4/5

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Caught in a Bad Fauxmance by Elle Gonzalez Rose is a vibrant and energetic contemporary rom-com that introduces readers to Devin Baez, an aspiring artist. Set against the backdrop of a winter break at Lake Andreas, the story takes an entertaining twist when Devin, in an attempt to take down his family's rivals, agrees to a fake dating scenario with Julian Seo-Cooke.

The writing style is vivid and energetic, bringing the story to life. The cover is noted for its cuteness and colorfulness, setting the tone for a delightful holiday romance. The narrative follows classic rom-com elements, incorporating fake dating and rivals-to-lovers tropes. However, the storyline can be somewhat predictable in a rom-com way. This means that there is the third-act breakup, which is a very common trope in rom-coms. The resolution and subplot concerning the Cooke tech company are somewhat far-fetched. Despite these elements, the book is a sweet holiday romance, and reminds me, to a point, of watching Cheaper by the Dozen 2.

In conclusion, Caught in a Bad Fauxmance seems to offer an engaging and light-hearted read for fans of contemporary rom-coms. The lively writing style and familiar tropes contribute to the charm of this holiday romance. The book is an enjoyable addition to the genre, providing a festive escape for readers.

Equal parts fun, charming, and heartfelt. Absolutely loved this. A sweet winter read with summer vibes, perfect for us Florida gays. Can't wait to see what else this author has in store!

This is a sweet debut novel about two guys who grew up competing against each other in a yearly family game at their lake houses. Devin's dad makes a bet with Julian's dad to save their lake house. The boys agree to fake a relationship to help Julian get rid of his ex. This book is PG rated and probably geared more for YA audiences. There's no spice (minus kissing) but the dialogue and budding relationship between the two MC is cute.

A delightful rom-com that is fun, funny, and of course, romantic! Gonzalez Rose clearly loves rom-coms and knows how to play with the book's chosen trope of fake dating.

I feel kinda neutral about this book. It was fine to listen to but I didn’t really feel strongly about it either way. I will probably forget most of it in a few weeks. If you like YA fake dating romances give it a shot but otherwise maybe not.

This was ADORABLE. Probably one of my favorite books I’ve read this month. There was only one small thing that I found and even that is probably just a me thing. I’d be curious to see what other character driven readers think about this one as well.

Ok so the writing style of Rose was amazing! I was sucked in from the very beginning. And no I’m not just saying that lol Their high jinks and the way they were pulling these pranks on each other was INTENSE! Some of them would have made me want to throw hands too because wtf was that mayo thing? Yeah naw, I would have just started swinging. But the way I was also laughing the whole time this was happening too. This book had some of everything and I was so sad when it ended. Trust me when I tell you there’s some of everything in this book. Like something for everyone. There’s food (and y’all know I love me a good foodie romance), there’s romance, feuding families, and more. It was a wild ride and I loved it!

The romance was so cute! It was adorable to watch them “hate” each other lol And I really wanted to know what they thought was going to happen when they started “fake dating.” They had to know that that never works right? Lol But I think the best thing about this book was the way they were making up all these excuses to be like oh yeah we like each other when it was absolutely clear that they did not.

The one thing that made me cringe tho was that the author seemed to gloss over the feelings of everyone in this book. When the dad took that invention, he was mad, but was told to let it go because there was nothing they could do. So in turn they just went and started playing pranks on each other. But it didn’t really SHOW them being mad if that makes sense. I think the most emotion I saw in this book was when they went to the party and the jacket thing happened and when the climax of the story happened. And like at the very end when there was something that happened that changed the mind of the person that was there, why didn’t we get that conversation? I wanted to know what was said and why it made them have a change of heart when nothing else did. It was so weird.

Otherwise, this was completely amazing. I was sad that everything was wrapped up in the end because I’m not gonna lie I wanted them to make it their way to the cabin by the water again. The games, the romance, the characters, just all of it. I can see why Rose already has another book deal ready to go. I’ll be waiting for that one too!

thanks to NetGalley for the eARC

⭐️=3 | 😘=2 | 🤬=4 | 14+

summary: enemies to lovers family rivalry fake dating et cetera

thoughts: eh. fine. kinda cringe, with really contrived conflict––like in an even more annoying way that typical romcom-type conflict––and the romance was just… idk? like there wasn’t a lot of chemistry? but it wasn’t bad???

Immediate 5 stars!! I read this book in one day, whenever I had a spare moment. The plot is engaging, all the characters are lovable, and you can't help but root for them from the first page to the last. For a YA contemporary romance, this actually one of my favorite endings ever; everything was wrapped up nicely, and I was satisfied about even the smallest details. And if you're a sucker for fake dating like I am, you'll especially love this book.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who loves fake dating or a sweet romance. There's no spice, so any age can enjoy this book. I'll definitely be checking out other books by this author!

This is a story about surprising ourselves. Devin Baez is both looking forward to and dreading returning to his family’s lake house for the winter holidays. He has many happy memories there, but it has not been the same since his mom passed away. So he is less than thrilled when on his first day back, he runs into Julian Seo-Cooke. Devin’s family had a falling out with the Seo-Cookes years ago, and since then the two families have been at odds — especially because the Seo-Cookes seem to always win the lake’s annual Winter Games competition.

Devin and his twin sister are determined to win the Winter Games this year. So when Julian asks Devin to be his fake boyfriend in order to convince his ex he’s moved on, Devin reluctantly agrees once he realizes this will give him access to the Seo-Cooke’s house where he can spy on them and their preparations for the Winter Games. But as Devin spends more time with Julian, he begins to suspect he, and his sister, had Julian all wrong — and that the fake relationship may be leading to real feelings.

I really enjoyed this book! Devin is such a compelling character, and the author does a terrific job of portraying his changing feelings for Julian and their evolving relationship. The book is also an insightful exploration of expectations — the pressures that come from the expectations our family put on us and the expectations we put on ourselves. Finally, within a sweet story, the author also deftly explores issues around grief, living with loss, and building new families. I found the portrayal of how Devin, his sister, and his father dealt with their grief, both individually and together, particularly powerful.

Strongly recommended!

I absolutely adored this book. Watching Devin and Julian go from enemies to fake boyfriends to friends was a great journey. You could still feel the grief Devin was feeling for his mother and Julian coming to terms to with his own parents situation. There was so many nuances of the families entanglements for over 13 years, it was interesting to see how it played out. I had tears in my eyes many times over the last 25% of the book. I’m looking forward to the authors future releases!

Was I expecting a Florida Christmas love story out of this? No but hey it worked out!

Caught in a Bad Fauxmance is just a lovely novel. The characters being Latinx or mixed Latinx? Beautiful. It was so easy to see myself in the pages. This was the rep I wish I had growing up!

Thank you NetGalley, Random House, and Elle González Rose for the ARC for my honest review!

Caught in a Bad Fauxmance by Elle Gonzalez Rose is out now!

This was a very enjoyable YA rom com. The characters were likable and the romance was sweet and believable. I will definitely be recommending this to teens as well as adult fans of YA.

For me, it was really fun to see a 'winter' book set in Florida. I feel like I am always reading summery books set in Florida and the wintery ones are set somewhere cold. This was a nice change of pace in my opinion.

This book won't become a new favorite, but it is thoroughly enjoyable and I would recommend it.

Caught in a Bad Fauxmance was a delight to read (and I absolutely had Lady Gaga running through my head every time I thought about the title)!

Devin Baez and his family are returning to their cabin at Lake Andreas for the first time since his mother died. They hope to enjoy one last Winter Break before selling the cabin, and while the town is a little more run-down than they remembered (thanks to the new water park on the other side of the lake), they're eager to relive years of memories at this beloved place.

It's not long, however, before they run into Julian Seo-Cooke, the youngest member of the family they've been bitterly feuding with for years. Julian's father stole the idea for an invention that Devin's father came up with, and the families have been at war ever since, culminating in the community's annual Winter Games.

When Mr. Cooke challenges the Baezes to one last bet over the Winter Games, this time with the Baez family cabin at stake, the Baezes start preparing for war. But then Julian adds an extra complication: he asks Devin to pretend to be his boyfriend since his ex, Liam, is in town.

At first, it's torture for Devin to pretend to like his rival, but he's determined to use the position to spy on the family (especially since the Seo-Cookes always plays dirty). But it's not long before he starts to realize there might be more to Julian than he had always assumed, and his feelings for Julian might be a lot more complicated. But can he really trust a Seo-Cooke?

I loved Devin's voice as a narrator and the banter between the characters: it was light and fun, and I laughed out loud multiple times. But I also loved the story's surprising depth. Sure, it was a fun lake romance, but there were so many complex dynamics going on within the Baez and Seo-Cooke families that made the novel more than just a light romance. Devin, his twin sister, and Julian are all in the midst of transitioning to adulthood, and their insecurities about their future and whether they can actually succeed on the roads they've set out for themselves capture the blend of anxiety and hope that characterizes this transition, and I think many students will relate to the characters.

I'm also thrilled to discover Joy Revolution, an imprint of Penguin Random House led by David and Nicola Yoon, that is devoted to discovering and sharing love stories for young adults starring and authored by people of color. It turns out one of my favorites from this year (Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute) is one of their titles, and I'll eagerly have my eye out to see what's next from them!

Thank you NetGalley, Joy Revolution, and Random House Children's for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This YA rom-com was perfection! It had the lough out loud moments, the swoon worthy moments and all the teen angst! But this book was more than just a rom-com, it told a story about family, loss, forgiveness and self discovery. Elle beautifully narrated the growing pains of transitioning into adulthood. I found myself giggling and kicking my feet in giddiness, snickering at the pranks, and gasping at the betrayals. I highly recommend this book if you’re looking for a rom-com with heart.

This witty, sharp YA rom com from debut author Elle Gonzalez Rose is a must read! It’s a fun, feisty contemporary romance that packs an emotional punch. I enjoyed everything about this story from the vibrant, relatable characters to the family feud complete with scheming and shenanigans to Devin and Julian’s fake dating charade.

Devin’s trip to Lake Andreas with his family for winter break promises to be emotional and nostalgic as they bid a fond farewell to their beloved cabin. It’s a time to reconnect and remember his Mami — remembering the past while making plans for the future. At least that's the plan until they come face to face with their former rivals, the Seo-Cookes.

Elle Gonzalez Rose spins a captivating tale that begins as an entertaining reprisal of the years-old feud between the Báezes and Seo-Cookes before revealing more heartfelt, emotional themes of vulnerability, change, grief, friendship, and trust. It’s as much about finding your way out of the shadow of familial expectation as it is about becoming who you are and staying true to yourself.

I really enjoyed the full evolution of Julian and Devin’s relationship from fake dating enemies to more, and I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a sweet romance or a good coming of age story. It packs plenty of surprising twists, captures the very essence of young adult romance, and will leave a smile on your face.

If you loved the 2005 Cheaper By the Dozen 2 movie starring Steve Martin, Bonnie Hunt, and their 12 rambunctious children, then you'll really enjoy Caught in a Bad Fauxmance. The two have almost the same plot, just with a lot less children: Two rivaling families in neighboring lake houses; one stupid rich and the other struggling middle class, compete in an annual competition. There are pranks, forbidden romance, and sabotage, much like in the movie.

What started out as a fake-dating situation between two enemies, slowly blooms into friendship, and eventually into something more. But with secrets, lies, withheld truths, and family ties attempting to pull these two boys apart, they must decide if their care for one another is stronger than all the forces trying to tear them apart.

Caught in a Bad Fauxmance was a fun queer, YA, enemies-to-lovers, fake dating romance set during Christmas time in Florida. It touches on loss, grief, first love, and family expectations. There was a lot to love in this book, and I cannot wait to see what Rose comes up with next.

Caught in a Bad Fauxmance swept me away. It was fake dating and family rivalries at the best. It's the pranks of "The Parent Trap" meets rivalries with teeth and fake dating. It's clear that Caught in a Bad Fauxmance is about fake dating. The chemistry is precious as both Devin and Julian expose their vulnerabilities, everything behind and underneath the fronts we put up. All our secrets, grief, and resentment. At the same time it's about families and parents.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
Caught in a Bad Fauxmance is as fun and chaotic as it sounds. On the one hand, I wondered, why are we doing fake dating and rivals-to-lovers, with a dash of forbidden love thrown in? It seemed a bit much. But it ended up being incredibly fun, and I got similar vibes to that one subplot from Cheaper By the Dozen 2 between Alyson Stoner and Taylor Lautner, with the bonus that it’s queer and Latinx.
I really liked Devin and Julian’s dynamic with each other, and while I wasn’t sure at first how believable things would feel, especially in terms of the setup, I ended up really liking them and it was endearing watching them get to know each other. And Devin’s feelings about the family rivalry evolves, which causes tensions with his family, especially his sister. And I really liked how these unlikely tropes worked together to create realistic conflict, resulting in a story that both fulfilled genre expectations and didn’t feel overly predictable.
This was such a fun debut, and I’m excited for what Elle Gonzalez Rose writes next. If you enjoy queer multicultural contemporaries, I’d recommend checking this one out!

*4.5

Devin and Julian were really cute. They were so awkward at first I wondered if they were ever going to pull off fake dating. I am obsessed with the fact that they only had to pretend to date like 3 times but they just kept spending time with each other. The way Julian remembered everything Dev told him was adorable. I did however want an epilogue of them in California.

I received an arc through netgalley.

This was so sweet and fun! YA is so hit or miss for me these days but I adored this from the very first page. Fake dating is one of my fave tropes and this book really delivered! I loved Devin and Julian together. Loved how they slowly got together and the progression of their young romance. I could read endless books about them!