Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine, Dell for an advanced reader copy of “Love You, Mean It” by Jilly Gagnon. This was a fun read from start to finish! Ms. Gagnon writes with humor and wit and creates background characters that fully support the main characters.

Ellie is from a large Italian family and run the family business (a family deli) that has been around for about 100 years. She had previously been in NYC trying to break into as costume designer but when her father died she returned home to run the business. It’s now been five years.

Theo is from the same town but from a very wealthy family of real estate investors. His company (his father’s company, too) is poised to bring in a big box Italian restaurant/home goods/fine kitchen appliances, etc., which would decimate the local business downtown.

The two main characters are at odds over this issue and Ellie goes to meet him at the job site to argue for him to not bring this big box company to town. Amidst their turn on the site, Theo is hit on the head by some mechanical box and loses memory of the last six years.

The rest of the story is full of deals, agreements, lies, passion, tenderness, feelings of inadequacy, and learning who they really are and what’s important to them.

This is a quick read and really held my attention. I loved the characters and the central conflict and how they figured it all out. This book comes out next year and I highly recommend giving it a read! You won’t be disappointed!

Such a cute story! The story paced well and was really well written. 10/10

This book was gifted to me by the publishers through NetGallery.

Unfortunately this one was super boring and I could not get into it. I love this genre but it just wasn't for me. :-(

"Love You, Mean It" by Jilly Gagnon appears to be a delightful romantic comedy filled with humor, fake dating, charming characters, and the promise of unexpected love. The book's description sets the stage for a fun and engaging story that readers are likely to enjoy.

Ellie Greco's character is introduced as someone with dreams beyond her small hometown, Milborough. Her passion for costume design and her return to run the family deli after her father's death create a relatable and empathetic protagonist. The juxtaposition of her seemingly mundane responsibilities and her longing for excitement adds depth to her character.

The conflict introduced through the arrival of Mangia, the gourmet food department store threatening Greco's Deli, provides a solid backdrop for the story. The idea of Ellie pretending to be Theo's fiancée to protect her business, especially due to the amnesia twist, adds a unique and comical element to the plot. The amnesia trope often leads to hilarious and unexpected situations, making it a promising ingredient for humor and character development.

The dynamics between Ellie, Theo, and Sam, including the proposal for a fake engagement and the reappearance of Theo's ex-fiancée, suggest a complex and engaging love triangle. This setup not only promises romantic tension but also personal growth and self-discovery for the characters involved.

The book's overall premise, featuring a charming deli, the clash between traditional and modern businesses, and the potential for love to blossom amidst deception, offers a compelling and entertaining narrative.

In summary, "Love You, Mean It" appears to be a playful and enjoyable romantic comedy. Readers who appreciate witty banter, unexpected twists, and the exploration of personal and professional dreams are likely to find this book a delightful and engaging read.

This is a charming romantic comedy that earns a solid 4-star rating. This book delivers a delightful blend of humor, romance, and a dash of amnesia, all set against the backdrop of the dueling delis.

The story introduces us to Ellie Greco, a spirited young woman who had dreams of a more exciting life than running her family's deli in Milborough. When the threat of a glitzy gourmet food department store, Mangia, moving into town endangers her family's business, she finds herself in an unexpected predicament. Her chance encounter with Theo Taylor, the scion of the property management firm behind Mangia, sets the stage for a series of comical mishaps.

One of the standout elements of the book is the fake engagement between Ellie and Theo, which leads to a host of humorous and heartwarming moments. As Theo grapples with amnesia, their dynamic becomes more entertaining. Gagnon skillfully crafts their relationship, making it believable and endearing.

The supporting characters add depth to the story, with Ellie's shockingly awesome ex and theo's shrewd father, Ted, providing interesting subplots and dynamics. The reappearance of Sam, Theo's ex-fiancee, adds an intriguing layer of tension and drama to the narrative.

"Love You, Mean It" strikes the right balance between witty banter and heartfelt moments, making it a highly enjoyable read. The book's pacing keeps you engaged, and you'll find yourself invested in Ellie and Theo's journey, even as they navigate the complexities of their fake engagement and the unexpected romance that blossoms.

Overall, this is a well-crafted romantic comedy that offers a delightful escape into the world of dueling delis and fake dating. It's a feel-good read with relatable characters and a satisfying blend of humor and romance, making it well-deserving of its 4-star rating.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC for my honest review.

I didn't love this book, and I mean it. I was not drawn to either of the leads, and the fake engagement story line was not compelling to move the story to a HEA.

hooked and hooked some more. Loved all of this and couldn't put it down. I was like oh my. I need to know more. Read it.

This romcom involves a woman trying to save her family’s deli and the wealthy guy who could either put it out of business… or help her in her efforts to save it. Several good secondary characters who helped bring the com to the romcom.

Amnesia and fake dating are not usually my favorite tropes, but I thought they were well done in this book. I really like that the amnesia storyline didn’t go on too long.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Watch for Love You, Mean It to come out April 30, 2024.

This is a very funny "meet-cute" book about Ellie and Theo who meet in a hospital after Theo has suffered an accident and has amnesia. Ellie runs her family's deli and has also sewed some really original articles of clothing when she was involved in high school drama. But when she discovers Theo's family may be bringing in Mangia, a high class eatery that would put her deli out of business, she is furious and determined to save it. And Theo needs something from her as well and so they begin a "fake" engagement, much to their families' chagrin as they don't seem well-suited to each other. There is wonderful snarky language and hilarious scenes that make this novel one to savor!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

I am so grateful that this book was recommended to me through NetGalley and the publisher was kind enough to reach out. This book appealed to me instantly with its absolutely amazing cover. Those colors are so fun! Now, keep in mind, that this book does not come out until April 30th of next year. That’s not gonna stop me from telling you about it now though!
This was so much fun! The FMC owns a deli, and I found this part really refreshing. I can successfully say this is the only romance book I’ve read where the character has a deli. Typically, it’s a coffee shop or a bookstore, which I still love, but the deli was a nice change. She meets the MMC, he gets injured, and long story short, now they’re fake dating. Fake dating is one of my favorite tropes so I loved this part.
This was a very easy read, and a good choice when you need something more relaxing and chill. I would recommend reading if you like: fake dating, opposites attract, and a bit of secret keeping. This was also fun because it is the author's first rom-com book!

Such a cute book. Definitely thought it was going to be a while you were sleeping vs you’ve got mail meet cute but it took on it’s own spin. Quick read and enjoyed it

Love You, Mean It is a rom-com that takes place in a small town of Milborough outside of Boston. Ellie left New York five years ago after her father died to run her family's deli so that her beloved grandparents wouldn't have to come out of retirement. She had been trying to make it as a costume designer there but had not had much success. When her grandmother comes home fired up with the news that the local landlord is planning to rent out a recently empty store to a huge food department store, Ellie and her family fear this means the end of their deli. She reaches out to Theo, the landlord's son who also works at the company, in an effort to stop the big store from coming to town. Their meeting doesn't go as planned and ends with Theo getting knocked out. Ellie says she's his fiancée so that she can be in the hospital to explain what happened (and continue to plead her case), but he wakes up with amnesia so he believes her. When his memory returns, he proposes they continue with the fake engagement so they can both get what they want. It seems to be going well until his ex, Sam, shows up and proposes a plan of her own to Ellie.

The beginning of the book did not start off good for me (Ellie was too pessimistic), but started redeeming after the first couple of chapters. I liked Ellie's and Theo's sarcasm and banter with each other. There were several things that were mentioned in passing ((view spoiler)) that I felt would have been better left out or really told through the book instead of being glazed over. Overall, I did enjoy the story and appreciated that Ellie's character development took awhile instead of her just magically realizing her faults/hang-ups and correcting them.

Ellie goes back home to help her family save their deli. a sweet quick read, read in three afternoons.

At first blush I thought this novel was an adaptation of the old Sandra Bullock move 'While You Were Sleeping' and was ready to be frustrated. Well, I was wrong. This meet cute romantic comedy was surprisingly fresh and clever. Ellie runs her family Italian deli in a Boston suburb. When she gets wind of a local businessman, Theo Taylor, planning to turn an old department store into a bougie Italian food chain, she comes up with a clever plan. There are funny moments, family drama situations, and of course a good steamy love scene or two. I couldn't put it down. You will want this in your beach bag or on your summer reading list!

2.5 stars out of 5.

This book was just meh for me. I found the first part of the story pretty boring but it did pick up towards the end. Then the ending came and I was left really disappointed. It felt really rushed and left me with some questions and I felt I was left hanging. Ellie and Theo were pretty unlikable and negative. This book just wasn't for me.

Ellie is running her family deli after her father passed away. She finds out that The Taylors, a predominant family in their town, plans to sell a piece of property to a mega business that could put the deli out of business along with others in the community. Ellie goes to talk to Theo, who is the youngest son of the Taylor family to try and stop it. Theo ends up getting knocked out cold while talking to Ellie, who then tells the paramedics she is his fiancé, to go with him to the hospital. Theo wakes up with amnesia, but quickly regains his memory. He proposes they keep up their engagement to help both of them.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Small town, fake engagement, opposites attract

This is a small town romance told from the perspective of its heroine, Ellie Greco. Ellie is managing the family deli. The business is threatened by the potential opening of a big chain gourmet emporium. Ellie approaches Theo Taylor, the son of the commercial real estate owner developer for recruiting the competitor. In a "meet cute," Theo is knocked out by a falling object at the construction site. To accompany him to the hospital, Ellie tells the emergency medical staff that she's Theo's fiancé.

When Theo is released from the hospital, he suggests that they continue to pretend to be engaged. If Ellie is his fiancé, his father will be less likely to continue with plans that will put her out of business.

Ellie and Theo seem to be opposites. She's a scrappy ethnic working class girl with dreams of being a fashion designer. He's a wealthy WASP with a country club membership and secret dreams of being an architect. Under the surface, they both have dark senses of humor, strong opinions and care deeply about family. They both shut out people to avoid being vulnerable. Both are afraid to chase their dreams.

I think this book might have been more engaging if it had explored Ellie's and Theo's growing connection and individual struggles more in depth. Instead, the plot is diverted during the second half with a storyline involving an ex. It was difficult for me to get my arms around Theo's feelings. I think the story might have been improved with alternating perspectives.

This was a breath of fresh air to the rom-com genre that knocked me off my feet! I enjoyed every delicious second (pun intended) and delighted in the blossoming fake - yet not so fake - romance between Ellie and Theo. It was a perfect blend of friendship, frenemies, romance, drama, comedy...my heart just sang with happiness as I read this book. It was very well written and completely unputdownable - I had to know what would happen next. I highly recommend this book and consider it one of the best I have read in a long time!

Love You, Mean It by Jilly Gagnon has a cute premise. Ellie has taken over her dad’s deli since he passed. She learns a gourmet chain grocery store plans to set up across the street. Ellie thinks her biggest chance at stopping it is contact their property manager, Theo. Until an accident causes Theo to loose his memory and Ellie pretends to be his wife.

I wish Ellie wasn’t so hard on herself all the time. She had a lot to offer. The story is fast paced, lighthearted, and witty.

I was asked to review “Love You Mean it” by Jilly Gagnon, which I went into without any expectations other than knowing I would be reading a romantic comedy. Ellie is struggling to keep the family deli afloat when she discovers a chain gourmet grocer plans to put up shop right across the street. Ellie decides the best way to compete is to convince the property manager (Theo) not to allow the new grocer to set up shop. Yet, in this novel’s version of “meet cute,” an accident leads Theo to develop amnesia and Ellie’s solution is to pretend to be his bride to be. Yet, even when Theo regains his memory, the duo continues their ploy in the hope of getting what they want. Of course, the reader expects that with Theo and Ellie faking being in love, they will ultimately fall in love for real.

While predictable, the novel is still enjoyable. Ellie had her moments, but she also has rooting value. Jilly Gagnon’s writing is filled with witty, light-hearted moments, but there is some depth to the story too. This book was much sexier than your typical Hallmark trope and a quick but laugh-out-loud read.

Three and a half stars.

Thanks to the publisher, Jilly Gagnon and NetGalley for an opportunity to read this book.

loved this romance between opposites and finding one's worth. loved the fake romance that became real. loved the grandma and that she owned a deli and starting figuring her life out and found some romance.