This book is, quite simply, too much. I didn't like the characters, the plot was too out of this world, and the humor didn't hit. There are plenty of great escapist rom-coms out there and this one doesn't add in the way of newness or fun to the stack, it's more of a head-scratcher.

Libby Lane is down on her luck. Her journalism career is a non-starter and she barely makes enough to pay rent for the squalid little apartment she shares with her best friend. She and her friends make up an affluent influencer called Love, Lillibet where they mock rich, out-of-touch influencers. It's all in good fun until a real influencer wants to collab and offers a chance at Libby's journalism dreams, then it's all hands on deck to try and convince the influencer and her handsome companion that everything is on the up and up.

I'm giving this one 3.5 stars because it's interesting and there are some great character moments, but I never managed to really get into the story. It's an insane premise that somehow works despite (or maybe because of) the ridiculous situations Libby and her friends find themselves in. Their being lost and desperate and finding a way to escape it through social media is relatable, but everything from the influencer falling for it to finding a millionaire to act as an accomplice in their ruse was a bit too much. I get it's fiction and usually love when things get over the top, yet how things are handled never got over the ridiculous hurdle and into fun.

Happy thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the interesting read!

"Hate to Fake it to You" sounded like it would be a fun way to pass a few hours. Instead I ended up DNF'ing the book approximately 65% in, after Libby does something that could potentially (probably?) blow up her life just to spite her supposed best friend. I didn't like anyone in this book. Pretty much everyone was lying, and many of the lies weren't even that good. And Jean, the alleged best friend, was so incredibly toxic that I lost any tiny modicum of respect for Libby for putting up with Jean's cruel manipulations. At the time I stopped reading, everyone was still lying about at least one thing, and there had been nothing physical between Libby and Jefferson, the main couple. Not even a kiss. So yeah. Not for me.

One star. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a complimentary copy of this book. These opinions are my own.

I enjoyed the premise of having to fake who you are in real life due to an online persona. Beyond being relatable now with the age of social media, the absurdity of the story works so well for a romcom.

I loved the over the top storyline from it being a famous media heiress visiting Hildy, to the swoonworthy wildlife photographer Jefferson tagging along with the pair. Lines get blurred, Hildy gets a hint of having to come to terms with this entire situation.

Her situation of having to figure out how to live her life authentically becomes a main focus throughout this book as the characters get closer.

I loved this novel as a whole even if it was a hair predictable.

There were some moments I got a bit lost in the sheer amount of absurdity and had a little trouble keeping everything straight in my head, but overall I really enjoyed Hate to Fake it to You! I loved the idea of someone having to pretend to be the person she (and her friends) have made up online. Even though it was absolutely absurd, it felt grounded in a nice way, as well.

Libby has curated the opulent online persona of Lillibet to escape her mess of a life. But when famous media heiress Hildy comes to Hawaii to connect with Lillibet Libby must pull off her best impression yet. Hildy doesn’t come alone though, wildlife photographer Jefferson accompanies her and Libby doesn’t know how to act around him. As her farce slowly unravels, Libby has to come to terms with how she wants to authentically live her life.

The humor and characters kept me entertained but the story was a bit all over the place for me.

Unfortunately this was just ok for me. I didn't connect with the characters and the story. I liked the idea of the story but I found myself struggling to pay attention so I decided to DNF at 50%.

This book takes place in Hawaii and had me dreaming of warmer weather! In HATE TO FAKE IT TO YOU by Amanda Sellet, three friends, each struggling in their careers - journalism, art, and becoming a head chef - have combined their talents to cultivate one online persona of an over the top perfect life. They go all in on the lie when a media heiress high on life after a near death experience comes to meet her favorite influencer - who doesn’t really exist. This is a romcom heavy on the comedy and it works so well. It’s nonsensical but that’s what makes it fun! Would recommend if you love a caper and a warm weather setting.

A Middling Romp in Paradise
Amanda Sellet's Hate to Fake It to You is a lighthearted attempt at a modern screwball comedy that needs some adjustments to hit the mark. The premise—a waitress pretending to be a social media influencer—is undoubtedly ripe for comedic chaos, and there are moments where the book delivers. However, the execution is uneven, leaving the reader with a sense of 'meh' rather than outright enjoyment.

Tropes and Familiar Territory
The novel leans heavily on familiar rom-com tropes: the fake relationship, the 'opposites attract' dynamic, and the inevitable 'big reveal' that threatens to derail everything. While these tropes can be comforting, it's important to note that they lack originality in this instance. Sellet only does a little to subvert expectations or add fresh twists, making the story feel somewhat predictable.

Problem Areas
* Uneven Pacing: The story starts with a promising burst of energy but loses momentum in the middle. The extended sequences of Libby maintaining her charade become repetitive and drag down the pace.
* Lack of Depth: While the main characters, Libby and Jefferson, are likable enough, they need more depth. Their motivations and backstories must be more balanced, preventing readers from entirely investing in their relationship.
* Over-the-Top Antics: Some comedic situations, particularly those involving Libby's 'influencer' persona, stretch the bounds of believability. For instance, [insert specific example here]. While screwball comedies often rely on exaggeration, here, it occasionally veers into the absurd, undermining the story's emotional core.

Strengths
* Witty Dialogue: Sellet's knack for witty and engaging dialogue is a highlight, adding a layer of charm to the characters' interactions.
* Quirky Characters: The supporting cast, including Libby's friends like [insert character name and description here] and the eccentric townspeople such as [insert character name and description here], add humor and warmth to the story.
* Setting: The small-town setting, with its [insert specific details about the setting here], is vividly described, creating a cozy and inviting backdrop for the unfolding drama.

Constructive Criticism
Sellet has a knack for witty dialogue and creating quirky characters. Hate to Fake It to You could have been a much stronger novel with some refinements. Tightening the pacing, deepening the character development, and grounding the comedic elements in a more relatable reality would have elevated the story significantly, offering hope for a more engaging read in the future.

Overall Impression
Hate to Fake It to You is a decent read for those seeking a light and fluffy escape. However, readers looking for originality, depth, or a genuinely engaging rom-com experience may be disappointed. With some revisions, this 3-star read could have reached a higher rating.

This was a very fun and enjoyable read! I ended up both reading and listening to this book, I highly recommend the audiobook version! The narrator, Barrie Kealhola’s performance had me literally laughing out loud. I think the book had the opportunity to dig in more to the characters’ backstories a little more that would have really pushed it to a new level, but if you’re looking for a fun, get-you-in-a-good-mood read then you have found it.

*1.5 Stars rounded up*

ARC provided by Publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I would like to thank St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for a copy of this eARC. The premise sounded like so much fun, and I have loved Contemporary Romances in the past that play on social media so it was one that I quickly requested.

I really wanted to love this, and even at the beginning made a comment on how much I loved the author's voice. It's been about two months since I read this, and while I originally gave 2.5 stars, I reflected a lot on my experience reading and had to lower to 1.5.

What started off strong quickly diminished. I hated the best friend character, Jean, and found her irredeemable. To force your friend into a farce for your own benefit, and then get mad at her when she doesn't want to play along, and then attack her when she ends the ruse? You're a sh*t friend and I have not sympathy for her. Their final fight and then make up made me feel like I was being gaslit and I wanted to hop into the book and strangle her. I could write an entire review on how much I hate her. I thought Anh from "The Love Hypothesis" won the award of worst best friend for me, but Jean gets to take home that trophy now. Very rarely have I ever had a side character that has ruined an entire book for me.

I loved the slow burn between her and Jefferson, but once they were together everything about the relationship felt so cringy, and inauthentic. I feel Like I just struggled through the entire back half of this book and with second hand embarrassment. I think it had so much potential and sadly, it just went in the wrong direction.

I know there will be those out there who ADORE this book. I am just not it's intended audience.

It’s been awhile since I’ve giggled so much while reading a book.

The slow burn drives me crazy though. But I’m starting to get use to them.
Gotta get to know the characters lol.

I really like Libby. But with the marriage of convenience not so sure. Not my favorite trope. Especially when it using someone for a green card.
I’m not even sure I liked Jefferson. He just seemed awkward. But the cute goats made a lasting impression.
And the twist yep saw that coming.

I definitely was hoping for more of Uncle Richard.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

Amanda Sellet’s Hate to Fake It to You is a charming enemies-to-lovers rom-com with a fresh twist. The story centers on Mallory, a sharp-witted protagonist who reluctantly agrees to a fake relationship with her infuriating coworker, Theo, to navigate a tricky workplace situation. What begins as a practical arrangement quickly evolves into a hilarious and heartfelt journey filled with banter, chemistry, and surprising vulnerability.

Sellet’s writing sparkles with humor and emotional depth, making Mallory and Theo’s dynamic both believable and irresistible. The workplace setting adds tension and stakes, while their gradual transformation from rivals to partners is deeply satisfying.

This book is perfect for fans of witty dialogue, fake dating tropes, and slow-burn romance. Hate to Fake It to You is as fun as it is endearing—a story you won’t want to put down.

“Hate to Fake It to You” is a hoot! This romcom brings the laughs with its quirky characters, adorable goats, and a whole lot of delightful chaos. It's the good pick for when you need something light, cute, and easy to dive into. The banter is fun, the situations are quirky, and the humor is on point. By the end, I was cheering for pretty much everyone. If you’re looking for a clean, feel-good summer read that’s all fun and no fuss, this one’s a winner!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffith for the advanced copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Did not love this one. The characters were extremely unlikeable and the plot kept getting crazy and more unrealistic as the book went on...I had a really hard time with this book. I felt like there was a lot of information missing that could have contributed to the plot. On the other hand, there was often so much information that I found it confusing! Nothing made sense.

Influencer, Lillibet, has the world falling in love with her lifestyle. The beautiful sceneries, the lavish self-care, and delectable food are coupled with beautifully captioned advice about life. The only problem with Lillibet? She isn't real. She is a creation of best friends, Libby, Jean and Keoki who couldn't live any further from the life they are presenting as Lillibet. When an important follower decides to come to the island to visit Lillibet, the three friends have to hustle to find a way to make their creation into reality. This attempt is followed by chaos, unfortunate events, and the possibility of love.

When a story seems completely unbelievable, it is hard to really jump into it or find ways to connect within the words on the page. Starting, Hate to Fake it to you, I fully expected to feel disappointed. It seemed like a silly premise and so unbelievable that it would be impossible to fall in love with it. I am happy to say that I was very wrong. While the story itself is hard to believe, the characters make up for the lack of connection.

The characters are fully fleshed out, fun, and easy to connect with. The main character, Libby, was intelligent, sassy, and incredibly fun to read. She got herself into situations that in no way would happen to an average person, but those situations always ended up shining a light on the person that she so desperately wanted to be. Her inner dialogue gave a deeper understanding of who she was when everything around her was falling apart. It was interesting to see the juxtaposition between who she was presenting herself to be and who she wanted to be. Jefferson, Hildy, Jean, and Keoki were all equally vital to the story and their interactions with Libby never disappointed.

Despite the lovable characters themselves, the romances lacked luster. There was so much going on that it was hard to see the romance grow in any way that felt natural. This could be because the flow of the story was difficult to follow. There were moments where everything happened at once and then moments where nothing at all happened and it was jolting to go between the two.

This was a surprisingly fun read that was a wonderful break from the seriousness of the real world if you don't mind the difficulties with the flow. Watching Libby and her friends get themselves into and out of wild situations made my own life feel a little bit more manageable, and for that, I found myself greatly appreciating this book.

3.5/5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

A waitress masquerading as an influencer and a wildlife photographer are on a collision course with romance–and chaos―in Hate to Fake It to You , a zany modern twist on a screwball comedy classic about figuring out what you really want – by pretending to be someone you’re not.

Everyone gets a glow-up on social media, but Libby Lane's online persona is the fakest of fakes. Cooked up as a joke by Libby and her best friends, Lillibet is the affluent, healthier-than-thou opposite of her glam-free life on the side of Oahu most tourists never see. The phony fronting is all in good fun, until a real influencer stumbles onto the Love, Lillibet Instagram feed and starts making waves.

When Hildy Johnson, the ambitious junior member of a media dynasty, travels to Hawaii to talk to Lillibet about parlaying her lifestyle brand into a job, Libby and her friends scramble to take the make-believe to a new level. Complicating the charade even further is Hildy’s handsome companion, a wildlife photographer named Jefferson Jones, whose keen eye sees more than he lets on.

Between the pretend husband, borrowed goats, a made-up holiday, and Libby’s very real attraction to Jefferson, it’s anyone’s guess which lie will blow their cover first … especially since Lillibet isn’t the only one with something to hide.

If you are in a dark space emotionally like I was when I read this book, it will help. I loved it. Cannot wait to read more from the author.

This was so bad that I'm having trouble putting it into coherent words. I don't think I've ever read a book that I wanted to end faster than I did this one. Nothing worked and everything was so contrived that it was almost laughable. This was my first book by this author and it will almost certainly be my last.

3.5 stars. What happens when an influencer has to convince people that the online life she portrays is real? This rom-com had a lot of funny lines that landed well. The setting in Hawaii was very easy to picture and played a strong role. The main characters-when they were being their authentic selves-sounded like people I’d like to know. In my opinion, the premise of internet influencers who are faking a lot of their content was both realistic (probably) and frustrating simply because I'm always here for genuine but messy instead of fake perfection. But the way Libby and her friends tried to pull off their well-curated but very fake lifestyle was great slapstick comedy and my favorite part of the book. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc of this book.