I was initially attracted to this book because of its charming cover, which seemed to promise a light-hearted beach romance involving goats. While I can't deny that the book delivers on that aspect to some extent, it ultimately fell short of my expectations. I struggled to connect with the characters and found the plot to be quite tedious. The introduction of each chapter, with its focus on influencers, felt forced and cringeworthy. Despite many reviews describing the book as incredibly funny, I found it to be trying too hard to be humorous. The only part that truly captured my attention was the scene where the goat ate the protagonist's bikini top, but overall, I felt indifferent towards it. While I'm aware that many people may enjoy this book, unfortunately, it just didn't resonate with me.

This novel was fantastic - the characters were likeable and well developed and I lol'd numerous times throughout. A fun romcom - and cute cover to boot.I look forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

First, thank you the Net Galley and publishers for the opportunity to give my opinion on this book.

I absolutely fell in love with the book, Hate to Fake It to You. It was such an easy, lighthearted read. If you enjoy Emily Henry or Tessa Bailey, this book would be great for you. Or if you want a summer, beach, vacation romance this is the book for you. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

An influencer fake “lillibet” gets the opportunity to become the journalist she always has dreamed to be when a REAL influencer/millionaire Hildy comes to her island to celebrate a “me-mas” and learn from her favorite influencer Lillibet, who is actually Libby, who doesn’t live the influencer life she portrays. Libby is interested in Hildy’s boyfriend/camera man who saved her from an avalanche, the avalanche caused her to be saved by said camera man who now they tour together in interviews? But he isn’t actually her boyfriend. Libby/lillibet pretends to be the influencer she portrays online by pretending to be married, live in a mansion and own goats all while falling for the camera man guy. Sound confusing and far fetch and hard to get through and a little unrelatable? It is 😅

Big thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read this book! The plot was incredibly unique. The characters were also so vastly different. They were a bit hot and cold or hard to track sometimes, but this vague cloud around who they really are and WHY they are them made it a bit hard to really understand/root for them. Like Miss Jean? She’s too messssssy without a fundamental pull for me. This could always be leaning into a sequel, but I felt I would’ve drawn into the storyline earlier on with a little bit more umph. We initially get heavy Hawaiian lingo, but that seems to trail off throughout the book and lose its magical spark. I found the storyline the complete opposite. It was slow to start and was drawing me along until I hit about half way and was flipping pages for my Hallmark-style ending! I really enjoyed watching how the second half play out which is why I give this book four stars leaning from my 3/3.5. A bit more introspection from these characters combined with some supplemental Hawaii descriptions for those of us only traveling by book would really knock this story out of the park! Overall, it was such a fun read! I just tend to be a bit picky ;)

This book is amazing! The characters are awesome, the story is cool, and the writing is really, really good. It's the kind of book you can't put down, and when you finish it, you just want to tell everyone to read it too. Definitely an enjoyable read!

Hate to Fake It to You by Amanda Sellet is AMAZING! I laughed so hard that I cried! Every quirky thing that happens to Lizzbet is pure chaos and I related to it all. Pure rom-com gold!! 5+ stars

In the realm of contemporary literature, Amanda Sellet's Hate to Fake It to You emerges as a delightful social commentary on the pervasive nature of online facades and the complexities of modern relationships. Set against the backdrop of Oahu's captivating scenery, the novel weaves a tale of deception, love, and the struggle for authenticity in the digital age. At its core, the story follows Libby Lane, a young woman whose carefully crafted online persona, "Lillibet," becomes entangled in a web of misunderstandings when a prominent influencer expresses interest in turning her fake lifestyle brand into a lucrative reality. Libby's journey is a relatable one, as she grapples with the pressures of maintaining an idealized online presence while navigating the messy realities of her offline existence. Sellet deftly explores the irony of Libby's situation, highlighting the lengths to which people go to project a flawless image online, often at the expense of their true selves. The novel is further enriched by a cast of vibrant characters, each with their own motivations and secrets. Hildy Johnson, the ambitious media mogul, is a formidable force who challenges Libby's carefully constructed facade. Jefferson Jones, the enigmatic wildlife photographer, adds a layer of intrigue as his keen observation threatens to unravel Libby's carefully crafted web of lies. Hate to Fake It to You is a humorous and heartwarming exploration of the complexities of modern relationships, the allure of social media, and the importance of embracing authenticity. Sellet's writing is witty and engaging, effortlessly drawing readers into Libby's world. The novel's pacing is brisk, maintaining a sense of anticipation as the stakes rise and Libby's deceptions teeter on the brink of exposure. Overall, Hate to Fake It to You is a refreshing and insightful read that offers a thought-provoking examination of the impact of social media on our lives. Sellet's clever storytelling and relatable characters make this novel an enjoyable and thought-provoking experience for readers of contemporary fiction and romantic comedies alike.

A witty, quick read. Reminiscent of “The Importance of Being Earnest” in its slapstick humor and antics, with good intentions all around. Really enjoyed the unique storytelling and the beautiful setting that was painted. Now I badly want to vacation in Hawaii!

Hehe. This was fun. That's all I really have to say, be honest. It was enjoyable. I had a good time. Definitely recommend.

Fairly predictable rom com but it was still a good read that I enjoyed. But this would still be one that I would recommend.

This book had me laughing out loud. The writing style was engaging which had me quickly hooked.
Thanks Net Galley for the advanced reader copy

This book got quite confusing at times and I was not sure what was going on. Or who different characters were. And how it all connected. I really had to push myself to finish this book and it was difficult.

This book was so much fun! A light romance to take me out of the dark thrillers I have been reading and it was just what I needed. If you want to read a sweet romance, this is right up your alley.

Huge thanks to NetGalley for this ARC! This was a cute rom-com, that had me laughing the entire time. I really didn’t think I would like the “influencer” aspect, but it ended up being hilarious and I love how it showed that you can be so much more than the typical influencer.

This is also a perfect read for spring break or summer time!

I loved how their love for each other made them stronger than any problems that came their way. It was so refreshing and heart warming. I absolutely loved and adored them.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC of Hate to Fake It to You! This book is a pretty solid romantic comedy. The comedy works better for me than the romance for me but overall it's a cute and entertaining story! I feel like this could be a good for a beach read or something like that! I feel like it's easy to read in one sitting, and works well for a relaxing read!

The setting was my favorite part! I've been to the North Shore of Oahu and this book was a fun way for me to almost relive my memories there! I think that speaks to how well Amanda Sellet did with the setting! I haven't missed the shave ice I had there like this in years. I felt the love Sellet had for this place and really appreciated that! Very well-done aspect of the book!

Books dealing with social media/influencers are never my favorite, but I actually did appreciate it in this book! The satire of it being about how influencers aren't really who they say they are on social media was pretty good. The book might've been a tad drawn out on this faking it plot, but it's a good idea for a story!

The characters are also good, but didn't do much for me personally. None of them really stuck out to me. I think some people will find Libby and Jefferson's chemistry to be more engaging than I did, and so I want to recommend this book to anyone who reads the description & thinks they might be interested. It is a sweet romance, even if not exactly my cup of tea, and it's a pretty funny book!

This was sweet, adorable, exactly what you think it will be by looking at the cover and I mean that in the highest form of a compliment.

Sometimes you want a book that looks happy and makes you feel happy and that was Hate to Fake it to You!

If you’re looking for a getaway novel full of vibrant descriptions of gorgeous Hawaiian scenery, a sweet or amusing meet-cute, and/or a fulfilling romcom story, this is NOT the book for you.

I admit, the cover art is almost always what gets my attention first. My decision over whether to read the book lies in the blurb. The premise sounded interesting enough: an Instagram account that started as a joke starts to gain a following, which leads to a “fake-it-‘til-you-make-it” scenario of made-up people and personalities, a potentially lavish weekend, and the first spark of love interest. Oh, and there’s goats. Who doesn’t love a silly goat trope?

While the blurb is truthful enough, this book fell completely flat for me. The characters are horribly two-dimensional. The little depth that Sellet attempts to write into some of her characters is nowhere near enough, nor written well. A few sentences tossed in here and there give us a very barebones background on our main characters, and NO background at all on the supporting characters.

There are also too many loose ends left at the end of the book. I have so many questions that will never be answered, but honestly, the book didn’t even interest me enough to make me want to ask those questions.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘵. 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯'𝘴 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸.

I struggled to get into this story. The characters were surface level and I didn’t connect with them. I wanted to live it but it was just okay for me.