This book was so sweet (baking pun absolutely intended)!!

Though it has a bit of a slow start, this book ends up being such a fun read with beloved tropes (read as: fake dating), good theming and representation, and a plot that didn't feel as cliche as most romcoms/contemporary romances do (but hey, we love cliches in contemporary romances, don't get me wrong). It was light and it provided great insight into media treatment while still keeping the heart.

I had a good time reading this book! Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for providing me with an eARC!

*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date: June 21, 2022

NFL player Donovan’s latest side hustle—a struggling cupcakery by the name of Sugar Blitz—has an unexpected new employee that shakes things up and it’s only a matter of time until sparks fly in the kitchen.

A lot of detail about the baked delights plus a fake dating trope (that resolves a little too quickly for me) and meddling family members—what’s not to love?!

✨ Review ✨ Fake It Till You Bake It by Jamie Wesley

⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: contemporary romance
Location: San Diego
Pub Date: June 21, 2022

NFL player Donovan Dell and two of his football buddies own a cupcake shop; when Jada Townsend-Matthews (social media influencer, currently hated reality star, and granddaughter of Dell's NFL team's owner) needs a job, Donovan hires her at the bakery. They end up fake dating to clear Jada's reputation and boost cupcake sales.

This book read as just okay for me. I loved the cupcake setting and the lovable NFL buddies, but Jada's entry into the book just seemed mean beyond her "bougie" identity that Donovan loves about her. Somehow it was a struggle to see her as authentic, even while I was rooting for her. The fake dating setup didn't have a lot of tension and resolved itself so early in the book that the remainder of the book seemed slow and not so important - I don't think I was invested in the larger conflicts beyond their relationship.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and #netgalley for an advanced e-copy of this book!

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

This is such a lovely book that I just could not get enough of!💗 Going right in, this story follows a young woman named Jada, who recently was swept away in a midst of drama - after turning down a proposal on a hit reality tv show. Jada soon finds herself working at a new cupcake bakery in town, Sugar Blitz, run by the professional football player Donovan Dell

What I adored about this book:
-fake dating trope??! Hello such a classic, I loveeee
-the chemistry between Donovan and Jada <33
-character growth and development !!!!!
-funny side characters
-descriptions of cupcakes Bc it made my hungry the whole time 🤨
-also the GORGEOUS coverrrr omg

I can’t recommend this super sweet romance enough. 🧁 you all should mark your calendars because the release date is JUNE 21st ‼️

A reality TV villain and a football star turned bakery owner collide in this romance that’s full of tropes but finishes with an unexpected twist. The icing on the cupcake is that communication between these two is top notch. The couple starts fake dating to rehabilitate Jada’s villain image while using her fame to draw more people to the failing bakery. The start of a series, the next book will surely be a confectionery treat!

4/5-

Ugh this was such a good book! The sass between the characters, Jada is strong willed & takes no shit, has no shame in her mental health and learning disorder, and then Donovan is a big football defensive man who also loves to bake and owns a cupcakery! We got a moderately spicy scene (2/5 nothing kinky, but moderately detailed) and Jada & Donovan’s chemistry jumps from the book!

I am so excited for this series! Donovan’s best friends were so entertaining in this book and I’m excited for what will unfold with August next!

Brief Plot: Jada, now the villain from her recent reality dating show, is insulting the bakery she’s in, without knowing Donovan, famous football player, also the owner of said Bakery, is behind her. When she ends up working at the shop, their enemies-to-lovers relationships sparks chemistry.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an eARC copy of Fake It Till You Bake It by Jamie Wesley, in exchange for my honest review!

Cupcakery in love!

This is a romance story in cupcakery owned by a professional football player, Donovan, who fell hard for the 'bougie' Jada Townsend-Matthews while they pretend to be a couple until everything starts to be too good to be true.

I'm going to give this a 5 stars but after 2 chapters before the end of the book, I thought it's better to be a 4 stars read. I really enjoy my reading experience throughout this book. It's really nice to read a good contemporary romance where I can relate to both of the MCs. Their banter is super funny and hot in the same time. The prologue or the first chapter is so good to open this book. I personally don't really read the blurbs at first and I never know that this book is a fake dating trope book.

What I don't really like from the book - it's really unnecessary for the MCs to 'take break' for 3 months in order to realize their feelings towards each other. I thought the climax is where Jada kick Lila's ass. Then suddenly there is this 'break' scene. The epilogue is good anyway, so I don't really mind. They're going to marry after all.

I like all the side characters here. Especially Nick and August!
After reading the epilogue, I know this is going to be a series! Can't wait to read Nick and August's books!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the ARC copy of “Fake It Till You Bake It”. I devoured this book so fast it isn’t even funny. I loved it so much. I will say I was a little hesitant at first with the introduction of our FMC Jada. I was put off due to what she initially says and her negativity towards the Business she goes into with her friend where she happens to be overheard by Donovan the business owner. BUT I will say after the first scene with Donovan when she leaves the Bakery with her friend I start to learn more about her and really start to love her. I feel the growth she has in the book makes up for the first impression I initially get from her from Donovan’s POV. Overall I loved all the tropes this book had. Even the fake dating, which that’s not usually one that I tend to gravitate to all the time! I rate it 4.5 start and am rounding it up to 5 for good read and Amazon rating purposes. I can’t wait to see if there is a second, which I am going to assume there is because I need a story for August, Nicholas and Olivia because I’m not ready to leave this version of San Diego.

Fake It Till You Bake It by Jamie Wesley is a 5 star romance book involving a professional football player, Donovan, who also owns a cupcakery & a reality TV show villain Jada, who’s not actually a villain, but is a strong & incredible woman coming into her own. There’s enemies to lovers, fake dating & also an extremely logical man with a beautifully impulsive & intuitive woman. In case that’s not enough to entice you to read this, I have more wonderful things to rave about this book.
The chemistry between Jada & Donovan is electric. There’s banter, tension & a captivating allure between them to create a recipe I would say for the perfect romantic cupcake, but this book has spice & I’ve never had a spicy cupcake! I will say whatever they’re cooking is a delicious combination of sweet & spicy!
Their conversations felt natural, which is something that I appreciated. I could easily envision this as a movie. Someone please start casting this right away.
Jada is a strong woman with a blunt nature & a realness that made her character feel authentic & fantastic. She is also dyslexic, which I loved seeing a learning disability represented. There are some ableist comments made from side characters in regard to her dyslexia but Jada obviously handled them well, like she does everything.
As I’ve gotten older & discovered my own worth, I’ve set high standards for what I accept & expect in real life & in the fictional worlds I read. The love interest Donovan exceeded these expectations. & is positively swoon worthy. He even gives one of the epic professing love speeches straight out of a romcom but his genuineness made him stand out.
One scene early on felt like a nod to Cinderella, but if some man I barely knew touched my feet, I would probably fall trying to get away. Perhaps that’s a me thing, but I struggled at the moment. The thought behind the gift that let to the feet touching was thoughtful, but I thought he could’ve just given her the box. But I have to say I think that’s the only moment I didn’t like! It’s THAT good!
Besides the obvious phenomenal main characters, Grams is a star & a legend & I absolutely love her. I also enjoyed the best friends of both main characters & I would love to see their loved stories unfold pretty please & thank you! The ending sets it up perfectly for the next novel & I hope another after that. I need all their friends to find love & I would even love a Grams love story!
If you love romance books, I highly recommend Fake It Till You Bake it by Jamie Wesley, so you can get to know Jada, Donavon (#JaDonforever), Grams & all their friends! This book comes out June 21, 2022!

Massive thanks to NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for giving me the opportunity to read an arc of this incredible book in exchange for an honest review!

Extra things I loved:
-“She was not throwing away her shot.” (97% of the book)- I love a good Hamilton reference.

Trigger warnings: This book mentions &/or contains gambling addiction & ableism comments.

I will post my review on my Instagram (titaniumtammyreads) & TikTok (titaniumtammy) very soon along with another about a month before publication. & I will post my review on Amazon & Barnes & Noble on the day of publication.

The title and the cover art drew me to this book, and I’m so happy I heeded their call. The story opens in the California cupcake shop that serves as main backdrop for most of the book’s action, where the main characters Jada and Donovan have a sort of “meet hostile” situation. The author does a great job of quickly setting up the circumstances that lead to the fake relationship the title describes. Lots of funny and sweet moments follow as our main characters interact. It is a bit of a slow burn, but when the heat comes it is well worth the wait.

If you like black rom coms, fake relationships, and grumpy / sunshine you will love this book.

Thank-you NetGalley for providing me with an eArc of this book!

I really enjoyed this book! It was the perfect spin on enemies to lover and although we see this trope in many novels, Jamie did not fail to leave her mark. Jamie excelled at depicting Donovan’s persona, serious/smouldering and not encompassing his whole personality to be all about football. Jada was the perfect amount of witty and sexy, a dangerous combo that definitely proved hard to resist. Overall, the book was a cute read! 4/5!

Donovan Dell is a football player and business owner...of a cupcake bakery. Sugar Blitz is his cupcakery and is struggling to survive. He has worked hard for everything he has earned, and has always had a plan in place to follow. But no plan can contain reality star Jada Townsend-Matthews who blows into his cupcake bakery and who seems to have the intention of turning everything in his life upside down.

Jada has come off a reality show when she decided she did not want to marry the Bachelor--an unforgiveable sin on the reality circuit. Her image is in trouble and she needs a job when she shows up in the bakery...but can she bake? Maybe Donovan and Jada can work together to repair Jada's image and turn the struggling bakery into a destination for the city's tastiest cupcakes?

I thought Fake It Till You Bake It was a fun and sweet romance. I loved the idea of a football player (and team mates) who co-owned a bakery, and a lead character who was not big on change and spontaneity. Jada's story-line was equally fun, and in fact, who doesn't love a tie in with reality tv? The capers that Jada got into had me laughing in several parts, and the story of their relationship was very sweet. I definitely recommend this sweet tale!

Jamie is a new to me author. I loved the premise…hot football player 🔥(plus his hot friends) & cupcakes🧁😍 and a sassy heroine who’s going through a rough patch and trying to move past it…

Fake It was a bit slower read than I’m used to but I’m so glad I read it. It’s sweet & fun filled with friends who give good flirt;)

I really enjoyed this romance! I loved the chemistry and banter between Donovan and Jada. I liked the lead up to these two being thrown together in a fake dating scenario. There were a couple of points in the romance that didn’t flow very well to me. It just felt like something was missing a couple of times, but overall I adored these two.

I also thought Jada’s character growth was excellent. This was a dual perspective romance, but I feel like we got much more out of Jada and her past than we do from Donovan.

Donovan’s business partners, teammates, and best friends were also fun additions. The epilogue leads me to believe we might get more books about them which I am here for!

Overall I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone looking for a fun rom-com with a little bit of steam.

Fake It Till You Bake It is a fake dating trope. Coming through with this representation and having the best tropes?!?! Sounds like a win. Despite the fact that it is a lovely little read, I found it to be rather predictable.

Jada was a contestant on a show similar to The Bachelor/Bachelorette and other similar shows, but she turned down a proposal, which enraged the fans. She's attempting to get back on her feet, now that she's off the show. This is when Donovan comes in...

Donovan not only plays football, but he also co-owns a cupcake bakery with two of his teammates. Donovan and Jada met for the first time when Jada and her friend Olivia entered his store. Donovan persuaded Jada to eat one of his cupcakes because she didn't think they were any good. They didn't expect to see each other again after that.

Jada’s grandmother knows Jada needs some help and orders her to find a job. Mhmmm I wonder where she’s gonna work? 🤔

The lack of communication that they routinely include at the end of books is starting to get old. I apologized, but I'm not sorry. But it's the same damn thing over and over, to the point where it's becoming tedious. It seems like they can't think of anything else, and it's starting to irritate me, as well as making me lose interest in the book. Would I love to read a book where there is no miscommunication at the last 90% of the book? Yes, absolutely. Sure, real-life couples argue and miscommunicate, but I'm not interested in reading about it. If I did, I'd go outside and try to find my own love life, but that's not going to happen. Just give me my happy freaking couple in the last 90% and nothing else, please.

Even though the whole lack of communication annoyed me, it’s still a very good book. The characters are so easy to fall in love with, and their relationship is so cute. Overall, it’s a good book.

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

An adorable and sweet romance of fake-to-real love between an impulsive woman trying to figure out what she wants and an uptight man who thinks logic should rule all decisions.

Jada is currently trending on twitter for all the wrong reasons after she turned down a proposal on a bachelor-type reality show. She's trying to hide from being insulted in life and online. Grandma steps in and gets her a job at a bakery where - because of reasons - she can pull strings with the owner.

Donovan is a pro-football player who thinks long term - he's invested in real estate and now he's opened up a cupcake shop to both do what he loves and have other revenue streams after he's too old to play football. Buuut, cupcake shop isn't doing too well - until he and Jada start trending as a the new, hot couple when she makes up a lie on the spot that he's the reason she turned down the proposal.

So - fake dating ensues, but we all can see where this is going, right? I loved how, despite the premise, the two characters are always SUPER honest with each other, preventing a lot of faux drama, allowing the real dramas to play out with family and reality tv.

#JaDon are a sweet couple and it was fun to follow their romance through its ups and downs and baking disasters!

Do not read this book while hungry or you will start searching for the nearest cupcake shop!

I really enjoyed this cute, light romance for about the first 70%. After that it almost felt like it lost momentum. Jada and Donovan were sweet and fun. I loved Donovan and his supportive nature. I felt that this couple was so well-written and balanced each other nicely. However. It almost felt like too much was trying to be thrown in at the end (Lila, Dr. John, Jada’s parents, Donovan’s dad) to give some drama. I also thought we needed to know more of Jada and her internal struggles because her decisions at the end just didn’t seem consistent.
The characters in this book were a huge strength and I am excited to see what comes next for August!

Thanks to NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Very well written, but I just didn’t really connect and get into the story all that well. It’s just me I think here, but I’m sure others will find this being a very lighthearted cute read and enjoy it very much. Humor was alright, I smiled and the characters could be funny. Also wished there was an epilogue farther along in the future but still offered some closure

Cute romcom using the fake boyfriend/girlfriend troupe. Also has a professional football player as one of the main characters, seemingly a growing trend in the genre.

In this case the football player also owns a bakery with a few of his teammates, which is where most of the plot takes place. The team's owner is the grandmother of the other half of the fake relationship and she was one of my favorite parts of the book. She is a take no nonsense kind of woman in a white, man's world and really loves her granddaughter and the players she employs.

While not my favorite book in the realm of professional sports/romance books it is a good, quick read.

I was gifted a copy of this book from Net Galley and St. Martins Press in exchange for an honest review. This book is available on June 21, 2022. ⭐⭐⭐
Fake It Till You Bake It is a cute fake dating story of a professional football player/cupcake bakery owner and a reality TV star. As with any fake fating story, trouble comes with their fake dating scheme. I thought there would be too much football for a non-football fan, but it didn't overpower the story. The one thing I didn't understand was the ending, particularly the last two sentences. I'm not sure if I missed something, but it just didn't make sense to me. The ending also seemed rushed.