I loved cupcake based stories since I love the great British baking show.
Donovan who is a prior pro football player has opened a cupcake shop and Jada joins him after failing at adulting.

What follows is a cute romance with a lot of baking, some tension and a fake dating trope. Who doesn't love a fate dating trope. Ammarite?

I totally picked Fake It Till You Bake It by Jamie Wesley up based on the cover and title, and even though it does have steam, it's something I could definitely see on the Hallmark channel or as a Lifetime movie. It is mostly a lighthearted read, but Wesley also talks about pressure from overbearing parents as well as dyslexia which isn't a topic I see all that much in books. I really liked the viewpoint changes between Jada and Donovan, and having this story set mostly in a cupcake shop made me crave them like no other. Like cupcakes, the relationship between our MCs is super sweet and I really liked the chemistry between them. This is in the fake-dating/enemies-to-friends-to-lovers romance tropes which I am a huge fan of, and I was rooting for our couple from the very first chapter. They were completely adorable together despite their initial meet-cute, and Wesley did a great job of creating a romance that basically reads like a romcom with open-door spice.

Kassiopia DeVora is the narrator for the audiobook, and even though it was a bit of a bummer that Donovan didn't get a male narrator, I thought DeVora did a splendid job and I enjoyed listening to her very much. Besides Jada and Donovan, my favorite character was Jada's grandmother by far. She was whip-smart and didn't have time for anyone's nonsense, making her a great addition to the story. Fake It Till You Bake pretty much ended how I expected it would, but it also had a touch of a cliffhanger, so I see a series coming! I thought this book was a lot of fun, and it would make an excellent palate cleanser after a heavy read. Now that Christmas is only about a month away, I am craving more of these cute romances, and even though this one doesn't have a holiday setting, I recommend it if you want something to give you the warm and fuzzies while also making you laugh.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was a super fun and cute read but overall I felt the storyline was a little hectic while also lacking something. The two extremes of Jada having been on a reality tv show and ending up working in a cupcake store with a pro NFL football player (who loves baking????) because she's lived a privileged life was a little over the top for me.
But all in all, I'll read anything about baking, meet cutes, and romance novels!

A sweet (pun intended) romance with nice steamy scenes and a particularly smoky one (burnt cupcakes!). I wasn’t sure about Jada at first as her privilege (losing access to family money money and having to get a “real job” at 25) didn’t endear me to her, but she won me over. Donovan was lovely from the start and I wish I could visit his cupcake shop for real. Mrs T was possibly my fave character so I like that she was the link between the two MCs. Looking forward to reading the next one!

Cute, quick & cozy! I really enjoyed this one for an afternoon read, and thought it was a great library find. It wasn’t particularly groundbreaking or stunningly written, but it had solid characters and mild spice, so I was satisfied.

Synopsis: A cupcake shop owned by a NFL player gets a much needed boost when the granddaughter of the team’s owner joins their staff — but maybe not in the way anyone expected.

Tropes: fake dating, grumpy/sunshine, enemies-to-lovers

TW: emotionally complicated families (I’m not it would be classified directly as abuse, but it’s certainly got some hints at that)

Could definitely see it becoming an interconnected series featuring other side characters!

I have to admit that I was interested in this purely for the cover, but I quickly got into the fun bakery-based plots and found myself rooting for the characters. Fake It Till You Bake It follows a pro-football player who also runs a bakery, and a disgraced reality TV star who team up once she is forced to work at the bakery. Its a fun, if ridiculous, setup that only gets more chaotic once they begin a fake relationship. I'm learning that while I like the fake-dating trope, I need a really great reason for why the characters are doing it. These two did not. Sure, one of them had a reputation to fix, and one had a business to help, but there are easier ways to do that. Furthermore, I couldn't really find a reason for them not to make their relationship real. The whole time I was like "just date already". Other than that, this was fun!

Both characters were likable, and I wanted them to succeed. I thought the chemistry was there, but I do wish it was a little more slow burn. In particular, I really liked Jada's growth, and her discovering what she wants to do with her life. I also love any mention of dating shows like The Bachelor, and this definitely nailed that. The author really nailed the toxic fandom vibes there. So yeah, this was fun, but a little messy. It was a quick read that me laugh and also made me crave cupcakes. Can't complain.

This had a strong start, I really loved the premise but the main character unfortunately fell a bit flat for me. She was just the right amount of too annoying for me to like, I don’t need to love a character and all they do but when it is a romance book that’s really all I’m here for along with romantic encounters. Unfortunately I didn’t get to fully enjoy those aspects due to character development.

This novel is unique in how it does the fake relationship/enemies to lovers trope and for that alone it gets a high rating.
From the literal first encounter of Donovan and Jada, the sparks fly and what starts at irritation and hatred quickly turns to sexual tension, which then leads to an accidental fake relationship and then begins the sweet, delicious slow burn of attraction that turns into full blown admiration, respect, and maybe even love.

I loved the build up of these two. The tension just swirls around them and it was hard to put this novel down.

I do think some of the dialogue was a bit much and the conflict at the end was a bit contrived, but overall, the book was enjoyable.

I found this one to be extremely difficult to get into. Not only is this couple comprised of a professional sports player but the love interest is a reality tv dropout that has no job and is waiting for her trust fund to come in. It was not very relatable and I did not enjoy it much.

Fake it til you bake was a pretty middle-of-the-road romance for me. I’m a sucker for the fake dating trope and as a big fan of the bachelor, I liked Jada’s storyline. It was also great to read a romance with a black hero/heroine. It was a sweet and easy read (pun intended) and I’d recommend it if you’re looking for a quick romance, but it wasn’t overly memorable. Overall, I’d rate it 3.5/5.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Fake It Till You Bake It is an automatic 5 star. I as much as everyone love a good fake dating trope, and this book is one of the best fake dating books I have read. Jamie Wesley did an amazing job writing this book, and it made me feel all the emotions.
A big part of why I love this book is the because of diverse cast of characters. I love the BIPOC representation as well as the neurodivergent portrayal. This combined with a healthy relationship between the two love interests blew all my expectations.

I tried reading this one a few times but it never stuck log enough for me to get past like 20 pages. Sadly that becomes a sign that the book isn't for me. Plenty of other people have enjoyed this one so listen to them and just know it's me, not the book. Time to move on.

I really enjoyed Fake it Till You Back It! I did struggle to relate to Jada's character, but there was undeniable magic between her and Donovan! The idea of the cupcake shop was so fun and I hope there will be more books set in this world in the future, because I haven't had quite enough of these characters just yet.

This was an enjoyable read to spend time with over the weekend. What I like most is that the learning disability, dyslexia, was highlighted. I also liked that the female protagonist, Jada, grows in her confidence during the story - I liked seeing her growth. The interactions between her and Donovan were so sweet - they definitely made me smile. I look forward to reading the next book in the series - I need to read Auguste’s story!

Why am I reading so many books about dating celebrities lately? I have to say that from that select yet somehow crowded subcategory, this is the best I've read so far this year. It also gains entree into another niche group: baking romances. And that's one of my favorite overly specific genres full stop, so it's in good company there. The story follows serious, multitasking Donovan Dell, who plays professional football and just opened a bakery with a couple of his teammates as a passion project and retirement plan. It also follows Jada Townsend-Matthews, an impulsive, fun-loving, loud-talking reality TV dropout who earned the nation's ire when she said no to a televised Bachelor-Esque proposal when it didn't feel right in her gut. After an admittedly rocky first meeting, the two concoct a delicious and convincing fake dating scheme (the perfect combination) to protect Jada from a slew of anti-fans in the court of public opinion and to produce buzz for Donovan's struggling bakery. They've got the chemistry to pull it off and the banter to keep it sparking.

The characters in the book are divine. Donovan's stern, steady support is dreamy, and that's not an adjective I throw around a lot. Jada's a heroine who isn't initially likable, and ironically, I like that about her. She isn't some bland girl-next-door, but a woman trying to get her life together and accept herself, flaws and all. She owns up to her mistakes, fights her battles with integrity, and lights up the lives of those around her.

The book has this magical recipe that keeps the story balanced and engaging. Jada and Donovan have sweetness and spice (open door, hallelujah), moments of both angst and connection, and battle their insecurities with clear conversation. The love story has its match in the characters' personal journeys, and even side characters feel multi-dimensional, whether they're supporters or villains. The conflict is found in both internal turmoil and external pressure, and the final act drama is angsty without being drawn out.

So why pick up Fake it Til You Bake it? The BAKED GOODS. The swoon-worthy moments that include but aren't limited to smoldering at a ROMANCE BOOK CLUB. The HOT-AND-HEAVY SLOW BURN TENSION. The emotional support in moments of weariness and vulnerability that include but aren't limited to debriefs on family stress with WINE AND SNUGGLES ON THE BEACH. Just read it, ok? Thanks to SMP Romance for my copy to read and review!

Can I just say that fake dating is consistently one of my favourite romance tropes? Fake dating to help the bakery and rehab Jada’s reputation ends up being the perfect recipe!

I really enjoyed the bakery owned by football players - it’s almost unexpected, and the men all bring something different to the table. I’m low key hoping we revisit this bakery for more romance for the business partners!

Jada and Donovan are great together, and it was fantastic to see both of them flourish and find their rhythm together. Jada discovering her passion along the way was so great.

This was a really sweet story(pun absolutely intended) and I look forward to reading more from this author!

I just finished this book, and I was pleasantly surprised by it. The whole spoiled-rich-girl-who-has-everything-given-to-her vibe kind of made me wary at first, but I quickly came to love how headstrong and vibrant Jada was. Plus, I love a good forced proximity, fake dating trope. The back and forth between POVs was very reminiscent of the song "I Won't Say (I'm In Love)" from Hercules, and I adored it. Though both of the main characters were wonderful, I'd have to say my favorite was Jada's grandmother, with her wily, tough, chaotic good vibes. She's someone I'd love to meet in real life.

I normally am a huge fan of fake dating but this one just didn't do it for me. I don't know if it was all the baking that just left me feeling bored, but I couldn't get into it.

Fake It Till You Bake It has a lovely premise, tons of good types, and some good representation. Fake dating, football players running a cupcake shop, and reality TV drama all come together in Fake It Til You Bake It. This was very fun and cute! Six-star read! More please!

This was a cute read! I'm a sucker for an athletic MMC and I thought it was interesting that Jada had been on a show similar to the Bachelor. (Die hard fan right here) Jada struggles to find her purpose in life, while Donovan is determined to make his shop a success for when he retires. I really enjoyed the overall plot and watching them navigate each other and breaking their confort zones!