This book is well-written, but I had trouble with the initial premise that kept me from being immersed in Ellie and Theo's relationship progression. I wish there had been less lying in this book overall, but that being said, there were definitely moments of beauty as their relationship unfolded.

I’m a sucker for the fake dating trope, so I was excited to dive into Love You, Mean It—and while I enjoyed parts of it, it didn’t completely win me over. I read this one while also listening to the audiobook, which was a nice way to experience the story, but overall, it was just an okay read for me.

Ellie Greco had dreams bigger than running her family’s deli, but life had other plans. Now, with her business at risk of being overtaken by a high-end food chain, she finds herself in a completely ridiculous situation—pretending to be engaged to Theo Taylor, the man whose company is threatening her deli in the first place. One head injury, a little amnesia, and suddenly, her fake engagement isn’t so fake anymore. But of course, things get messy when Theo’s ex-fiancée steps back into the picture with her own agenda.

What I liked:
✔️ Fake dating! (Always a fun trope.)
✔️ A small-town deli setting that added charm and family dynamics.
✔️ Ellie’s struggle with balancing family expectations and personal dreams felt real.

What didn’t fully work for me:
➖ The pacing felt slow at times, and I struggled to stay invested in the romance.
➖ Theo wasn’t my favorite leading man—I wanted a little more depth from him.
➖ The twist with Theo’s ex felt more frustrating than compelling.

Love You, Mean It had a cute premise, and I think fans of fake dating and small-town romance might really enjoy it! It just didn’t quite hit all the marks for me. Still, it was a light, entertaining read with some fun moments.

📖 Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!

#LoveYouMeanIt #HollyGagnon #NetGalley #FakeDatingTrope #RomanceReads #Bookstagram #BookReview #SmallTownRomance #AudiobookLover #ReadMoreRomance

I love the fake dating trope so this was right up my alley. As a theatre kid in high school I love that the main character was into costume design! When theo’s amnesia made him believe she was his actual fiance it really added to the story!

3.5 rounded up - This was an enjoyable enough read, but nothing really made it stand out for me personally. I do love a fake dating trope and that's what drew me into this book initially. For whatever reason I had trouble connecting to either character which made it hard for me to get invested at the beginning. But once I got into the story I did enjoy it well enough.

I would definitely check out more from this author

This had all the romance tropes I tend to love! Naturally, I did like this book. It was a cute rom com. I loved the plot and always love a flawed FMC that is able to grow from her experiences. I would recommend this!

Love You, Mean It has a lot of things I love in books: fake dating/engagement, family, and following your dreams. This book had me laughing out loud and even wiping away a few tears. Ellie's family really stole this story for me and I loved seeing Ellie really figure out what she wanted. I normally don't love the amnesia trope, it didn't last long in this story and I feel it worked with Theo's side of the story. I wasn't completely pulled into Love You, Mean It and I think that Theo's POV would've helped me get to know his side of the story just a little bit more. All in all, Love You, Mean It was a cute romance that was entertaining. I'll definitely read more by Jilly Gagnon in the future.

Ellie Greco is out to save the family deli and stop a local landlord from leasing to Mangia, a gourmet food department store that would guarantee the end of Greco deli. The only problem? Theo isn’t budging on hearing her out and he just got knocked out cold by falling debris and out of panic Ellie claims she’s the fiancée.

I needed a fun rom com and boy did Ellie and Theo deliver it all for me. From their hilarious banter and little pokes at each other, to an ex-fiancée of Theo that is simply the best and such a girl’s girl, to the slow fall of the pretending to real feelings- it kept me gobbling this story up like my favorite hoagie. Did Ellie drive me up the walls at points because girl, just be honest with yourself for once! Yes, yes she did. Did I still hopelessly cheer her on and want to nudge her into the right direction? Yep, sure did. A read that made my afternoon significantly better, had me giggling, swooning over Theo, and smiling to the end.

🥓 Ok, I’ve been sleeping on this book because I thought it was very cute! Thanks to @dellromance for gifting me this before it came out last spring. I finally read it!

🥓 What you can expect from this one:
- rivals to lovers
- fake dating
- socio-economic differences
- sassy attitudes
- and a whole lot of fun!

🥓 This was full of scheming, laughs and sweet, tender moments too and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Would be a perfect read during this month of love.

Ellie has come home after a failed career in costume design to run her family deli after the death of her father. When she learns that the landlord of a building nearby is planning to lease to a fancy chain deli which would inevitably put Ellie out of business. She goes to plead with Theo who works for the Property Management firm that is trying to put her out of business and a freak accident has him going to the hospital, in order to go with him she says she is his fiancé and when he can't remember the last few months he believes her for a bit also. When he does start to remember he proposes they fake it because he doesn't want to go through with the fancy deli either but his dad, who owns the firm won't back down without a reason.

This for me felt like a weird version of the movie While You Were Sleeping, and it was all I remembered about this book for the longest time. I read this a couple months ago and am just getting around to reviewing it because of things outside of my control, but the thing that stuck out the most about this book was that I remembered almost nothing about it. I clearly didn't hate it, I would have remembered that, but quite literally did not think I had actually read it until I dug through some other reviews trying to remind myself of what happened here. Unfortunately, that tells me that this book just wasn't for me.

Short, sweet, and to the point. A pretty enjoyable read. This book did exactly what I needed it to do!

When Ellie finds out her family's deli can be in trouble she goes straight to the person she feels can sve it. It is a cute story, however there is some dry parts in the story. I was easily distracted reading this book and it took me a wihile to read it.

Love You, Mean It is an adorable fake dating rom-com. I typically love books that are told from multiple points of view, so it took me a bit to get into this book, but once I did I absolutely loved it. Ellie just gets herself into pickle after pickle and Theo is a guy that knows what he wants. They are both equally opinionated and have strong personalities, which suits them well. They do make a great team, even though they aren’t supposed to be falling in love for real, just acting like a couple in love that have a whirl romance and proposal. I do wish this book had an epilogue. I wanted to see what’s happening six months from ow. I would definitely recommend this book to people and if I could give it 4.5 stars I would.

"Love You, Mean It" by Jilly Gagnon is a thoughtful and engaging novel that delves into the themes of friendship, love, and the intricacies of modern relationships. Gagnon's writing is both relatable and heartfelt, capturing the subtleties of human connection in a way that resonates with readers.

The story follows a group of friends as they navigate the challenges of life, love, and the pressures of adulthood. Gagnon skillfully explores the dynamics of these relationships, highlighting the joys and difficulties of maintaining deep connections over time. The characters are well-developed and authentic, each dealing with their insecurities, dreams, and the changing nature of their friendships.

A key aspect of "Love You, Mean It" is its focus on communication within relationships. Gagnon emphasizes the importance of honesty and vulnerability, showing how misunderstandings can occur when people struggle to express their true feelings. Through the characters' experiences, readers are encouraged to reflect on their relationships and consider how open dialogue can lead to stronger connections.

The novel's pacing is well-balanced, blending light-hearted moments with more serious themes. Gagnon's witty dialogue and sharp observations provide humor, while the emotional depth of the story ensures it remains impactful. The narrative flows smoothly, making it an engaging read that keeps readers invested in the characters' journeys.

Themes of love, loyalty, and personal growth are woven throughout the novel. Gagnon illustrates that friendships can evolve and change, but with effort and understanding, they can also become stronger. The book encourages readers to embrace the complexities of relationships and appreciate the beauty that comes from facing life's challenges together.

"Love You, Mean It" is a beautifully written and insightful novel that captures the complexities of friendship and love in today's world. Jilly Gagnon has crafted a story that is both entertaining and thought-provoking, making it a must-read for anyone who has ever navigated the complexities of human connection. With its relatable characters and heartfelt themes, this book will resonate with readers long after they finish it, reminding them of the value of true friendship and the importance of expressing genuine feelings.

This was a really cute rom-com! I wasn't sure how I felt about the amnesia plotline, but I grew to love the story anyway. Even though I knew this was probably going to be a HEA story, I still wanted to root for Ellie and Theo the whole time!

This was reasonably cute. A fun, quick read. I think the amnesia aspect was rushed through for it to be used as a marketing trope but everyone may feel differently. I did enjoy reading Ellie and Theo evolving from ‘enemies’ to lovers but I didn’t love Ellie as a character on her own. She was very indecisive and in her own head - but does shine when among friends and Family. 3.5 rounded up to 4 stars

"Love You, Mean It" by Jilly Gagnon is a charming and witty read that delivers a perfect balance of humor and heart. The characters are relatable, and the story keeps you hooked from start to finish. A delightful book for fans of contemporary romance with a touch of sass.

Thank you @dellpublishing #partner and @netgalley for this advance reading copy of Love You, Mean It by Jilly Gagnon. Pub date:4/30/24.

What a fun, devilishly humorous read of love, dating, faking it and what really matters in the end!

Ellie Greco wishes she weren’t stuck in Milborough. For a few brief, shining years, she escaped her hometown to pursue her dream career—designing beautiful, elaborate costumes for theater—until her father's death five years ago called her home to run the family's decades-old deli. Yes, she loves the place, but she’d always thought she was meant for more exciting things than stocking the right tinned fish. But when Ellie hears that a local landlord is planning to rent to Mangia, the glitzy gourmet food department store, the very existence of Greco’s Deli is suddenly in jeopardy.

She tries to plead her case to Theo Taylor, scion of the property management firm that is about to put her out of business, but their meeting goes from bad (it’s not her fault he’s infuriating) to worse (no one expects the ceiling to literally fall in).

With Theo out cold, Ellie panics and claims to be his fiancée . . . and almost passes out herself when amnesia means Theo seems to actually believe her. Soon, the effects of the head injury wear off, but Theo proposes that their “engagement” stick around. If they manage to convince enough people, they might both get what they want: an end to the Mangia deal. Ellie doesn’t trust him (after all, if Theo Taylor wants it, how can it be good for her?) but seeing no other option, she reluctantly agrees.

As someone who loves fake dating, I had high hopes going in, but the story left me with mixed feelings.

The book starts with a lot of “white privilege” being casually thrown around, which made it hard for me to connect with Ellie, the main character. I really wanted to like her, but she was too indecisive, judgmental, and negative for me to fully root for her. Ellie’s tendency to doubt herself and ignore what was right in front of her added to my frustration. On the other hand, Sam, who initially seemed like a disruptor, ended up being much more relatable. She grew on me as the story progressed, and I connected with her far more than I expected.

That said, the characters as a whole were well-developed, with plenty of depth, witty banter, and undeniable chemistry. While the angst sometimes felt over the top, it added to the drama in a way that kept me intrigued. The author’s writing style is clever, creative, and funny, with just the right amount of tension to keep you engaged.

Overall, while this book didn’t fully deliver for me due to my disconnect with Ellie, it’s still an engaging read with well-written characters and some great romance moments. If you can get past the initial challenges, you might find yourself enjoying the complex dynamics and playful banter that make the story shine.

Okay I am here for the tropes! Fake dating and enemies to lovers.

And a While You Were Sleeping vibe!

and also food. my heart.

And the name Theo is an automatic love for me because hello? Theo James. love. Clearly my fan cast 😂

I love that this story however was not with him having amnesia throughout the entirety of the book and they were able to come around and turn her lie into a scheme of sorts to help them both out. I do hate the circumstances though that brought Ellie back. I hate compromising dreams due to a something they feel obligated about. It's messy and I wish there was less self doubt but hey, that's your 20's and 30's summed up right?

Cute story if you like romance and mess.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review.

Wonderful story, great character development, great writing! Highly recommend this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it