I loved this book! Lately I have been in a reading slump. It’s been difficult finding a book I want to continue listen to and look forward to listening to but this was it! I knocked it out in just over 24 hours. The back and forth banter and bad jokes with the main characters was the best! It’s a romcom so a little predictable but I enjoyed the story. Highly recommend!

Not a huge fan of 🌶️ and there wasn’t too much. When there were scenes I could jump to the end of the chapter and it was done.

This has been posted to Goodreads.

4.25 stars

Overall this was a really fun book. Silly situations leading into a fake dating scheme is always entertaining. Rach was a complete door-mat in the beginning and it was nice to see her gain more confidence in herself and standing up to others. The grumpy sunshine aspect came across well without Press being too much of a complete jerk. His character arc was believable and made sense for his personality as was Rach's. It felt that they did grow together.

My only issues was Press being a smoker (blegh) and the reconciliation was a bit unreal and silly. Otherwise, I had a good time. The narrator was also very good and did a great male voice.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ALC!

Both Pres and Rach cope with their upbringings in different ways. Pres is determined to be nothing like his father- a politician who is only in it for the notoriety. He wants to help change things, so while he plans on following his father into politics, it is for a totally different reason. Except he is deemed unlikeable by the public. Rach does everything she can to not make waves or even be noticed. She had the opposite upbringing- a poor single mother who is now in prison. She is overly cheerful and always looks on the bright side.
When their paths collide in Boobgate (where Rach barges into a room wearing a towel while Pres is commentating live on CNN and accidentally drops her towel, flashing everyone), Pres's likeability factor goes up. So they agree to fake date.

I enjoyed this one quite a bit. Pres and Rach compliment each other well and have chemistry. I thought it was a cute, quick read. Pres has a really good growth arc and Rach's more of accepting who she is and where she came from.

Dahlia Summers narrates the audiobook. No complaints.

I received an advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

Do you get second-hand embarrassment?

If so, you’re definitely going to get it for Rach. Like, a thousand times at least. But goodness, it’s worth it.

This book captivated me. I listened to it during work, whilst driving and just finished it right now at my partner’s sports match. I should be watching!! I always wait a day to review but honestly, I just really loved being in Pres and Rachel’s feelings. 10/10 would read again.

Review of “Honestly I’m Totally Faking It”

By: Amanda Gambill

Physical and E-Book Out Now!

Audio Available Sep 24/2024

Check it Out on Goodreads!!

How I read: 🎧

Disclaimer: Please note that I received an Audio ARC from NetGalley and Dreamscape Media, in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
WordPress Blog to Post - Review of “Honestly I’m Totally Faking It” is now scheduled. It will go live on September 26 9:18 am.
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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Rating System Below)

Honestly I’m Totally Faking It by Amanda Gambill is an absolute must-read for anyone who loves a fun, spicy, and utterly relatable romantic comedy. Rach, the main character, is a charming disaster, and I couldn’t get enough of her cringe-worthy moments. Her awkwardness, especially with her ex, felt so real and true to life, making her all the more endearing. The humor is spot-on, and her chaotic life is hilariously entertaining, especially when she stumbles into viral fame and an unexpected connection with the aloof, aspiring politician, Pres.

The chemistry between Rach and Pres is undeniable, and the story does an incredible job balancing laugh-out-loud moments with sizzling romance. Scenes like the bar nicknames and the horoscope bit had me grinning ear to ear, while the slow-build tension between them took the heat up several notches. The “fake dating” trope is executed to perfection here, with plenty of steamy surprises along the way.

I couldn’t put this book down and wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone looking for a spicy, feel-good romance with a dash of awkward charm. It’s the perfect blend of humor, heart, and heat, making it a true standout in the genre.

Get it at…

📗 - Hard Copy -📗

Your Local Canadian Book Seller

Indigo

Amazon Canada

📱 - Digital - 📱

Kobo - (Not Available at Time of Review)

Kindle - KindleUnlimited

🎧 - Audio - 🎧

Audible

Libro.FM
___________________

*Star Rating Guide*

⭐

The writing style didn’t appeal to me.

The characters didn’t resonate with me.

I pushed myself to the limit to avoid DNF’ing.

I wouldn’t suggest this book to anyone I’m acquainted with.

⭐⭐

The book was passable, but it won’t stick in my mind.

Although I didn’t abandon the book, my mind wasn’t fully immersed in the story.

I discovered that it was easy for me to stop reading it and not feel compelled to continue promptly.

When everything was said and done, I was unsure of my immediate opinion on this book.

⭐⭐⭐

If someone is actively seeking a book in this general premise, I would suggest this.

While it was good, I don’t think I’ll ever pick up this book for a second read.

If it were part of a series, I’d probably venture into the next book.

Reading it was time well-spent.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

This book was brilliant.

I had the urge to keep reading and turn to the next page.

The book stayed on my mind for days after I finished it.

I highly recommend this book to everyone.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I was actively engaged in wanting to finish reading this book.

My thoughts are consumed by this book after completing it.

I want to have a physical copy as a trophy that I can display on my shelf.

I felt a strong connection and investment while reading this book, would definitely recommend.

I read this book for the first time almost two years ago, and when I heard the audiobook was coming out I KNEW I needed to listen to it!

Rach and Pres are just as wonderful together the second time around. They bring out the best in each other, and understand each other so deeply. They’re like salt and chocolate - two very different flavors going incredibly well together and adding new layers of depth to each other.

The narration was excellent! I feel like she got the Rach vibe so well, and it added even more to the story.

Amanda Gambill is my favorite indie author for a reason - her characters have so much depth and chemistry. Every scene feels important, and on a second read that was made even more apparent. 5 stars!

Thank you to Amanda, Dreamscape, and NetGalley for the ALC and the opportunity to leave an honest, voluntary review!

I will post my review to Instagram and Amazon on release day

3.5 stars rounded up (5 for narration and 3 for story)

Light and frothy, ‘Honestly I’m Totally Faking It’ is reminiscent of early 2000s rom coms with a ditzy female and a stern love interest. Rach finds herself in a fake relationship with her boss Pres after accidentally flashing boobs while he’s is doing a live TV interview. Pres is planning to run for mayor and polling reveals Rach makes Pres more relatable.

Rach is an endearing but frustrating character. She’s optimistic, kind and funny, but her upbeat outlook allows her to be taken advantage of as she bends over backwards to accommodate others. Pres is brusque and taciturn but appreciates Rach as a breath of fresh air. Both complement each other as Rach helps Pres pay more attention to how he affects others with his manner, while he helps Rach have a bit more of a spine. The problem I had was Rach didn't really develop much as a character. Pres evolved into being less rude with his staff and the people around him, but Rach remained wilfully naïve. I'd love to have seen more development, with her developing political savviness more, as she walked right into a clearly signposted trap by Pre's father. Granted she works out fairly early she's being used to smear Pres and fights back but it seemed ridiculous she got into that situation in the first place. Also, how is it that none of Pres’s team checked Rach’s background when Boobgate happened?

Dahlia Summers is the perfect choice for Rach, she not only sounds like she could be in her twenties, but she matches the upbeat optimism for the character to bring her to life as an audiobook experience. Overall, a fun listening experience and a lovely low-stakes rom com with a lot of heart.

Thanks to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the ALC.

A cute rom-com about an assistant to assistants who agrees to work for a demanding client when no one else will. I almost abandoned it because the main character was letting herself be walked all over by the other assistants and had very low self esteem. She didn’t seem like someone I could care about. Fortunately the author put her in a few situations where she had to show some backbone (and some other things as well). This story uses a lot of tropes: mistaken identity, opposites attract, the curmudgeon with a hidden soft side, big secrets, etc. yet, if you suspend belief, it makes for an entertaining bit of light listening.
My thanks to the author, publisher, producer, and #NetGalley for access to the audiobook.

3.5 / 5 stars

This was a fun listen! I love a good little public scandal and "Boobgate" was a solid one. I enjoyed watching Pres and Rach slowly break down each other's walls and fall for each other. And I really liked the way Pres stands up for her at the end, despite any negative attention he might receive and how that would affect his campaign. all in all, a pleasant story!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of the audiobook!

Rach likes to live her life with a cup half-full kind of attitude. Even when she is sleeping on her ex-boyfriend's couch weeks after they've broken up while he brings home his newest lady.
Until everything gets... interesting. She meets Pres, the grumpy and unlikeable man about to run for mayor. Unfortunately, she also ends up half naked live on tv by accident. Boobgate goes viral and now Pres's PR wants him to use it in order to capitalize on the moment when the first thing that comes out of his mouth is that Rach is his new girlfriend.
Pres wants only to win this election and stay on his current track, Rach just wants to keep her job, but can they keep it going? Can Rach be herself and get the man, or should she really just be faking this until she makes it?

Any book that starts with BoobGate honestly has me, Rach is an incredibly relatable female character that teeters the line of wanting destiny to have hold of her fate and how life will turn out but still wants to be in control even if she doesn't know what she wants. I absolutely loved the sweet romcom vibes while we watch the two of them slowly resist and fail to fall in love. Pres had me laughing out loud the whole book. Amanda has really got Grumpy Sunshine down so well! If you're looking for a rom-com movie feel in the form of a book, then stop! you found it!
I will 100% be re-listening, especially to the last big emotional scene, all the feels!!

Dahlia's narration is also perfectly on point, her cadence and emotion really brings this audio to the perfect place!
Recommend hands down & can't wait to read more by Amanda Gambill!!
I had the chance to listen to the audiobook narrated by Dahlia Summers thanks to Dreamscape and Netgalley in order to give my honest review.

Honestly, I'm Totally Faking It by Amanda Gambill is a contemporary romance by Amanda Gambill featuring Rach, an optimist down-on-her-luck, and Pres, son of the most hated senator in America who is also planning to run for mayoral office. Rach is an assistant to assistants, constantly being belittled when she volunteers to take on the most difficult client in her firm temporarily. Unbeknown to her, Pres is doing a live interview in his office when she accidentally stumbles in on it completely naked. Pres, thinking quick on his feet, jokes that his girlfriend did not know about the interview and "boobgate" is born. The story goes viral and Rach and Pres find that it would benefit both of them if they pretended to fake date until the buzz dies down, but keeping feelings out of the office is harder than they both anticipated.

I liked both of the main characters quite a bit. Rach really does try to see the bright side of everything, but not overly so. Pres is also a slightly grumpy, but very serious statistics guy and Rach brings out his playful, joking side. I did cringe quite a bit at the humor as much of it was based in puns. I did enjoy much of the dialogue between Rach and Pres, they had great banter and brought out the best in each other. Pres truly is a modern-day Mister Darcy as he can be fussy, decorous, and serious, but he was also romantic and a chivalrous hero. The ending to the climax really was the best1

I will say that the physical development in their relationship was very sudden and was very close to lacking verbal consent. Not to say there was not consent, but one character was very suddenly performing romantic physical attentions on the other person without checking if it was okay. The other person showed through their actions it was okay, but it could have been in borderline assault territory since it was so very sudden and forceful. It was a little ick.

Speaking on the bedroom scenes, there were several but the descriptions were not terribly deep, somewhat surface level. If someone were reading this for the spicy scenes, they will probably be disappointed here. This is definitely more of a light and fun rom com.

There are definitely some borderline moustache twirling villians in this book, sort of 2000's era shallow bad guys a la The Devil Wears Prada, but it sort of felt with the vibe of the book, so it wasn't totally out of place.

I would recommend this for someone who wanted to read a contemporary bodice-ripper as this is what this truly felt like! There was classism, "I-can't-be-with-you-because-of-our-social-curcumstances vibes, political intrigue, social faux pas, and a heroine we can root for!

The book was written well. I don't want to take away from that. But, I could not stand how naive the FMC was. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Thank you for allowing me to listen and review.

I absolutely loved this book! Honestly, I'm totally faking it by Amanda Gambill was an absolute treat.

I love a good fake dating romance and this was the perfect book. I loved the narration in this audiobook. I thought the narrators truly brought life to the characters and the story. It added to the story and made it more interactive and fun. I found myself laughing and smiling while listening. I really did enjoy the audiobook and would highly recommend it. The story of itself was so much fun. Rach finds herself a new job to prove she's going somewhere in life after a pretty bad breakup but when she realizes that the man she's working for is not a stuffy old man and in fact the hot and younger man, Pres, that she met at an event under alias, and finds herself in a silly situation which leads to her and Pres fake dating while he is running for senator. I loved the sunshine and grumpy dynamic. She's such a ball of sunshine and looks at the bright side of things despite having a difficult past and he's so type A but with her breaking down his walls, they both fall hard for each other. This was such a fun, steamy, cute and swoony fake dating romance. I would definitely read this again!

Rach has a perpetual round trip ticket on the hot mess express (complimentary, because same). She agrees to become the temporary personal assistant for a notoriously persnickety client who she was led to believe is a boomer Senator. She discovers that her client is in fact said senator’s hot son the hard way: While thinking she was at her client’s home alone, she decided to shower away the storm she was caught in to be presentable for an interview with a prospective housekeeping applicant. Believing she accidentally left the television in his office on the day before, she moseys over to turn it off immediately upon exiting the shower, walking directly into a live televised interview with her real employer, accidentally flashing her boobs to the entire nation…oh and also her boss turns out to be the hot guy she propositioned for a one night stand while running an errand at an event.

Pres is a political consultant, the son of a conservative senator, and future progressive mayoral hopeful. He thrives on control and will not settle for anything less than perfection. When the woman he met in the alley at an event turns up naked in his office causing what the media later dubs “Boobgate”, he does the first thing that comes to mind and claims that she is his girlfriend. To improve his stuffy political image, his PR rep suggests that they fake date for the foreseeable future until he announces his candidacy.

This book was first published a few years ago, but I received an ARC of the audiobook which is released on September 24th...and I don’t think I could have loved it more. I’m always skeptical of the power balance in employer/employee tropes, but this book handled it perfectly and it was delicious. Pres is a mega grump, and Rach is eternally optimistic because of the shit hand of cards she’d been dealt in life, but they balanced each other out so incredibly. He refused to let her discount herself, and she opened his eyes to a completely new perspective. If you need a not too serious but super sexy political rom com, this is the book.

PS The narrator was 🤌🏼 And for all of my speed reading girlies, she was still so good when sped up a smidge.

Easily a 5 ⭐️ read for me.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media for a copy of this ARC via NetGalley! All opinions are my own.

I want to start by saying that I really enjoyed the narration and thought the audiobook was very well done.
This book was simply adorable. It starts with a series of hilarious events that lead Pres and aspiring politician and Rach his assistant to need to fake date. The fake dating trope can feel overdone but this is book is so funny and enjoyable that I feel it breaths new life into this trope. Pres took sometime for me to warm up to but once he did I was sold. rach is the quirky down on her luck assistant to the assistant who helps Pres become more relatable. The book has great character development! Highly recommend

Thank you Netgalley, dreamscape media and the author for the alc. My opinions are being left voluntarily. This far exceeded my expectations and so glad I gave it a try will be one of my favorites of September for sure. The author has a bit of a backlist excited to read some.

4.5/5☆

This was sooo good one of my fave audio book arcs of had this year.

The narrator dahlia summers was great I’ve listened to her narrations a few times and she is so talented.

Amanda got this book so right on so many levels for a rom com.
I got total ‘2 weeks notice’ vibes with high grant and Sandra bullock.
It was funny I was laughing out loud.

Pres has that awkward ‘I come from money and has been sheltered his whole life’ personality. I mean him going to a shop to pick up groceries is a major adventure and traumatic all at the same time. Him trying analyse and understand why bacon and eggs are not on the same aisle baffles him completely.

Raych is a happy go lucky character with her works falling down around her and she still finds light where ever she goes.

The chemistry was perfect 👌
Spice was just enough.
The development and growth in the characters was just amazing.

Thank you netgalley, dreamscape media and Amanda gambill for the audio book arc in exchange for an honest review!

Just beautiful
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I'd love this audiobook - both well written and well performed. I found the plot so funny - the circumstances that bring Rach and Pres together were really engaging. I love the grumpiness of Pres, and the contrast to Rach so good too - they're a great grumpy sunshine couple. I really liked how the story developed too - it went in a way I wasn't expecting. I've never read a politically based book before - but really like how this played out in the book! The audiobook was so entertaining too - I found myself laughing at multiple points from the performance!

Would recommend!!!

This was honestly another great political romance. I’ve been on a political romance kick for a while now, who would have thought this this would become a sub genre. Anyways this is definitely one of my top fav’s, it had unabashed nudity, a grumpy hero, fake dating, angst, and a lovable heroine. I think someone needs to come up with a cute name for the political romance genre, maybe polimance, romitical, I’ll keep working on it.

3.5/5It was cute and funny. I loved the banter. It wasn’t anything extraordinary. But I enjoyed it a lot. Narration was good.