If you are looking for fake dating, he-falls-first, small town romance, look no further than The Fake Out. There is a lot to love about this book, but other than the engaging style and romcom moments, there are a few things I want to highlight about this book.
First, the characters are not perfect, but they are trying very hard to be good people. Both love their families and work hard to develop relationships that are meaningful. They make mistakes, and sometimes do things they shouldn’t, but they both are genuinely pursuing what they truly believe is the best thing for their families—- even when it negatively impacts their own happiness. This sort of self sacrifice doesn’t come across as hokey, so you feel for the characters as they struggle through some of these ups and down.
Second, the match up is FMC is nerdy, plus sized librarian, MMC is a famous football player. This match-up can easily fall into stereotypes in a bad way, such as the FMC having body image issues, or the MMC being a dumb jock. Peterson really deftly navigates these pitfalls and offers characters who are more than a caricature: the FMC doesn’t obsess over her body; the MMC is smart and thoughtful. This really allows for the appreciation of the story, rather than a retelling of the same-old-same-old jock + nerd plot we have all seen before.

Again, if you’re looking for a feel-good, Happily Ever After with fun banter and sweet (not spicy!) romance, pick up The Fake Out!

(I received an advanced reader’s copy from Netgalley and the publisher, but was not paid for this review. All opinions are my own.)

I want to thank the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review of this book.

This book was absolutely stunning and I loved every second of it.

5 word summary: Librarian fake dates professional athlete

Tropes: fake dating, grumpy sunshine, sports romance, marriage of convenience

I loved the horrible pickup lines to start off each chapter. Easy 5 stars and I can’t wait to get a physical copy of this book!

That is two for two with Sharon Paterson -This romance, I will call a sports romance, was fabulous.

What could I not want in this book? A small town grumpy Liberian who doesn't trust anyone. And a football player with the biggest heart who is clearly in love with the grumpy librarian

And what pushes them further together is a mutual deal of fake dating. YAY! Beauty!

Chris is not your usual NFL player; he is hot! But he's a genuinely good guy. He wants to protect everyone he loves, and that included Mea.
Unfortunately, Mea has learned to trust and lean on one but herself - her mother's bills are stacking up, but she can handle it until an opportunity with Chris arises that she can't pass up.

I adore this book - Mea and Chirs were beautiful, but the supporting characters were also the cherry on top.

A banger - another five out of five for me

Cute and classic rom-com. I loved the small-town vibes and the banter between Mae and Chris. The chemistry between them is obvious to everyone but Mae. There are some genuinely funny and touching moments. This is very much a clean romance, which for me was its biggest flaw. I have no doubt it will be a selling point for others. I loved the secondary characters, especially prankmaster Ali. I would totally read her book. This book is a great pool or beach read. I highly recommend (and since there is no steam, that makes the book very good indeed! ;))

4 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a complimentary ARC of this book. The opinions in this review are my own.

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was the perfect rom-com - equal parts rom and com. The banter between Chris and Mae was always present and had some really funny moments. Each chapter also started with a cringey pick up line which was a running theme and a really cute touch. This had the perfect small-town vibes, with the awful self-important mayor, the evil genius best friend, Mae's family and Chris's family all being fully fleshed out characters whose stories I would be just as interested in reading.

This had one of my favourite tropes - marriage/engagement of convenience - as well as the 'he falls first and harder' but in the best way possible. Add in some grumpy-sunshine and it was just the best to read. I loved that the stakes were believable but not gut-wrenching and angsty and that it didn't feel overdramatic nor predictable. You just knew it would work out in the end and I was glad to be along for the ride. It was a soft, gentle read and I loved it. I can't wait to read more from Sharon M Peterson.

this book is absolute romcom magic. I was hesitant to go into it, but I truly loved everything about this. It's the perfect reverse grumpy/sunshine & fake engagement romance book. it was so funny and endearing and also very angsty and full of great twists. I loved mae's family and her friend ali (I hope she gets a book) and I love chris so much. he was so sweet and his jokes were so funny and I loved how that was a running theme. i just love how he encouraged mae to let people in and help and this was just so excellent. one of my favorite reads of the year.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed reading this book and it has now become one of my comfort reads as I absolutely adored it!

The storyline had me gripped from the very beginning, the second I picked up my kindle and started reading I was out of touch with the world and fully absorbed in the lives of Mae and Chris. Chris instantly became one of my favourite male characters in a book due to the fact that he’s hot, kind, caring and the fact that he loves to read also? SOLD! I enjoy when a woman adopts the grumpy role, which was executed perfectly in Mae as she is the older sister who is looking after her mum, who recently had a stroke, she likes to help everyone and refuses to accept any help for herself.

The pick up lines at the beginning of each chapter always managed to make me smile, it’s a unique idea and made me look forward to reading the next one!

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a grumpy x sunshine & fake engagement trope or would like a heart-warming romance to dip their toes into this genre as it does not disappoint.

ARC Review

Story 5/5 ⭐️

Closed door romance
Single POV

The Fake Out is set in a small town in Texas and follows Mae a librarian and Chris a NFL all-star player who agree to a fake engagement. They meet in the library Mae works at and develop a wonderful friendship. After a story being released in the press, shedding Chris in a bad light, he asks Mae to help and agree to a fake engagement and help restore his reputation. No feelings get in the way, obviously!

This book covers many of my favourite tropes, fake dating is used in many books but I really enjoyed how relatable the character and their situations felt. I loved the relationship between Chris and his sisters, please never get on the wrong side of Millie. I loved how Mae did everything she could for her family. This is a guy falls first, reverse grumpy sunshine and I couldn’t get enough of the two characters. I especially loved all the cheesy one liners at the start of each chapter and Chris’ texts to Mae!

I would highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more books by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this Arc in return for my honest review.

Move over sexy forearms, opposable thumbs are the next hot things 😆

The Fake Out has all the sass and banter you could ask for. The heroine’s internal monologues were hilarious and the pick up lines throughout the book were cheesier than ever, and I promise: these pick up lines were truly something else.

The Fake Out is a low drama, fast paced, feelgood romantic comedy, and while the storylines weren’t unpredictable, it was exciting in the way the author executed them. While the humor was A+, the banter swoon worthy, and the cast of characters the loviest.

Mae and Chris were two adorable characters. A reversed sunshine and a grump who fake engage to save Chris’ public image, pay for Mae’s medical bills, and to banter from the moment they meet until the very last page. I’m a sucker for cinnamon roll heroes, so when the third act arrived and Chris decided to show the world he’s in his own league of cinnamon roll superheroes, my heart broke a little. But no worries, they will get their well deserved happily ever after.

A big shout out for Sharon M. Peterson for writing such an entertaining story and creating these lovely characters. From the hero and heroine to the ex boyfriend turned mayor and supervillain in wanting to cut the public library budget, to the best friend whose revenge plotting skills are yet unmatched, to the geriatric cat, I loved them all.

4.5 stars rounded up, because it definitely put a smile on my face.

4.5/5⭐️

What a perfect feel-good romcom! Great tropes, lovable characters and swoony moments. The banter in this was top notch and the side characters were great. It was the perfect amount of cheesy - like your heart puddles and you say “awww” with out crossing into roll your eyes territory.

Mae’s life consists of caring for her sick mom, watching out for her teenage sister, running the local library and worrying about money. Wash and repeat. Meeting Chris, the famous football player, turns her well ordered life upside down and they begin to develop a friendship. When Chris needs some publicity help, he offers Mae a deal - fake engagement for money to pay her mom’s medical bills.

You guys, this was just so enjoyable. The perfect escape book; light and funny, my heart was a pile of mush throughout.

Read if you like small towns, sport romance, fabulous banter, text conversations, grumpy-sunshine (she’s the grump), engagement of convenience, and one bed.

I thought The Fake Out was really cute! I’d give it 4.5 stars.

I always appreciate a good, clean romance without any super spicy scenes.

The author’s writing kept me interested throughout the whole book. I never had any moments where I had a hard time picking the book back up or felt there were lulls in the plot. That’s usually a big one for me. If the author can’t keep me captivated, then it’s a no-go, but I really enjoyed the whole thing.

The texts Chris sent Mae were cute and were a nice touch, as were the pick-up lines at the beginning of each chapter.

Mae’s stubbornness did drive me a little crazy at times. I’m sure that was the point, but dang…she could have been slightly less stubborn. She was stubborn almost to the point of just being mean sometimes.

Chris was a great leading male character. He had very much golden retriever energy. However, he felt almost too good to be true. I didn’t see one flaw in him throughout the whole story. He was just nice, giving, caring, handsome, funny, and patient…he needed at least one bad attribute. But yes, I still liked him a lot.

At times, they seemed like an unbalanced couple. He fell in love with her as soon as he saw her and she never really softened towards him until the book was almost over. I wish there would have been a little more proof that she was seeing what a good guy he was than the author provided.

Their conversations were good banter throughout and felt authentic. And I enjoyed Mae’s inner dialogue, we well.

If you’re looking for a cute, clean fake engagement romance, with a small-town feel, you will probably enjoy this one!

Overall, it suited me.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sharon M. Peterson and Bookouture for letting me review this ARC!

I loved this book! Mae and Chris captured me from the very first chapter. I couldn't put the book down! Read it in one day! I knew Chris was going to be one of those characters that you couldn't help fall in love with. He was so patient, kind, funny, handsome, and so much more. You could tell instantly his feelings for Mae.
Mae is a very independent, strong willed woman. She had to be. Her father was never a father, her mama needed help, as well as Iris her sister. She was the glue that held the family together. Mae had trust issues and I think that is what held her relationship with Chris at bay.
Chris and Mae started a fake dating/fake fiancé relationship based off a book club book that Chris started with Mae. The fake relationship was to help Chris out of a bind. Chris being a star athlete and someone that is always trying to help people ended up in the spot light for the wrong reasons and needed to set up a good PR stint to fix the issues. His agent Doug is a person you will grow to strongly dislike but I loved how Mae stood up to him. Mae loves her mother and sister and will do anything for them. That is clear from the start.
The Fake Out will is such a sweet book about learning to trust, family, and most important love.
Don't miss out on this one.

I just recently read the Cheat Sheet so I was beyond excited when I was approved for this ARC. This book was literal perfection. I could not put it down. Chris and Mae are polar opposites and I loved their chemistry. I actually swooned and could not get enough. This is a perfect summer beach read.

I without a doubt fell in love with this book and these characters.

Was it a little cheesy? Yes. Predictable at times? Absolutely. But it made me laugh out loud so many times! A cute, low drama, romance.

Mae and Chris as so cute and their chemistry was perfect. The flirting and cheesy pickup lines were super cute. I would have preferred a little more slow burn and actual pining added but over all thought it was really good.

Mae has had a life full of struggle and disappointment but still has a strong determination to do what needs to be done for her family and her job at the local library. In naps Chris, the all American boy who has done everything he can to be a good guy. Through the power of romance novels, family, determination and the fake relationship of convenience they will find out if happily ever afters really do exist.

The Fake Out was a laugh out loud romantic comedy. I felt like I was walking into the Two Harts library and getting to have a front row seat to Mae and Chris’ love story. The banter was witty and when the story ended not only was I satisfied but I was hoping for more.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for allowing me access to read this book.

Cute little feel good romance. The first couple of chapters had a slight information dumb but once the story developed it settled into a nice flow. I liked the dynamics Mae had with the people around her and it was enjoyable to read how seamlessly Chris fitted into her world. I looooved how patient he was to wait for her even though it was visibly difficult for him to do. The plus sized representation I thought was done incredibly well and appreciated that it was never made a focal point.

I would have liked more romantic tension but that’s personal preference. Also did not understand the obsession with his “opposable thumbs”?

The short texts at the beginning of every chapter were a very fun extra. Did I take note of the chat up lines for personal use? Maybe….

This book was so cute - and the cover matched perfectly. The funny puns and flirting made me giggle. I liked the main characters though the main character, Chris, was a little too perfect. I like my characters to have at least one flaw. I also would've liked more romance (hello 'rom' in the com) but all in all a fun read.

I liked the story plot. It was funny and good writing. I also liked the personalities of our main characters Mae and Chris. But unfortunately, I couldn't get on board with some things in the book so I think it's just not for me. Thank you to the publisher for this ARC!

A cute little relationship-of-convenience trope! But goodness, the FMC's stubbornness nearly drove me up the wall, so it will definitely get under your skin! I know the author was going for stubborn and frustrating, and I felt like I was even more frustrated with her than the book characters. I would’ve loved a little bit more chemistry development pre-relationship since it felt a little too sudden. But overall a light-hearted but engaging read!

honestly, i LOVED this book.
first off, this book had its plot start from the first 30 pages or something so i was hooked to it. the plot is amazing.
the conversations between Mae and Chris were absolutely funny and had me giggling all through the book (i was actually smiling the whole time lmao)
the way they build up their romance, try to manage their feelings for each other, him being the absolute boyfriend material (new book boyfriend alert🙈) made me fall in love with this book.
if you like cheesy pickup lines and dad jokes, don't you worry 'cause every single chapter startes with one. i enjoyed those pickup lines🙈
but i was a tad bit disappointed 'cause the antagonist was predictable and how they didn't receive the punishment they deserved. however, did that affect the plot? NO. i enjoyed every single second i sepnt on this book.
so, in conclusion, i will definitely recommend this book to everyone who likes the grumpy x sunshine trope and and the fake engagement trope. if you also like cheesy romance, this book is for you!
im definitely getting the paperback of this book.
thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me this copy!