Livy Hart has made it so easy to fall in love with Sebastian and Nora! I loved getting to know these characters and the crazy Italian families they are thrown into. It was sweet, spicy and funny, which is everything I look forward to in a romcom. Livy Hart is quickly becoming a must read author for me!

Livy Hart does it again!!! This book is at turns hilarious, heartfelt, kind, sexy, and so very real. Hart creates a bustling cast of characters at a destination wedding we all have fun watching as a fly on the wall. Livy Hart is my favorite contemporary romcom writer, and she once again proves herself in The Great Dating Fake Off!

Title: The Great Dating Fake Off by Livy Hart

Release Date: August, 6th, 2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Stars

One over-the-top Italian wedding. Two fake couples. And a million hilariously disastrous possibilities…what is there not to love?!!!

Nora D’Amato will do anything for her best friend, including pretending to be in love with him to appease his nosy Italian family and attending a chaotic wedding. The only problem? Her crush, Sebastian Rossi, is also at the wedding with his own fake date. While trying to keep up appearances amidst feuding families, high-stakes pickleball tournaments, and bull-riding bachelorette parties, Nora and Sebastian must avoid letting their true feelings slip, risking a comedic disaster if their secrets are exposed.

Why I loved It:

🤣 Laugh-Out-Loud Moments: Straight up, I read this book with a big goofy smile plastered on my face. The humour was on point! Livy Hart’s wit shines through every page, delivering a delightful mix of slapstick comedy, sharp dialogue, and situational humour.

🍝 Big Italian Family Drama: God bless big Italian families and their drama. The dynamic between the D’Amato and Rossi clans is both heartwarming and hilariously chaotic, adding layers of authenticity and charm to the story.

❤️ Adorable Fake Dating Trope: The fake dating scenario is executed to perfection. Nora and Sebastian’s chemistry sizzles, making their awkward encounters and secret glances all the more enjoyable. It’s a trope we all love, done in a fresh and engaging way.

📚 Nostalgic 90s Vibes: If you’re a 90s lover and want to feel nostalgic, read Livy Hart! Her writing effortlessly weaves in cultural references that will transport you back to simpler times, enhancing the overall reading experience.

🥰 Relatable and Lovable Characters: Her writing makes me laugh and gasp and fan myself. The characters are wonderful and clever. Nora and Sebastian are people you’d want to be friends with, even if you’re not cool enough to join their circle. They’re relatable, flawed, and utterly lovable.

🌟 Emotional Roller Coaster: I laughed, I cried, I blushed, and I fanned myself. This book takes you on an emotional roller coaster, something I’ve been sorely missing from many of my recent reads. Livy Hart knows how to tug at your heartstrings while keeping you entertained from start to finish.

The Great Dating Fake Off by Livy Hart is a delightful rom-com that ticks all the right boxes. It’s funny, heartwarming, and brimming with romantic tension. If you’re looking for a book that will make you laugh out loud and swoon simultaneously, this is it. Dive into the hilarity and chaos of Nora and Sebastian’s world—you won’t regret it!


Thank you to The Publisher Entangled Publishing, LLC | Entangled: Amara ,The Author Livy Hart & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.

What a great and fun read! It was my frist read by Livy Hart but I can't wait to dive into the rest of her books. Her characters are likeable, relatable and all around funny. The plot and twists had me laughing out loud a lot of the time. Loved the characters and the development, their backstories, their families and friends. All of it was so much fun. Nora...goodness I wish I could have her as a best friend!

Livy Hart has written a great book that had me hooked from the first page! Starting with a meet cute in a book store, so relatable for everyone who loves books, to a secret semi-forbidden romance, to a happily ever after. I will certainly be keeping a look out for future books by Livy Hart. The spicey scenes were well written and had me wanting to re-read the book as soon as I finished it. The characters are well written and very relatable. Nora is a quiet, kind of nerdy girl who enjoys the simple things in life. like finally having a place to call home. Benji is also quiet and his love for his bearded dragon will make any reptile lovers heart happy. Sebastian is a lover at heart but puts out an act of being a detached tough guy, with a soft spot for helping kids.

This is a must read for everyone who enjoys romance novels where you will enjoy all their secrets alongside them.


*I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review.*

This was the perfect romance. It was funny, relatable, and had the perfect amount of banter and spice.

Someone hand me a fan because the heat Livy Hart put in this book has me about to faint.
Absolutely loved the story as a whole and the chemistry balance. The pacing was really done--the only thing I struggled with was the amount of characters involved. I know it's a lot of Italians (my husband is Italian, so I get it), but sometimes it was a challenge not to confuse them.

A cute little quick read.

I wasn’t too sure about the pop culture references dating this book when I started reading, but once I got into the story it didn’t really bother me.

-Rival Italian Families
-Fake Dating With A Twist
-Forced Proximity
-Found Family
-Wedding Shenanigans

Livy Hart is an auto-buy author for me, she consistently delivers storylines that will grab a hold of your attention and never really let go. You'll be thinking about her books long after their finished.

I had high expectations heading into "The Great Dating Fake Off" and it was even better than I anticipated. This storyline is packed with intriguing family dynamics, tension, chemistry, friendships (found family), spice and drama -- perfectly blended into an unputdownable read!

If you're anything like me and love a 90's/early 2000's Rom-Com, I think that you are going to love this book.

Thank you Livy Hart, Net Galley and Entangled Publishing LLC for providing me with an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

The Great Dating Fake Off has all the right bits. The funny bits, the devastating bits, the spicy bits, the 'how on earth will they make this work?' bits.

Nora works at a bookstore. She has finally made a life for herself after a lifetime of being dragged around by her flighty mother. Sebastian moves around for a living, starting up non-profit programs for kids. They're both fake-dating their best friends in a misguided attempt to alleviate some of the stress of a huge Italian wedding where the main theme seems to be kind of Capulets vs. Montagues but with more sheep.
Nora and Sebastian will never work. How could they? So why can't they keep away from each other?

Ughhhhhh, this BOOK! Livy Hart has delivered again with the perfect recipe for a great romcom. Her writing makes me laugh and gasp and fan myself. The characters are wonderful and clever. Hart always manages to write characters I would want to be friends with but would never be cool enough.
Definitely read this book if you enjoy Emily Henry or Ali Hazelwood, and then go and read all Livy's other amazing books!

Reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet with comedy and a bit more spice. Not really a fake dating story although that is how Nora and Sebastian meet and sparks egnite.

Enjoyed every page. Nora and Sebastian's story is such a great read.

Hoping for a sequel with Benji and Livy's story.

Highly recommend!

Five stars.

Thank you NetGalley and Entangled: Amara for this incredible book.

Expected publication: August 6, 2024