𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 🌶️🌶️
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬: Small town romance, fake engagement, opposites attract, reversed grumpy x sunshine

This is my first time with this author and I really enjoyed this book, it had a good amount of my favorite tropes.

I enjoyed the mischievousness & chemistry between Theo and Ellie. When the situation required it, they were both able to put their feelings aside and be there for each other. The side characters were funny and relatable, and I particularly appreciated the authenticity of Ellie's family and their willingness to express their strong opinions. The story begins with Ellie going to meet with Theo Taylor, the son of the wealthy family opening an upscale deli to plead her case for her families deli. The meeting turns out to be an actual disaster with a ceiling collapsing and a touch of amnesia on the side. From here there are misunderstandings that take place kicking off a whole new round of chaos. The story held my attention from beginning to end and was quite enjoyable.

I liked the concept and premise, but Ellie and Theo were tough to root for, especially Ellie. She was really cute negative without any self confidence but we lingered there for too long instead of seeing growth. I liked the writing and the idea of the story, but the characters weren't for me.

Ellie gave up her own dreams to take over the family deli when her father passed away. She did it because she was needed and didn’t want to let her family down. She has put her heart and soul into making it the best it can be regardless of the occasion customer who drives her nutty! When the businesses future is put in jeopardy she pleads her case and gets things don’t exactly go as planned. When the ceiling falls in, both literally and figuratively Ellie takes advantage of the situation. A little bit of subterfuge, some humor, temporary amnesia, a fake relationship, this opposites attract, enemies to possibly more rom com was a sweet read. No big surprises, but a nice read with a lovely happily ever after.

"Love You, Mean It" by Jilly Gagnon is a fresh addition to contemporary romance literature, rich with familiar tropes such as enemies-to-lovers, grumpy/sunshine dynamics, opposites attracting, and fake dating.

Ellie Greco had always dreamed of a career as a costume designer, but five years ago after her father's passing she returned to her hometown of Milborough and began to manage the family business, Greco’s Deli.

However, trouble looms as the Taylor family, local landlords, plan to lease space to a large box store that threatens the deli's existence. Determined to save her family's business, Ellie confronts Theo Taylor, hoping to negotiate a solution. Unexpectedly, their meeting leads to a fake relationship proposal, potentially beneficial to both parties.

The topics got a little too deep and took away from the light hearted romance I was looking for. While "Love You, Mean It" may resonate with some readers, it ultimately didn't align with my preferences.

When Ellie returned to her home town after failing to make it in the big city, she was content to take over her family's deli. Then Theo presented his family business's plan to bring a mega store to town that would make the deli obsolete. This is a classic enemy to lovers trope where the couple must work together to get the things they both desire. Of course, that ends up being each other, but there are sure to be many bumps in the road on the way. Jilly Gagnon plays the slow burn well and builds tension between Ellie and Theo. She utilizes misunderstandings and missteps to keep the "happily ever after" from happening too soon. There are a few spicy scenes that leave the reader wanting more.

I have such mixed feelings about this book! I liked the idea that the FMC didn't have to be the nicest, sweetest girl to be worthy of a love story. That said, I found it so hard to root for her when she was so mean to everyone in her life and blamed others for all her choices (there was slight growth there but could have used some more). I would like more from Sam though!

Fake dating! Amnesia! Drama! This fun and light hearted read was a great palette cleanser romcom. FMC was a little too dramatic at times. I think I would've enjoyed this more if I loved their relationship just a bit more. It didn't feel as believable as I would've liked. But overall, a good time!

Ellie Greco’s life in Milborough is a colorful mix of small-town charm and big-city dreams. The deli she runs, a family legacy, is full of warmth and character, but it’s facing a serious threat from a glitzy new gourmet store. Meanwhile, Theo Taylor's world is all sleek, corporate gloss, and his plans to turn Ellie’s deli into a casualty of progress create a real clash of worlds.

The story does a great job of highlighting the contrast between Ellie’s cozy, familiar deli and Theo’s upscale business empire. This setting makes Ellie’s struggle to save her family’s business feel urgent and personal. The quirky details of Milborough and the high-stakes tension with Theo add depth to the plot, making Ellie’s fake engagement and the evolving romance feel both entertaining and relatable.

This book is a playful rom-com featuring dueling delis, fake dating, a surprisingly awesome ex, and a dash of amnesia. The story follows Ellie Greco, who’s back in her hometown running the family deli after her father’s death. Things take a wild turn when a fancy gourmet store, Mangia, threatens her deli’s survival. Enter Theo Taylor, the landlord’s heir, who ends up with a bump on the head and some convenient amnesia, leading Ellie to claim they’re engaged.

The premise sounds like a lot of fun, and it does have its moments. The fake engagement and the antics that follow are amusing, and the dynamic between Ellie and Theo has some sparks. However, I have to admit, I didn’t really connect with Ellie as much as I hoped. She’s got her charm, but something about her just didn’t click for me. As for the execution of the plot, it felt a bit off. What sounded like a fun, quirky setup didn’t quite live up to its potential. The pacing was uneven, and some plot twists felt forced rather than organic. The reappearance of Theo’s ex-fiancé, Sam, added some drama, but it wasn’t enough to fully salvage the story for me.

That said, there are definitely some enjoyable parts. The small-town setting is cozy, and the dueling delis aspect brings a unique flavor to the rom-com genre. Theo’s character has some nice development, and the fake dating trope does lead to some genuinely funny and sweet moments.

Overall, this was a 3 star read for me. It’s a light, entertaining book that’s perfect for a lazy afternoon, but it didn’t quite hit the high notes I was hoping for. If you’re a fan of rom-coms with a twist, it might still be worth checking out.

Thanks so much to Random House, Ballantine for the opportunity to read and review this book!

A playful romantic comedy featuring dueling delis, fake dating, a shockingly awesome ex, and just the right amount of amnesia

“[A] delightfully tropey rom-com . . . This is a sweet confection.”—Publishers Weekly

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.

And miraculously, the fake engagement seems to be working—even Ted, Theo’s shrewd, cold father seems convinced—that is, until Sam, Theo’s ex-fiancée, reappears on the scene. Not only does she see through their ruse, but she proposes an arrangement of her own, forcing Ellie to decide between a blossoming friendship, her family legacy, and the burgeoning romance she frankly never asked for.

Another book that disappointed me this spring! Could not get attached to the characters or the story, and it just didn't work for me!

thank you netgalley for the e-arc. i liked the story well enough but what a horrid FMC. she is so negative and turns people off with her negativity. i almost wanted to skip through the parts of her narrarating.

This was a funny book about this woman who was trying to save her family i D e I l Ted is new property manager and he wants to turn the deli.Into a gourmet shop. So she pretends to like this man and agrees to marry him.I thinks turn up very differently in the book. It was trying to have a different life but sometimes things change in life.

It was such a cute, wholesome yet unique storyline that hooked me from the beginning. The author did a great job of weaving in details without losing the reader in them.

So much happens in this story of love, that it became a compelling read. Ellie wants to save her family’s deli from a big box grocery. She must get close to the rich boy who will own the property for the grocery. Amnesia and fake dating lead to a real romance. Throw in an ex-girlfriend, an elitist family and some business deals and the result is a really good story. Thank you NetGalley for providing the ARC.

I was so excited to read this based on the title and cute cover! I've never read anything by this author before and I was pleasantly surprised by the story! It was cute and lighthearted, just what I was looking for! Thank you for the chance to read this book!

When will these Little Guy vs Big Guy stories actually pay off with the Little Guy winning?

Okay, that's a bit of an over-simplication. But I wanted to root for Ellie and Greco's deli SO BADLY, but she was not a fun character to root for nor was she very self aware. Her and Theo's scheme ends up being predictable - and not in a good way - and I just wish the author had taken this in a very different direction. Just not a good book for me...

I really enjoyed Ellie and Theo’s story. The bond they developed throughout the book was strong. There were a lot of moments I laughed out loud. I do think the story line could have been a little better but overall, it was enjoyable.

From the very beginning the FMC seems very unlikable because she seems very negative and down on herself and I'm tired of seeing woman like that in romance. Especially the trope of women sacrificing themselves for their family businesses.

This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review, as always, all words are my own.

Ellie Greco starts as a down-on-her-luck mc with an added splash of sass and pretention around people she thinks assume "she's lower than". It's a hard pill to swallow in a fmc, but not an unknown one. Her feelings about her current station in life are valid, but it isn't until the station is threatened that she finally bucks up and tries to save it, with the help of Theo Taylor. I love a good fake dating scheme (because they always end up together), but the third act breakup was ROUGH. Obviously, they make up in the end, but the journey was a long one.
I love all the food in this book though, that will always bring me back.