This was such a fun read! Rach has a lot of things going wrong in her life at the moment, starts a new job as a personal assistant. After an incident that becomes known as boobgate, she and her boss are pushed into a fake relationship. Her boss, Pres, an aspiring politician, is a strait laced, proper suit wearing, speech giving man while Rach is the complete opposite. I absolutely love how the two learn to work together and become better versions of themselves. Ahhh the banter back and forth, nicknames, grocery shopping and grumpy sunshine troupe were all adorable and well done. I love a good fake relationship story! I laughed out loud and was smiling while reading throughout this. How have I not seen more of this around bookstagram??? If you enjoy contemporary romance, then definitely pick this one up!

Ugh the last 10% was EXCELLENT, too bad what came before that wasn’t always as good ☹️

Let me start off by saying that the book isn’t that bad and some of the things I didn’t like are just personal dislikes but some other things are objectively badly written.

For example, the female lead was terribly pathetic in the first 30%, the book starts with her living on her ex’s couch (I’m sorry?), she was constantly humiliated and mistreated by others and never once did she stand up for herself, she simply nodded or said “okay” when someone disrespected her, what even? It was unpleasant to read and what’s weird is that judging from her backstory there’s no reason for her to be this spineless.
So not a great characterization, she gets a little more confident and gains some dignity as the story progresses but not much.
In shocking news, the male lead is the only person she stands up to and checks more than once.

Another thing I wasn’t particularly fond of is the power imbalance, the author made sure to turn it into a super power imbalance by having the female lead repeat again and again throughout the novel how much she needed this job and how it was her last chance, the woman is of course terribly poor. She’s his PA and yeah I get it, she’s supposed to do as he says, follow his orders, fetch his coffee and whatever but I didn’t love that, like the actual act of him saying “Get me a coffe” annoyed me to no end, luckily this dynamic too improves along by story.

This next thing is a personal dislike: to me building the sexual tension leading to A Moment is the most important thing in a romance novel, unfortunately so many books I’ve read don’t have that. This novel was no different: the protagonists make out and get each other off for the first time in the same night and 1. Why did that happen? Where’s the tension to back this up? 2. Too fast for me, I’d rather have these two levels of intimacy occur on different moments, days even (super personal preference).

Lastly the biggest problem with the book is the exaggerate use of the verb “Laugh”, not kidding when I tell you it appears more than 200 times and that wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing if the author didn’t ALWAYS use it as a synonym of “answer” or “say”, I think this could have been easily avoided had this book ever seen an editor which I think didn’t happen.

Now onto what I enjoyed, I know I know, you may think “wait, you ENJOYED THIS?”, I did and I wouldn’t even mind rereading it.
Okay what I loved about it:
- The male lead defending her and believing in her dreams when she didn’t even do it herself.
- Him finding her vibrator and being ecstatic and of course using it with her (more of this please).
- Him quitting smoking when he finds out she didn’t like that.
- “That’s why we’re a power couple, snookie.”

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ARC of this audiobook for my honest review

Reading this probably made me smile the most I ever had to a book. It was funny and happy and had a really interesting plot. I loved the way she twisted things to seem positive, the romance was hot and sweet and I can’t wait to re read ! I recommend !

I'll be publishing my review on Goodreads and StoryGraph 6th October and on Tik tok most likely will add to a monthly wrap up post with review the beginning of November.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

In my romance book era. I loved Rach but I related more to Pres. Rach believes in luck and love while Pres is all about the facts. It was such a fun read!

Thank you NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Amanda Gambill for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I will LITERALLY never be tired of this book. It's so funny, and steamy, and cute, and so incredibly perfect. Getting to hear this story in audio form solidified the fact that THIS book was made to be the next big rom-com movie. The narrator was the perfect Rach, and her more masculine voice for Pres was just as enjoyable. I loved getting to hear the quirky nicknames in my ear, and the spice??? The shower scene in audio form??? I ascended into heaven. This audiobook was amazing and I'm so thankful to have been given an arc!

This book was a ray of sunshine. I found myself smiling and laughing throughout the book. The characters were amazing. I loved the fake relationship between the wealthy cranky man and down on her luck positive female. They had to learn to work together, support the other and figure out their own issues. The banter between them was perfection. The overall vibe of this book was just so well done - I actually wanted to jump into the pages. If you are looking for a sweet, fun, grump-sunshine, faking dating rom-com, this should be added to the top of your TBR.
Thank you Netgalley for my advanced audio copy.

I adore this book with everything I have. Amanda Gambill is hilarious, I was cackling so many times while listening to this.

I really enjoyed the narrator as well. Such a pleasant reading experience

Arc reader for this grumpy /sunshine , fake dating romance ... has spice , workplace romance, and grumpy boss who i fell in love with . I loved rach and pres's growing relationship ❤️ I loved rach's growth throughout the book too. I would've liked to hear pres's pov throughout the story , but overall a good read and well written .

Thank you Amanda Gambill and Netgalley for the audiobook ARC of Honestly, I'm Totally Faking It! This book was absolutely amazing!!

Rach is an eternal optimist who ends up fake dating the super serious, overly analytical Pres (and oh yeah, she is also his personal assistant 🤣). Full of great banter, touching dialogue, authentic character development, and laugh out loud humor, this book is an absolute gem!

When I first started listening to this, I was worried that I would not be able to connect with the FMC Rach. She was a bit annoying and over the top bubbly. And the name Rach irritates me in general. BUT. I completely fell in love with Pres. His concrete thinking and analytic brain was perfection. He was hilarious without intending to be. And listening to him clearly fall in love with Rach was perfection. She grew on me and I found her endearing and lovable. And. THE SMUT. I was not prepared. It was way steamier then I was expecting! I was pleasantly surprised with this one.

**Title:** *Honestly, I'm Totally Faking It*
**Author:** Amanda Gambill
**Rating:** 4.5/5

**Review:**

Amanda Gambill’s *Honestly, I'm Totally Faking It* is a delightful, laugh-out-loud rom-com that offers a fresh take on modern-day fame, politics, and the complex art of faking it until you make it. With its quirky protagonist, hilarious plot twists, and heartwarming moments, this book makes for a light, breezy read perfect for fans of witty romantic comedies.

Rach, the protagonist, is instantly lovable in all her chaotic, down-on-her-luck glory. From working as an assistant to personal assistants to crashing on her ex-boyfriend’s couch, Rach embodies the “hot mess” trope in the best possible way—fun, relatable, and charmingly resilient. Despite her disorganized life and hidden past, Rach's optimism shines, making her someone readers can root for.

The book takes off when she crosses paths with Pres, a no-nonsense aspiring politician who’s well aware of his own lack of charm (he literally had it polled). The chemistry between them is electric, not in a traditional swoon-worthy way, but in a hilariously awkward, opposites-attract manner. Pres, the ever-serious Capricorn, contrasts perfectly with Rach's spontaneous, carefree nature, and their dynamic is full of humorous friction.

When “Boobgate” happens—an accidental viral moment that catapults Rach into internet infamy—the story goes from quirky romance to laugh-out-loud social satire. The way Gambill tackles viral culture, PR strategies, and the bizarre world of online fame is sharp and hysterical. Pres’ PR team sees Rach as a potential asset to boost his likability, but Rach’s only real concern is keeping her job and somehow surviving the chaos that’s erupted around her.

What makes *Honestly, I’m Totally Faking It* stand out is its clever commentary on self-perception, image management, and the pressure to “fake it” in various aspects of life, whether in love, career, or fame. Rach’s journey of figuring out whether she can stay true to herself while navigating her growing online fame and her complex feelings for Pres is genuinely engaging and offers more depth than your average rom-com.

Pres is a character who grows on you, despite his initial standoffishness. Beneath his stoic, "unlikable" exterior is a man with ambition, vulnerability, and a surprising sense of humor. His interactions with Rach evolve from stiff and transactional to warm and flirty, and watching their relationship develop is one of the book’s most rewarding aspects.

Though the story is lighthearted and full of hilarious moments, it’s also packed with heart. Rach’s character development is well done, as she learns to navigate the pressures of viral fame, her chaotic personal life, and her growing attraction to Pres, all while grappling with her hidden past. By the end, it’s not just about getting the guy; it’s about Rach finding her footing in the world and realizing that maybe she doesn’t have to fake it after all.

Overall, *Honestly, I’m Totally Faking It* is a sparkling rom-com with a sharp sense of humor, relatable characters, and an entertaining plot. Amanda Gambill strikes the perfect balance between humor and heart, delivering a story that’s both laugh-out-loud funny and surprisingly meaningful. If you’re looking for a fun, modern rom-com that doesn’t take itself too seriously, this book is a must-read.

I LOVED this book! I was really skeptical going in but the reviews all promised good things and they WERE NOT WRONG 😤

Sometimes I find optimistic, sunny characters annoying, but Rach was such a refreshing, fun, loveable character that I loved the entire time. I also loved Pres and his rough exterior and his soft humor once Rach pulled him out of his shell.

These two balanced each other out so well and NEVER fought over their differences.

I was seriously obsessed with this fake dating romance that had me laughing, crying, smiling, cringing (in a good way?) the. entire. time.

I listened to the audiobook of this and the narrator captured the speech and tone EXACTLY AS I IMAGINED IT 10/10! The flow of the story, plot, and characters were so well written!

Review posted to Goodreads 9/25 and evelynlainebooks (Instagram) 9/25

Audio Version via Netgalley

100% MY FAVORITE ROM-COM OF THE YEAR!! I was literally laughing out loud so much. I loved the banter and the spice was just right! The narration was an A+. I loved this so much I am going to buy the physical for my bookshelf and recommending it to everyone.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this advanced audio copy of Honestly I’m Totally Faking It, in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars. It's been a while since I've read a romcom and I'm glad I did. This was a sweet, funny, enjoyable read. It's fake dating and grumpy/sunshine combined, a thoroughly entertaining combination.

It was a nice easy read with a good dose of humour and a small dollop of spice. The fake dating wasn't too over the top with a reasonable reason for it. The grumpy/sunshine was cute but I did wish Rach would stand up for herself more (particularly with her ex boyfriend). There's positivity and then there's just being a doormat. Pres was a pretty good book boyfriend actually (even with his quirky, slightly on the spectrum personality), although he didn't always treat his employees well.

A heartwarming read that I did in two sessions (that's when I know I really enjoyed it - when I don't want to stop reading it).

Absolutely loved! I already love this book so much, one of my faves and the narration just made it so much better. Rach is such an animated character and Dahlia Summers really captured her spirit. I felt like she was my friend and totally felt all the cringe worthy and swoon worthy moments. I'm so happy to have this book in audio form and highly recommend!

Cannot recommend this audiobook more!!
I already loved this book and the audiobook is superb!

Narrator Dahlia Summers was perfect for bringing this book to life. She mastered Rach's sunshine and Pres's practicality, and all of the side characters were just as I had imagined them to be (looking at you, Snide Ethan).

This is one of my most favorite fake dating books, Amanda Gambill has the perfect balance of sunshine and grumpy, weird little anecdotes, and steam to make you believe in Rach and Pres and root so hard for them.

Thank you, NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Amanda Gambill for an audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I devoured this audiobook. I didn’t want to stop listening. I have had this book on my kindle for a couple of years and kept meaning to pick it up so when I saw that it had an audio to listen to I was so excited.

I loved Rach and Press and how they brought out the best in each other. They are the perfect balance to each other. Don’t let the fact that one of the main characters is in politics scare you away.

I will forever be such a big fan of the grumpy sunshine trope! This was done perfectly in the book and I couldn’t get enough of it. And fake dating is top tier. If you like either of these tropes then I think you will love this story.

I thought the narrator did a fantastic job of bringing the story alive. I will definitely listen to more done by her!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy of this audiobook. All thoughts are my own.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media for the gifted audiobook. I’d. had my eye on Honestly, I’m Totally Faking It by Amanda Gambill for awhile now, but since I read primarily via audio, I hadn’t yet picked it up. The audiobook, narrated by Dahlia Summers, was very well done. I really enjoyed this fake-dating, opposites attract, sunshine/grump romance with a sizable heaping of spice. It was a quick listen, well worth the time—I did end up skipping over some of the spice, though. Not because it wasn’t well written—it was. I’m just not always “in the mood” for it, as it were. The second-hand embarrassment was strong at times, but I was always rooting for Rach and Pres to get there happily ever after.

Definitely check this out if you’re a fan of any of the aforementioned tropes. I found myself snort-laughing at parts—Gambill has delightful comedic instincts.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review and feedback -- Happy Pub Day!!

I had such a fun time listening to this one -- the voice actor Dahlia Summers did an incredible job with an already really good piece of source material. Press and Rach's love story was honestly a wild ride and a fun one. We start out with Rach being cheated on and broken up with on her birthday and then meeting a mystery man at an event where she didn't belong, only to find out he's her boss in the wildest way possible. Then some fake dating that of course doesn't stay fake ensues with all sorts of touching moments along the way. Press was definitely one of the most autistic-coded characters I've ever seen and Rach is so ADHD-coded it hurts. They definitely were giving opposites attract in a grumpy-sunshine kind of way. Overall great read!

I went into Honestly I'm Totally Faking It by Amanda Gambill not knowing what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised! I loved Rach and her knack for getting into hilarious trouble—Boob Gate had me laughing out loud. While I initially had qualms about Pres’s bad habit, it made sense as the story developed, and Rach and Pres ended up being exactly what each other needed. The third-act breakup felt so plausible and added depth to the story, making it all the more engaging. The audiobook narrator was fantastic, adding just the right amount of emotion and comedy to bring the story to life—I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Dreamscape Media for providing an ALC in exchange for my honest review.