I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Fake It Till You Bake It is a romcom centered around Donovan, a football player who also owns a cupcake bakery, and Jada, now internet famous for rejecting the proposal on a Bachelor-esque show. Jada ends up working at the bakery, and when paparazzi come around asking for details about the show, she impulsively tells them she is dating Donovan. This fake romance soon turns real but can they stay together?

I thought this book was a little slow at first. I got into it more, but I think the buildup was too slow. The "reveal" that inevitably happens with the faking dating trope also fell a little flat for me. Fine rom-com, but not my favorite fake dating romance or baking romance out there right now.

Fabulous romantic comedy, the author did such an amazing job with the characters I felt like I was watching a movie! One can only hope for one in the future. Jada and Donovan are electric, their banter is hilarious. Even their inner doubts caused by their respective families was true to life. Great friends, family members and cupcake customers make this a very fun read. Highly recommend.
I received a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions in this review are my own. Thanks @StMartinsPress. Thanks @Netgalley

The cover, diversity, and premise of the story is what instantly drew me in, plus my current trope obsession is fake dating and this fit the bill perfectly! It seriously has all the components for a great little romcom, but it just didn't work for me.

Pros:
- baking
- diversity
- slow burn romance

Cons:
- pacing
- poorly executed dual pov

Overall I thought Fake It Till You Bake It was super cute, but I struggled... HARD. The dual pov was weirdly done and hard to follow along with, plus the pacing was also off and made the storyline drag a bit... I just didn't click with the story or Jada and Donovan like I had hoped, but other than that I loved how diverse the book was, the fake dating romance plot. and obviously the baking.

In Fake It Till You Bake It, a charming, delightful romance novel, professional football player, Donovan Dell, is struggling to get more customers for his cupcake bakery. He has a great product, a great location, and an awesome staff, but something is missing. Enter Jada - a reality TV star turned villain, who gets a job in the bakery thanks to her grandma, who owns Donovan’s team. Jada and Donovan are like night and day: where Jada is impulsive and fearless, Donovan is more levelheaded and cautious. They quickly find out that a fake relationship could help fix their problems, but could also bring a whole new set of issues and shenanigans, and maybe even… true love.

I had so much fun reading this book, I really didn’t want it to end! I loved the banter, the sparks between Jada and Donovan, who, along with being an amazing couple, were also great characters in their own right. I was keeping my fingers crossed for them throughout the entire book and it was so satisfying to see them change and grow. It was simply total pleasure and glee to follow their story, and I would’ve rated this book 5 stars if it wasn’t for the final plot twist that I found to be rushed and unnecessary. I loved the fake dating trope and I found the level of spiciness to be just right. The side characters were fun, but it was very clear who was the main stars of the show, and rightfully so! I could honestly read many more books about Jada and Donovan’s relationship.

Overall, Fake It Till You Bake It is an enchanting and captivating romance with awesome dialogue and characters that are truly funny. So lovely!

This new to me author was fabulous. This was a fun book and I enjoyed reading it. It was a quick read, it took me an afternoon, I would recommend to others and I look. forward to other books from this author.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for recommending this read. I actually enjoyed it more than I thought I would. I liked the diversity of the characters, and that racism wasn't the main issue they were facing here. I like when it's a non-issue, as it should be (in a perfect world).
I liked the chemistry between Donovan and Jada, and how they balanced each other out in their personalities. Admittedly, I did have to look up what bougie meant as I've never read it in a book before.
I felt like a light, fun read, filled with delicious food, and I got it.

Jada needs a boyfriend-- after all, she did turn down a proposal on reality TV on the grounds that she was in love with someone back home. Donovan needs customers in his cupcake shop. So when a tenacious reporter confronts Jada at the shop on her first day, it seems easiest for the two to fake a relationship.

Fake It Till You Bake It is a sweet story about vulnerability, privacy, and learning to trust the good things that come your way.

This sweet romance incorporates both enemies to lovers and fake dating themes. I loved that this centered around BIPOC characters and incorporated sports into the baking world.

It is a fluff read, despite dealing with some interpersonal family conflict, and great if you’re looking for a light romance.

I would have rated it higher, but the pacing was a little slow for me at times, and there were elements of the character/plot dynamics that seemed incongruent. Purely subjective, though.

A special thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Publishing Group for an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book had everything I could have asked for in a romance novel. And I’m so excited for this series to continue.

I don’t throw around the word perfect very often, but I honestly think this was just about there. It was sweet and honest and dealt with the issues between them without miscommunication or annoyance.

Jada, in the aftermath of a reality TV scandal retreats home and her well-meaning grandmother sets her up with a job at a local cupcakery, owned and run by three football players. She’s a chaotic breath of fresh air to uptight Donovan, who lets loose on the football field but runs everything else in his life by numbers and spreadsheets. When her scandal catches up to her, she invents a relationship with Donovan and together they use their fake relationship to help each other.

But what happens when they catch real feelings? Everything.

This was a resounding 5 star read for me. And this author is now on my radar!

Fake dating is always delightful, but this book was extra sweet.

Football player and bakery owner Donovan meets Jada - the most recent lady to turn down the Bachelor on TV - in the worst of circumstances and then, of course, Jada ends up working at his bakery. Donovan is logical, predictable, and swoon-worthy and the addition of Jada into his life pushes him out of his comfort zone in the best way possible.

This sweet story was exactly what I wanted it to be.

I really enjoyed this book by Jamie Wesley. It was very well done by the author and I would definitely recommend this book to anyone.

A fast paced blaze of a romance novel. Pro-football player/cupcake entrepreneur faces off with a disgraced former reality tv. A fun concept.

What a sweet (get it!?) read! I loved this one. It was fake dating with a little dash of enemies to lovers. I enjoyed how strong Jada was and ohhhhh Donovan! The chemistry was on point and while the book had a slow burn to it- it all came together great. Thank you to NetGalley and Jamie Wesley for this arc!

I really tried but I could not get into this book. It started slow and never gained momentum. In addition, the font made it hard to read and stay focused. I tried several times but book did not hold my interest.

The title, cover, and blurb make this way too cute. This is an perfect fake dating trope and I really liked seeing Donovan and Jada falling in love. Furthermore, I really enjoyed the supporting characters!I’m sure fans of the author’s and of contemporary romance in general will love this book.

A special thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press & Wednesday Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved every part about this book, it was so cute!!! I am always a fan of fake dating and this book did not disappoint. It did seem as though Jada and Donovan fell in love pretty fast but it worked. He was just always there for her and stood up for her and it made my heart so warm and fuy.

I received an arc through netgalley.

Fake It Till You Bake It is an enemies-to-lovers story about Jada, a reality TV star who is being dragged through the mud by the media, and Donovan, a football player and bakery owner (love this combo). A string of coincidences ends up with Jada working at Sugar Blitz, Donovan's store, The two of them suddenly have to figure out how to work together and put their differences aside, while ignoring the CLEAR attraction that is between them.

Things I enjoyed: I LOVED the backstories behind Jada and Donovan. The social media buzz around Jada was a really interesting addition to the plot, and as someone who loves reality TV shows, I was super drawn to that aspect of the story. I also loved all the characters that worked at Sugar Blitz and was really rooting for them to succeed and find happiness.

Things I didn't love: I found it really hard to buy into Donovan and Jada's romance. The dialogue in the novel was a bit cheesy at some times, and the attraction between Jada and Donovan seemed WAY over the top right from the get-go, which really took me out of it.

Overall, this would be a good book for someone looking for a quick, fun, fluffy read - I wouldn't recommend this to anyone who's a super harsh romance critic.

First of all, get into this cover. It's absolutely gorgeous. Two beautiful Black characters on the cover of a romance? Oh sign me up and do it QUICKLY. Second, I love a fake dating trope and so that immediately sucked me in as well. Throw in cupcakes and we've hit the trifecta.

Jamie Presley did not disappoint with this wholesome, cute read. Jada is fresh off of a reality dating show nightmare that has turned her into public enemy number one. She's been stuck in her condo for weeks because the other alternative is facing the world, which apparently hates her for breaking their heartthrob Dr. John's heart. And of course there's the fake boyfriend she made up to justify why she turned down Dr. John's proposal. It's under these circumstances that she meets Donovan, a football player/baker/bakery owner. Her best friend drags her into his shop on her first day out in public and of course she, unintentionally, puts her foot in her mouth when she trashes his bakery and his cupcakes right in front of him without knowing he's the owner. To add even more awkwardness to this series of events, Donovan happens to be one of the star football players on the team that her grandmother owns. Of course neither Donovan nor Jada know this until the two meet for a second time right in said grandmother's office. Mrs. T (as she's affectionately called by her players) has a proposition for the two of them. If Jada can work successfully in Donovan's shop for the next few months, then she can have early access to her trust fund. Jada is mortified. Yes, she has trouble figuring out what she wants to do in life, but that doesn't mean she needs her grandmother to find her a job! Still, no one says no to Mrs. T.

This is truly an opposite's attract romance and I love that just as much as I love the fake dating premise. Where Donovan is all logic and order, Jada is all impulse and slight chaos. Both of them balanced one another out and helped them find the pieces of themselves they were missing. Donovan was dealing with left over trauma from having a father addicted to gambling so he craved stability. To him, order without surprises meant that he would never again be placed in a situation where the rug could be snatched out from under him. Jada has been struggling against her parents' expectations of her her whole life. Between her lack of direction and her struggles with dyslexia, she's never felt good enough. Their relationship, which blossoms into something beautiful and real, helps them both realize that sometimes stepping outside of your comfort zone is just what the baker ordered.

Besides being completely adorable with one another, I loved watching them getting on each other's nerves. There are a few moments where Donovan is teaching Jada how to bake and when I tell you his patience with her was so sexy! WHEW! Speaking of sexy, if you're expecting a sexy read here, that's not what you're going to get. There is one steamy scene about...65% into the book, but most of the physical moments don't involve anything above kissing. I love a spicy romance, but I didn't mind that this was lacking in this area because the cuteness made up for it.

I also thought the pacing was great, though towards the end it gets a little rushed. Jada will definitely make you want to shake her, especially towards the end, but it's all for a great cause. Other than cute baking scenes and wholesome encounters, this book will also give you some funny side characters (who we'll explore in the next book), cupcake cravings, nosey book club members, a steamy book cover shoot, and an all around cute time. I can't wait to have this book on my physical shelf!

Fake It Till You Bake It manages to include so many of my favorite romance novel tropes - fake dating, food/baking, reality TV, sports, celebrity romance - and, for the most part, it nails these elements. The set-up getting the couple into a fake relationship, so often the most clumsily contrived part of this kind of book, works smoothly, and feels totally in character for both partners. The reality TV + bakery + football elements are pretty well balanced (I would maybe have enjoyed a little more on the sports romance front, but that's fine!), and Jada and Donovan wind up having great chemistry together, though their attraction feels a smidge forced at first. (Their equally strong character development is definitely one of the highlights of the book!) Fake It has a slower start, moving elements into place, but at about the halfway point, it really finds its footing. Most importantly to me, the 80%-or-so conflict, typical of the romance genre but too often shoehorned in, feels organic and earned, and doesn't require inexplicable twists or out-of-character illogic to happen. It's a cute, mildly steamy, and totally romantic read, with a clear set-up for a sequel that got me excited to read it (and disappointed to realize how long it'll be, since this one isn't even out yet)!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

A disgraced reality star and a cupcake baking football player fake date in order to save her reputation and his bakery. The relationship isn’t real, but their feelings for each other just might be.
This book was one of my most anticipated releases of this year and it did not disappoint! It’s one of the best romance books I’ve ever read! Jada and Donovan were such amazing characters. I rooted for them in every way. And they had the cutest, most natural banter. They’re one of my favorite fictional couples of all time. The cupcake descriptions made me exceptionally hungry! And I also loved that there was dyslexia representation. I will say that this book had minimal smut, so if you’re looking for a romance with a lot of spice, this one might not be for you. However, that was perfect for me!
I don’t have anything negative to say about this book at all. The characters were lovable. The pacing was perfect. The writing flowed so easily. And the ending was absolutely flawless. I am very impatiently waiting for the sequel and this book isn’t even out yet! If you want an adorable romance with characters to root for and dialogue that will make you crack up, this book is for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this arc. All opinions are my own.