. Jada Townsend-Matthews is the most reviled woman in America after turning down a proposal on a reality dating show. She’s keeping a low profile and just trying to get by, but when she agrees to go with her best friend to San Diego cupcake shop and snubs it before even trying it because she’s in a bad mood... she comes face to face with the owner who insists she tries his cupcakes before saying it sucks and to her surprise it doesn’t. Cue Donovan Dell, professional football player and owner of Sugar Blitz, a cupcake shop he runs with his teammates and friends. Jada’s grandmother offers her a job and if she can prove herself in the four months her grandmother will release her trust fund to her, to her surprise its to her grandmother’s favorite football player’s cupcake shop.... Jada will be working for Donovan the guy she got into an argument with. It doesn’t help that when a reporter mistakenly believes Jada and Donovan are an item they both realize they can use it to their advantage and Jada can keep the media off her back and Donovan can get publicity for his bakery. But what starts off as fake dating soon turns into real emotions as these two get to know each other better and that maybe all their banter and fighting is just a little headway for flirting and falling for each other. This was a cute story and I loved that you got to know both Donovan and Jada, both of them are dealing with stuff but they both are supportive and want to help each other. Definitely give this a read if you’re looking for a sweet romance!

*Thanks Netgalley and St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Wow this book was just so good and so easy to get lost in. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and I just didn't want the story to end. I just couldn't get enough of these wonderful characters and I just loved getting to see their journey. I will most definitely be reading more stories from this wonderful author.

Brief Synopsis:
Jada a reality star from a dating show starts working at a cupcake shop owned by Donovan a pro football player. They start fake dating to help save Jadas reality stardom and save Donovans cupcake shop.

My Thoughts:
-I love a book with a fake dating romance troupe
-This book was sweet. I enjoyed the cupcake shop and how it was the center of the story
-I didn’t really feel invested in Jada and Donovan’s relationship. The characters and their relationship needed more development
- Overall if you enjoy a sweet enemies too lovers with a fake dating troupe mixed in this book is for you


Thank you NetGalley and St Martins Press for this eArc in exchange for an honest review

I was given an eARC of Fake It Till You Bake it by St. Martin's Press and NetGalley. If you are looking for a fun, lighthearted read, I recommend fake it til you bake it. It involves the fake dating trope, pro-football players baking cupcakes, and a somewhat spoiled rich girl with family issues trying to gain access to her trust fund. Fake It Till You Bake It was the perfect break for some more challenging reads

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Fake it Til You Bake It is the story of Dominic and Jada. Jada just turned down a proposal on a dating reality show, and Dominic, a NFL star, has opened a cupcake shop with two of his teammates. Jada comes into the shop and insults both the shop decor and the cupcakes which upsets Dominic. A week later he's agreeing to hire the granddaughter of his team's owner and in walks Jada, the said granddaughter. A meet cute turned into a boss/employee romance with a side of fake dating thrown in.

I enjoyed Dominic and Jada. Her struggles to find herself in a family of overachievers was realistic and well written. Dominic was a little less fleshed out than Jada but his personality did shine thru a bit. This was a slow burn, which I like, and the fake dating wasn't too egregious. I also really liked that Jada was given the time and space to find herself and how they found their way back to each other after the obligatory "big breakup:".

I was confused that she was able to ignore interviews about her reality show - I'm sure she would have been legally contracted to do follow up interviews. This also makes later developments with that plot not jibe well either. I also find it hard to believe a cupcake shop run by current NFL players wouldn't be full of people, if for no other reason than to ogle them. There would have been more focus on his dating a relative of the team owner both in social media and in the store- that would have been enough for tabloid fodder, regardless of the reality show.

All in All I did really like this book, and I'm interested in follow up books on the other two shop owners. Three stars.

I enjoyed this one! I really liked that Jada and Donovan's relationship started off with fire right away. Yes, it's a fire borne of hatred, but it sets up their passionate connection well, in my opinion. Jada comes into Donovan's cupcake shop with all kinds of judgement about his shop and he challenges her on them. When I got to the part where they found out they had to work together, I was excited to see how their workplace romance would pan out. And pan out, it did! Those kissing scenes were so hot and when they finally made it to the bedroom, it was explosive.

In the end, I didn't love this book as much as I wanted to, but it was still very enjoyable and entertaining. There was a lot going on in this book, enough to keep the story moving along but I wish it was longer so that their relationship could develop more.

Another plus for this book - cupcakes. Who doesn't like cupcakes?!?!? I wish I could try the smores cupcakes from the book!

Steam level: 🔥🔥🔥
⚠️mention of gambling addiction

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review! I really loved this cover! I am kinda done with how many baking books I have read over the past year but this one was fun! I wanted to eat all the cupcakes!

Fake it Till You Bake It by Jamie Wesley is an adorable and fun novel! Jada turns down a proposal on a reality TV show and becomes a pariah. When she returns home she starts working in a cupcake shop to make her grandmother happy, but while there some people think that she and one of the owners are a couple, they go for it and pretend to be. Why not if it's good for sales, right? But funny things happen when pretending and suddenly being a couple isn't such a bad idea...or is it?

This is a great beach read, light and fun and easy to read while enjoying yourself. Thanks to the author,St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin, and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

This was such a sweet read (pun not intended) and had some of my favourite tropes which is always a bonus. It's hard to beat enemies to lovers combined with fake dating, as well as the slow burn which I felt fit the story really well and gave Jada and Donovan time to get to know each other. I don't know what it is about a romance set at a bakery but it always makes for the cutest story and this was no exception.
I liked seeing Jada start to find herself through the book and thought the last part of the book, while maybe a bit rushed, was important for Jada. She seemed to truly figure out what she wanted to do in life by the end of the book and that made me happy to see. Although I think because of her background, growing up in a wealthy family some of the problems she was facing were unrelatable and a bit superficial - this is excluding the social media harassment she went through as that was a serious and unfortunate matter she had to face.
Honestly I think one of my favourite parts of the book was Jada's grandmother who also happens to be the owner of the football team Donovan plays for. I guess it's really her to thank for the forced proximity between Jada and Donovan, and I would've loved to see her even more throughout the book since she only really appeared once in a while. Not to mention the other side characters were all quite enjoyable to read about.
As a whole I though the book was cute and a nice easy and fun read with great diversity. I also though the cover was very fitting for the book. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the Arc.

This book was a struggle for me. This book had the foundation to be amazing, fake dating, slow burn, opposites attract, and diversity, but this fell flat for me. I had a really hard time getting into the book and I had a hard time seeing the chemistry between Jada and Donovan. The second half of the book was better than the first once Jada and Donovan's story accelerated, but I wish the author had developed the side characters better and didn't introduce so many. I loved Mrs T, she was my favorite, and I did like how Donovan accepted Jada's dyslexia as it was and worked with her on it. I wish the dyslexia had been a larger part of the story line though, to really show case the struggle and all the Jada has done to overcome it. Instead it was just mentioned about 3 times without too much detail. Overall, a fun, easy read once the second half hit, but not sure I will continue with the series. The last line inferred there would be another book.

**I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion**

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this book in exchange for an honest review!!

I LOVE this book. 5⭐️

From the cupcakes, to the football, to the reality TV, and more, there was so much going on and I DEVOURED every last bit of it. The tension between Jada and Donovan was amazing. From the beginning they were so undeniably attracted to each other and everyone noticed. Their fake dating was just *chef’s kiss*. I loved watching them get more and more comfortable with each other, physically and emotionally.

I have the fattest crush on Donovan. This man was just amazing. A football player who bakes? I love him; he’s so sweet and funny and watching him be so uncontrollably attracted to Jada, YES! Jada was just as amazing. From learning about her time on the reality show, to her growth afterwards, to her pushing herself to build a future for herself: amazing. She is reluctant to show emotion and at times insecure and it was so easy to relate to her and love her. Her growth was absolutely impeccable.

Would DEFINITELY recommend this book!!

This was such a great story, and based on the epilogue it also isn’t the end which I’m so happy about! Jada and Donovan are perfect together and the other characters in the story are also great and I’m hoping the each gets their story, including Ella! The author did a great job of telling the story without the often seen unnecessary drama and conflict between main characters, which I greatly appreciated. I would definitely recommend this book and look forward to seeing what is next for the men at Sugar Blitz!

Thank you NetGalley and Publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book has a lot going for it. AMAZING tropes, funny banter, great representation and BAKING. I enjoyed the ending and loved the characters. However, the plot was a little slow and boring at times. I enjoyed a lot about this book, but was not as invested in the storyline as I had hoped.

A fake dating, enemies to lovers, opposites attract, with a thrown in reality show. All in all, I enjoyed this cute and easy read.