This was a fun romcom that I really enjoyed reading.

While the "While You Were Sleeping" trope is one that has obviously been done before, this was still a fresh story that I raced through. I also think might be the most realistic fake dating reasoning I've seen - it actually makes sense for the real world and not just Romancelandia (where to be clear I am still fine with it).

Both Ellie and Theo are difficult to love, but I think that is what makes their story more compelling. They are flawed - and they felt more real than many Main Characters. They have baggage, personality flaws, and complicated families and personal histories. While they both broke my heart a bit with their miscommunication, how they worked through it felt mature and realistic rather than magical (which I prefer). They both grow a lot over through this book and it was great to see. Ellie's experience of moving back home and her personal growth outside of the romance plotline really made this book shine and made me really connect with her and her growth throughout the book. also really appreciated Ellie's stance on millionaires and the wealthy class (especially since most romance books don't really talk about it), I just wish there would have been a bit more since it almost felt like she was won over since Theo is rich and a nice guy.

The side characters add more depth and fun what could have been a fairly simple plot but really rounded out the book and added a lot of humor (and made me excited for more in the future).

I was really excited when I got the widget for Love You, Mean it. I loved the cover. I loved the title so I couldn’t wait to read it.

From the beginning the story just sort of felt blah to me. I was hopeful it would pick up but it really didn’t. Also, I didn’t love the characters.

Things I did like about it: It made me laugh and I liked the ending even if it was kind of abrupt.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for a copy of Love You, Mean It in exchange of an honest review.

Thank you Dell and PRH Audio for my gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

I mostly enjoyed this but something didn’t just work for me. Ellie is trying to save her family’s deli. She reaches out to an old high school classmate whose family is in charge of the deal. They end up in a fake engagement to try and save the deli and spite Theo’s father.

I really liked Theo and it was clear he fell first/was ready to admit that his feelings had changed. I was frustrated with Ellie because she just refused to admit how she felt and didn’t talk to Theo about it. They really seemed to balance each other out if she’d only admit her feelings. This is a book where I would’ve enjoyed Theo’s perspective.

I liked the ending but it felt a little rushed after the breakup happening so late in the third act.

3.5 stars rounded up

While there are many familiar tropes throughout this rom-com, it still felt fresh and fun due to hilarious circumstances and enjoyable characters! A great summer read!

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell and NetGalley for an electronic advanced readers copy of this book.

Ellie Greco has returned to her hometown after her father's death to run her family's deli. Still grieving her father's death, she is struggling to keep the business going when she hears that a fancy new Italian market/eatery (like. Eataly) is rumored to be opening up in her town, most likely spelling doom for her family business. Determined to stop the build, she tries talking to an old high school acquaintance of hers, Theo Taylor, whose family is big in the real estate business and who is planning on developing an old building for this new venture.

While Ellie is pleading with him at the construction site, Theo gets hit by debris and Ellie lies and said he is her fiance in order to see him in the hospital. This remake of While You Were Sleeping is shortlived, as Theo soon regains the short term amnesia he had when he woke up. Ellie soon finds out that Theo doesn't want to develop the Italian market either, and so they join forces and pretend to be engaged in order to subvert Theo's dad's plans for the market.

Love You, Mean It is a fun romantic story with interesting characters and a fun plot. I really enjoyed it! It was a quick and entertaining read!

In the Romance book world the fake fiancé trope comes up more often than you would think. I was concerned this book would be a slog given the trope is pretty common. But to my surprise the book was insightful and chock full of witty banter. I thoroughly enjoyed it and was surprised to learn that the author more typically writes crime novels. Huh. Well congrats to Jilly for a witty read where the requisite happy ending is fun and very well done.

I read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I found this book to be intelligent and honest. The characters are basically being themselves, (besides the lies here and there ;) ) and they get along really well. I liked that Ellie was good at designing and had passion, and I liked that Theo was family oriented. The chemistry they had was hot. I sort of wished she hadn't lied to Sam, but it looked like they'd be okay. Was relieved that the amnesia wasn't overdone too.

I love a good enemies to lovers trope. This book did a great job of reminding others to remember their dreams and to be creative. Bother families made it for a fun read. Thanks, netgalley!

It's While You Were Sleeping coded! Well, for a while, at least.

Ellie Greco runs her family’s decades old deli. She was an aspiring costume designer, but after her father's death, she returned home. She loves the place. It means a lot to her, but it definitely isn't where she thought she'd end up. But when her grandmother lets her know that a high-end grocery store chain is moving in, it's going to threaten her family's deli. Maybe even close it.

So she reaches out to Theo Taylor, her cousins ex and the son of the man who's bringing the grocery store to town. Their meeting goes bad. I mean, really bad, Theo gets injured and gets amnesia. Ellie wants to make sure he's OK, and so she claims to be his fiancee.

When he snaps out of it, Theo asks, "Why not keep up the fiancee bit and work together to get the deal closed?" Because Theo has his own reasons.

Oh gosh, this romcom gets pretty funny. Ellie is a fish out of water with Theo's family. And while she wants to help out Theo's ex, who wants to get back with him (it's a new friendship!), some pesky feelings get involved.

Of course, these people need to be honest, lol. But it was so enjoyable.

Ellie Greco runs her family’s Italian deli. When someone she knows from high school, Theo Taylor, wants to rent a building in her town to Mangia, a high-end, gourmet food store, Ellie will do anything to save her family business. Even if that means pretending to be Theo’s fiancée to get his father to stop his plans.

This was such a cute “meat cute” (pun intended!). I really liked Ellie. She was realistic and relatable. I thought the amnesia trope worked great for this story and loved how Ellie pretended to be Theo’s fiancée, but then he wanted to keep pretending they were even after getting his memory back. As a foodie, I loved the dueling deli theme and my mouth was watering with all the mentions of yummy Italian food. There was so much chemistry between Ellie and Theo, and I thought Theo was swoony! I wished Ellie had been more honest with herself and her feelings for Theo, but overall I enjoyed this story.

This was my first Jilly Gagnon book, but I did buy another after finishing this one so I look forward to reading more from her.

Read this if you like:
- While You Were Sleeping
- Amnesia trope
- Fake Dating
- Foodie romance

Thank you Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you PRHAudio for the free audiobook, and NetGalley and Random House for an eARC.

I enjoyed this RomCom and found the audio well done.

Ellie is working to save her family business. Theo is part of the group trying to take it, but he's not what she thinks.

A ceiling falls in and causes her to get amnesia and think that Theo is her fiance.

It was a bit of a slow moving story, but still cute and enjoyable.

Ellie Greco realizes that Theo Taylor is way above her league, but she must confront him about his newest business project that will surely put her family deli out of business. Then an unfortunate accident leads Ellie to impulsively pose as Theo's fiancee. When Theo recovers from a brief spell of amnesia, he convinces Ellie that it would be mutually beneficial to continue the fake engagement. Naturally this arrangement turns into a relationship with real feelings, but each must finally admit that grief had forced them into sacrificing their true passions to work in the family business. This was an enjoyable romance with likeable characters and just the right amount of steamy scenes. Thanks to NetGalley, Random House/Dell and the author for an advance copy to read and review.

This one fell flat for me. The premise was intriguing, I love a fake dating trope. But at almost 90% in, I felt like nothing had happened yet. I wasn’t even entirely sure that Elle, the FMC, even liked Theo, the MMC.

3 stars – I was looking forward to reading this as the description looked good, but the story just felt a bit flat to me. It’s a little bit of the movie “While You Were Sleeping” in the beginning and then the 2 main characters (Ellie and Theo) join efforts in a common cause. Along the way they fall for each other. Without giving away more of the story, it is a fast read. This is the first story that I have read from this author and I do look forward to reading more.

A big “Thank You” to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Dell Publishing and Jilly Gagnon for allowing me to read an advance copy in return for an independent, honest review.

An engaging and entertaining romantic comedy. Serious life issues with a light-hearted and snarky touch. This was a quick read. I did skip over the intimate scenes and would have preferred the "f" word eliminated. The clothes she designed all sounded horrible to me, but she was wearing them, not me. The food sounded good. Grin! Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

A lighthearted romcom that kicks off with some amnesia and then quickly turns into enemies-to-lovers fake dating. For me, yet another book with lots of yummy food in it! I enjoyed the variety of family and friend dynamics in this book to highlight how opposite the upbringing of the FMC and MMC were. I did find it refreshing that the female friendship dynamics were not pitting them against each other in a competition for the MMC (staying vague for no spoilers). This is good if you’re looking for a quick fun read.

*Provided a DRC (digital review copy) from the publisher for review. All opinions are my own.

I was fortunate enough to listen to the audiobook while following along on my kindle! This was my first book by the author and I really enjoyed it!

Ellie comes back to her small town to help run her family’s deli. When the deli is threatened, she does what she needs to, to save the deli which includes fake dating Theo.

It took me sometime to get into the story but once I did I really enjoyed it! I loved the banter between Theo and Ellie! Ellie was always so quick with her comeback to Theo it was hilarious! I loved the family dynamic of Ellie and her family!

The audiobook was great! Amanda Ronconi is a new narrator to me and I think she did a great job bringing the story and characters to life! She was great at switching her voice up for each character!

Read if you like:
Fake Dating
Small Town
GrumpyxSunshine
Rivals to Lovers

This is a super cute story with plenty of banter and snark between the lead characters. They both have their different family dynamics and quirks. Thankfully neither character seems over-reacting in certain scenarios and both come across as real with just the right amount of complexity. If you want a good, easy read then this is one for you!

Cute but I don’t know if I was 100% sold on Ellie and Theo together. I enjoy a good fake dating, opposites attract story like any rom com lover but I can’t quite put my finger on what they were missing to be completely solid couple who could go the distance in my mind.

Also with Sam, Theo’s ex-fiancé, throw in the mix it was almost kind of like a love triangle angle and I’m not a fan of that trope so it kind of deterred me from really enjoying the story.


Thank you publishers and netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback

Such a fun, steamy, opposites attract, enemies to lovers, fake dating, romcom with a touch of While you were sleeping vibes that I absolutely loved!! Great on audio, this was a pure delight to read! The chemistry between the two leads was FANTASTIC, the sexy scenes were HOT and I so enjoyed when things went from fake to real. Other than an annoying third act miscommunication break-up, this was a top notch read for me that I HIGHLY recommend! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

Steam level: open door