Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Love You, Mean It by Jilly Gagnon. This is a fun HEA somewhat steamy romance and it is a fun read.

Ellie Greco is living in a small town running her family deli. She's the queen of mortadella. She quit her job trying to do costuming for Broadway when her family needed her but now she's in a bit of a rut. In comes Theo Tayler, high school boyfriend of Ellie's bff Bella. He's the rich son of a real estate family who is buying up properties all over town. When the Taylor company wants to bring in Mangia, a high=end emporium of all things Italian food related Ellie finds herself fighting for the life of her family deli.

When Theo gets a concussion, Ellie tells the EMT she is Theo's fiancée (think While You Were Sleeping) so she can accompany him to the hospital. After getting his memory back, he tells Ellie he wants to help her save the deli and keep Mangia out but she has to keep up the ruse of their engagement.

There's a lot going on - family issues, scorned ex girlfriends, meetups with families, "wedding" planning. Along the way Ellie and Theo realize that maybe there's more to this fake engagement then planned.

All in all a fun, quick fairly steamy romance.

This is a tricky one for me to review! There is a lot to like about it - I though both Ellie and Theo were fun, funny, charismatic characters. I liked that they weren't quite enemies but were more opposites, in ways. I also love While You Were Sleeping and You've Got Mail, both of which were clearly influences in this book. And Ellie's cousin Bella is a great side character. So is Sam, for that matter! There are great female characters throughout.

That said, it honestly read like this book was written entirely to be adapted into a romcom in the 1990s. For example - we go from Theo and Ellie agreeing to their scheme and jump DIRECTLY to Theo and Ellie pulling up to his dad's house, a few days later. There's a lot we're told - I was expecting to at least see the first time they got together to work on their story, but instead we just jump right to the action.

Not to mention - the third act miscommunication/breakup feels so dated. Theo was 100% out of line for what he said, but how did he anticipate it going any way other than terribly?? It's 2023. Why would you share what your misogynistic uncle said about a girl you're trying to woo?? Be so for real, Theo. And then Sam gave me whiplash going from a decent/kind/cool girl to a total jealous lunatic and then RIGHT BACK to a girl's girl. Make it make sense.

I'm going to give this one three stars because although I did enjoy the read (I read it in 2 days) and there were some parts that I laughed out loud at, and the chemistry between the two main characters is great, there were a lot of plot holes and ultimately it was more style over substance. Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC.

Love You, Mean It was an oddly enjoyable book. It wasn't quite the romance I was expecting. I liked that both main characters had their "finding of self" moments that were growing them as people. I breezed through this in a few hours, and hope to read more by this author.

3.6
The story is a relatively good time, but I can't get over the way the, erm, intimate scenes (which are somewhat randomly interspersed anyway) feel like they were cut and pasted out of a completely unrelated novel.

This was a cute and fun read with just a little spice.
My first time reading anything by this author, but I would definitely read other books of hers.

I enjoyed the characters, and the overall concept of the story. Fake dating, amnesia, family/business/ and similar to a grumpy/sunshine trope.

I will say I felt the beginning was quite slow for my taste and maybe a little too in depth on the business aspect because my attention faltered a little. Once getting past the first few chapters I really enjoyed the story. Did I enjoy every little aspect, no. Did I feel there were some plot holes, yes, I’m just not one to critique every little detail of a book. My opinion is that it is a cute read and I didn’t have to overly think which I appreciated. I enjoyed it and would recommend.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing for reaching out to me with this e-arc.

Be on the lookout PUB date 04/30/24

This fun rom com really hit the spot! I found it so enjoyable, and this one packs some heat. I highly recommend this if you aren’t looking for huge plot twists and want an entertaining and feel-good experience. I received an ARC from the publisher.

Love You, Mean It is a fun, saucy romp of a romance with interesting characters and a plot reminiscent of the Sandra Bullock movie, While You Were Sleeping. I knew where the plot would end up and enjoyed the journey to get there.

Coincidentally, this marks the third romance novel I've delved into over the past month, all of which revolve around a plotline reminiscent of the beloved movie trope found in "While You Were Sleeping." Normally, I wouldn't gravitate toward stories that share such a similar concept, especially when they often involve one of my favorite tropes: fake dating. However, each author brings their unique perspective and creative ideas to the table, offering readers fresh and entertaining outcomes.

The story of Ellie and Theo unfolds as a classic enemies-to-lovers narrative, born out of the circumstances that fate has thrown their way. Ellie, determined to rescue her upscale gourmet food store—a cherished family business endeavor—is faced with an unyielding obstacle in the form of Theo Taylor, the strict property manager. Their first encounter takes an unexpected turn when the ceiling literally collapses, and Ellie finds herself escorting the very man who had initially rejected her store's prospects to the hospital. In a moment of spontaneity, she blurts out that she is his fiancée while they wait for his treatment. Enter Theo's short-term memory loss, causing him to forget his attractive fiancée, leading him to take her word as truth and believe in their fictional happily ever after—until his memory gradually returns, and he recalls their less-than-favorable first meeting.

Rather than harboring resentment for her deception, Theo proposes a mutually beneficial arrangement to Ellie, one that may help salvage their Mangia business deal. Ellie, though skeptical and hesitant to trust Theo, finds herself at a crossroads, torn between beggars not being choosers and reluctantly agreeing to play along.

However, the situation takes a complicated twist when Theo's ex-girlfriend, Sam, enters the scene and senses that something peculiar is afoot between Ellie and Theo. Sam is determined to uncover the truth.

Ellie faces a challenging dilemma, torn between nurturing her budding friendship with Sam and grappling with her own suppressed feelings for Theo. Sometimes, doing the right thing can be the most arduous task when the heart yearns for what it wants.

Pros: I relish the execution of the "While You Were Sleeping" plotline interwoven with the fake dating trope.

Cons: My enjoyment was marred by the involvement of Theo's ex-girlfriend, who, ironically, turned out to be a more likable character than Ellie. Ellie's wavering decisions, her tendency to bury her feelings and deny her emotions, as well as her propensity for creating unnecessary angsty and dramatic situations, became exasperating. In fact, I had initially considered giving this book a 3.5-star rating, but Ellie's character pushed me to lower my rating to 3 stars, despite my appreciation for the various tropes, the delightful deli business setting, and the sizzling chemistry between Ellie and Theo.

I remain optimistic about reading more books by this author in the near future, with the hope of encountering heroines who are less prone to self-sabotage and more relatable.

A heartfelt thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine/Dell for generously providing me with this digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This was such a departure from our normal books, but I loved it! I like her normal style, but this was a great stretch for her. It was such a fun and easy read, I blew through this book like it was my job! It was just so hard to put down, and written so well. The characters were relatable and honest and nuanced, I honestly felt like I could know them. It didn’t end with the world being perfect, but it ended with them. Happy enough. That’s the kind of reality that I’m here for! Great story, great characters, great writing.

This had promise but ultimately I think there was too much going on & characters acting strangely.
The story went on for too long as well and couldn’t hold my attention.

This was such a cute idea, and over all a cute story. I really liked Ellie and Theo. Their banter was great and it was fun watching them fall for each other. I liked Sam and Bella and thoroughly hated Theo’s dad while I thrilled at the smack down Ellie gave him at their first dinner together.

This book brought out a range of emotions in me—from the absolute tension of that argument with Ted to the tears that welled in my eyes as Ellie danced and sang to Sweet Child of Mine.

There was one thing I didn’t care for—the intricate details that were everywhere. From the deli meats and whatever foods she sold, to the in-depth monologues about clothing, to the details about what the upper class buildings looked like. It was… a lot. It detracted from the story and I found myself skimming over some of those intricacies so I could get back to the actual story.

All in all, very good. I really enjoyed these characters and their story together.

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

This was such a cute book! It was the perfect amount of light read mixed with some wonderful character development. The author did a wonderful job of making the characters have both complexity and depth. Would most definitely recommend this author and this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Wait this was so funny! It’s While You Were Sleeping plus a fun rivals/enemies to lovers type vibe. Really enjoyable fun read.

The Greco family has been in the deli business for many generations in the small town of Millborough, where Greco’s Deli is a staple. Ellie Greco is now back in town, managing the deli, and refers to herself as the “Martha Stewart of meat slicers.”
Mimi, the colorful, outspoken grandmother of the family learns that a big corporation plans to buy an old department store in town owned by the Taylor family. The Taylor family has been known as one of the wealthiest family for many generations. Ted Taylor has handed over the responsibility of the sale of the empty store to his son, Trip, now known as Theo. The plan is for the building to house what is best described as a food department store which will be the certain end of Greco’s Deli. Although Bella Greco dated Trip in high school, Ellie is chosen to speak to him about the new business proposition.
When Elie and Theo meet at the department store, through a freak accident, Theo is hit on the head, resulting in an ambulance ride to the hospital, and a partial loss of his memory. With the potential of the accident costing the Greco family their entire legacy, Ellie is desperate and claims to be Theo’s fiancé so that she can be with him at the hospital. When Theo gains consciousness and he learns of Ellie’s claim, he decides to partner with her because he has other ideas of what the empty building should be used for.
This is a fast-paced, fascinating story with interesting, unforgettable characters. Once I began reading, I read it straight though, laughing much of the way. The frequent use of the F word sprinkled throughout, could have been eliminated without affecting this delightful story.
Thank you to Random House for the complimentary copy of this book. All comments and opinions are my own.

Emotionally DNFd at 40%, but forced myself to keep going because it was a quick read. This book had all my favorite tropes (enemies to lovers, fake dating, etc), but when you pair it with the most insufferable characters that lack any chemistry it’s hard to enjoy. I wanted to like this, and maybe others will, but it just wasn’t for me.

I feel like this is the quickest I’ve gotten through an ARC in awhile, but I think this book appeared at the exact right time!

I say this as the biggest compliment - this is a book that isn’t taking itself too seriously. Sometimes I read books in a similar vein and struggle with them, because the situations feel too unrealistic or I find myself questioning every decision the main character makes. But this book is like a less cliche Hallmark/Lifetime movie - it has tropes that we all know and love, but they fit together like a puzzle and it’s the kind of story that you could easily replicate and find a real life version of with your old high school classmates.

Anyway - Ellie and Theo were great main characters. Like I said, I struggle with MC’s where you question their decision making (you know the ones where you ask yourself every time - do you just hate yourself?) and that wasn’t an issue with these two. Ellie and Theo join the ranks of characters that you’re cheering on to get their heads out of their butts.

All in all, really happy to have read this and definitely would recommend to anyone who just needs a read to make them happy.

Jilly Gagnon’s “Love You Mean It” is a delightful romantic comedy that checks all the boxes for a heartwarming, humorous, and thoroughly enjoyable read. With dueling delis, fake dating, unexpected friendships, and a touch of amnesia thrown into the mix, this book is a recipe for entertainment success.

The story revolves around Ellie Greco, a talented costume designer who reluctantly returns to her hometown to run her family’s deli after her father’s passing. She dreams of a more exciting life but faces the threat of losing her family legacy when a posh gourmet food store, Mangia, plans to set up shop in her neighborhood. Enter Theo Taylor, the man behind the impending deal, and their meeting couldn’t have gone worse. When an accident leaves Theo with amnesia and Ellie in a tight spot, she claims to be his fiancée to protect her deli’s future.

What follows is a hilarious journey as Ellie and Theo navigate their fake engagement, trying to convince everyone that they’re madly in love. The chemistry between them is palpable, and Gagnon brilliantly explores the tension and unexpected feelings that arise from their pretend relationship. Ellie’s wit and determination, coupled with Theo’s charm and vulnerability, make for an engaging dynamic that keeps readers hooked.

But the story doesn’t stop there. Enter Sam, Theo’s sharp-witted ex-fiancée, who adds another layer of complexity to the narrative. Her reappearance forces Ellie to make difficult choices about friendship, family, and her own budding romance.

Jilly Gagnon’s writing is sharp and witty, with humor that will make you laugh out loud. She skillfully weaves together a charming tale of love and self-discovery against the backdrop of dueling delis and a high-stakes business deal. While the premise may seem familiar, Gagnon injects fresh energy and depth into the story, making it a standout in the romantic comedy genre.

“Love You Mean It” is a page-turner that keeps you engaged from start to finish, and it delivers just the right dose of romance, humor, and heart. It’s a story about embracing unexpected opportunities, finding love in unexpected places, and learning that sometimes, the path to your dreams takes a detour through the most surprising of circumstances.

In summary, if you’re a fan of romantic comedies with engaging characters, clever humor, and a touch of amnesia-induced chaos, “Love You Mean It” by Jilly Gagnon is a must-read. It’s a four-star gem that will leave you with a smile on your face and a warm feeling in your heart.

Rating: 4/5 stars

Ellie Greco is doing everything she can to keep the family Italian deli thriving. Theo Taylor is doing everything he can to purchase the building across the street and bring in an Italian food conglomerate...right? A series of misunderstandings, bouts of amnesia, and a fake engagement blend together in a feel good romance about two people filled with misconceptions about each other.

Readers may relate to some of the relationship insecurities that the characters deal--family issues, money issues, class issues--and get a kick out of the lengths that Ellie will go to in order to prove that she and Theo really aren't meant to be.

Thanks to NetGalley & Random House for the digital ARC.

I appreciated the publisher reaching out to me to review this book. I enjoyed the premise, which follows Ellie's family business, the efforts to save it from Big Business, and her romantic entanglement. Ellie was not really relatable however, and there wasn't a lot of connection with the romance with Theo. I mostly enjoyed other aspects of the book rather than the main characters - I needed MORE from them (the foundation is there, just needs something in addition).

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine/Dell for this Arc in exchange for an honest review.

This is a story of how Ellie abs Theo fake date and try to save Ellie’s deli. This felt different than most other fake dating books I’ve read. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a cute weekend read.