Enemies-to-lovers, fake dating and forced proximity are some of my favorite tropes, so I was sure I would love this book. Unfortunately it fell a bit flat for me, and while I enjoyed it, I didn't fall in love with it.

The writing style was solid, but the character development was lacking. It took a really long time for me to feel like I understood the FMC, and I never felt like I knew the MMC at all. I also didn't think the two of them had great chemistry. They immediately hated each other, but I honestly couldn't figure out why there was so much animosity between them. It seemed like it was just added in to move the storyline to where the author wanted it to be.

One of the things I did love about the book was the alzheimers representation. The author clearly researched the topic, and that came through in the book. It was touchingly poignant to see the FMC struggle to come to terms with her Grandmother's new reality. I sometimes found myself frustrated with her denial over the situation, but I think that's actually a very realistic way of dealing with such a life-altering disease.

The beginning and middle of the book dragged a bit, but it picked up around the 70% mark, and I found myself more invested in how it would end. I found the ending to be quite satisfying, and I was happy the character's stories wrapped up the way they did.

While I wouldn't consider this book one that I loved, I'm happy to have read it and feel like it was worth my time, despite the criticisms I have. I greatly appreciate Netgalley and Alcove Press for the opportunity to read an e-arc of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

I don’t know I thought I’d be more into this cause it’s usually my kind of romance, but it just didn’t hit like I wanted to. Also kinda made me sad a little about her grandma and reminiscent about my own who passed away 10 years ago. The romance is cute just not like flaming hot. It was kinda like they had some sorta disconnect. Overall it’s and okay read and I’d still recommend it to others maybe it just wasn’t for me.

This one sounded so cute, so many things worked well for this book, but the romance just did not do it for me. I just didn't feel it at all. I don't understand why she was so mean to him, it felt forced and I don't like that. There were some cringey dialogues were I just couldn't get past. I just felt the hate was highly unecessary and it turned me off from their relationship entirely.

Fake It Like You Mean It by Megan Murphy is a sweet romance that had me soft and melting inside. while also taking me on an emotional rollercoaster. There's fake dating. emotional moments, tension and romance and it balances perfectly.

I loved Elle and Adam's relationship. Their chemistry was undeniable from the first interaction. It's hate to love but for the sake of Elle's Lovie you see them slowly start to fall. There's hard topics like Alzheimer's and what that looks like when your loved ones are going through that. It's bittersweet, emotional and all set in the romantic city of Chicago that just feels like a warm cozy hug. Lovers of fake dating and Elena Armas type of romance will eat this up!

Elle, a trending podcaster, returns home to take care of her grandmother, Lovie, who has progressing dementia. When she arrives home, she finds Lovie's caregiver in her bed, and he just so happens to look like Lovie's deceased husband.

This book was a solid 4.5 stars for me. I loved the journey of Elle and Adam taking care of Lovie. It was hard reading about how the dementia affected Lovie, but I do have personal history living with a grandmother with dementia and taking care of her.

I have to dock a half point because I couldn't get over the ethical conflict of a caregiver dating a family member of a client. I know he quit in the end, but it's just so ingrained in my healthcare worker self.

Overall, this is a sweet romance, and a realistic look at caregiving for family. I sobbed at the ending, which is always a sign of a good book.

Thanks to Net Galley and Alcove Press for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Actual rating 3.5 stars.

This was a good book but it could have been better. If the author had chosen to go with friends to lovers instead of enemies to lovers it would have read much better the conflict felt too forced.

The author handled Lovie's dementia and how it impacts families incredibly well. It was both heartbreaking and touching at the same time. I really liked the main characters and felt they really worked well together. There were just some moments especially in the early awkward stages that came across as cringe.

I would recommend this book I did enjoy it. I received an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review via net galley all thoughts and opinions are my own.

4.5!! Wow WHAT A TREAT! This story was such a breath of fresh air! Not only was it romantic and light, but it covered real issues, adding a layer of depth that so many modern-day-romances miss the mark on.

I saw others raving about this book and knew I had to get a taste! And BOY- am I glad I did! This is not your standard romance. It’s raw. It’s real. It’s a story that could 100% happen. No Hallmark cheese about it. I think that’s why I was so captivated! It was a story that I feel I could ACTUALLY experience in real life!

Elle and Adam are THE BEST. Their relationship is genuine. It’s realistic. It’s more than just “boy meets girl”. It’s a look into an authentic relationship filled with the chase, the awkwardness, the back-and-forth, the tension, and the choice to be with each other. It was WONDERFUL!!

Elle’s grandmother, Lovie, was a gem (although you wouldn’t be able to tell at first glance). As someone who has had relatives struggle with Alzheimer’s & dementia, the family themes hit HARD. I was right there with Elle when it came to the confusion and grief of having a loved one suffer from an unpredictable disease.

This book made me giggle, laugh, gasp, and kick my feet! (I will also never look at Jeopardy the same again🤭) But, it also caused my heart to ache with the human-ness of it all!

This was an absolutely incredible debut! It was written so dang well, you would have thought this was Meg’s 10th book. I’m so excited to see what Meg does in the future because lemme tell ya…I WILL BE BUYING!!💳💳💳

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Fake It Like You Mean It

This new book by @megmurphywrites has to be one of the most devastatingly moving, romantic and warming books I have ever had the pleasure of reading. Thank you also to @netgalley for providing me a copy of this book.

Elle is a podcaster, and a successful one at that; her Lovie’s recent health decline with Alzheimers brings Elle back to her childhood home to care for her. Upon arrival she meets Adam, the stay-in nurse, he is grumpy, standoffish and reluctant to warm up to Elle. When Lovie mistakes Elle and Adam to be madly in love, they have no choice but to keep up this facade…but this could not be far from the truth.

I loved every millisecond of this book. It had me from the very first page; Elle as a main character was addicting, hilarious and adoringly realistic. Her experience watching her adored grandmother change in so many ways was so difficult to read, but necessary. This illness is a part of so many peoples day-to-day life, and my heart goes out to all of you.

Adam was witty, charming and I was sure I wouldn’t like him, but he grew on me so fast! The two main characters sharp-tongued banter and sizzling chemistry made me so eager for them to both acknowledge what was right in front of them! Me and my partner have a similar relationship where we constantly make fun of each other; it’s our love language, and this may be why I enjoyed the dynamic in this book so much.

A brilliant novel touching on romance, coming to terms with watching someone you love fade away and learning to overcome fears to allow happiness in.

If you are a fan of enemies to lovers, forced proximity and a great book; this is a must for your TBR!

Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for this ARC!

Thought I could rein in my personal biases so I could really enjoy this book but I just cannot get over how unethical the whole set up was. Yes, I knew the premise going in from the blurb, but I was so intrigued about how it would play out. But alas, at the end of the day, it affected my reading experience.

Firstly, it is a well written book in general. The pacing flowed well and the themes of grief and caregiver stress was treated with realism and love. I really felt for the FMC and the MMC and their respective burdens. My heart also ached reading about the whole Alzheimer's experience and how it not only affects the person with it, but those around them too. Side characters are well developed and the love story (no matter what I felt about the ethics of it) was sweet - I could see how they came to develop feelings for one another. The banter was funny, especially the FMC's inner thoughts and sense of humor.

My favourite scene would have to be the 'crying over spilt milk' moment. What a watershed moment. Also love the imagery and symbolism with the flowers.

I did think the FMC's level of initial antagonism was a bit much but it is hard to judge considering what she was going through at that time. Also the MMC's social media presence was so cringey for me I quickly skimmed those portions lol.

Would not read again as it was quite an emotionally heavy read for me - but I would be interested in reading whatever else Megan Murphy writes in the future.

Overall rating: 3.75/5

This has a cute premise. I love a good fake dating trope, however I didn't feel the spark that i needed to keep me invested!

This force proximity romance is absolutely bursting with tension and heightened emotions. While a little predictable, I still enjoyed every moment of this read. The navigation of living with someone with Alzheimer's was well addressed while definitely adding to the overall storyline.

Fake It Like You Mean It by Megan Murphy is an emotional, beautifully written romance that deftly balances humor with deeper themes.

Elle, a spirited podcaster, returns home to help care for her grandmother with Alzheimer’s, only to find her room taken by a (very good-looking) male nurse. As they manage caregiving and their own sparks, an enemies-to-lovers dynamic builds into something unexpectedly heartfelt.

Murphy’s writing truly shines, capturing both the lighthearted and the profound.

It’s funny, tender, and laced with genuine love and heartbreak. I found myself invested in the characters and their growth, making it an unforgettable read. This book is full of LOVE.

A heartfelt 4 stars! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I don’t know where to file this one. There were times when the relationship between Lovie and Elle was moving and made me viscerally sad. So then the jump to the romance with Adam felt jarring, and their relationship felt a little shallow. There was just an attempt to cover too much serious subject matter and kind of missed the mark on everything. Attempting an Alzheimer’s romance novel was brave, however, so I’m still giving it three stars.

What a beautiful story. Alzheimer’s is a heartbreaking disease and it’s handled so beautifully in this story. Elle’s podcasts are the key to behind the scenes. These show the emotions of how many people cope with having a loved one transition into their new normal. As she loses a little more of Lovie each day she gains a relationship with Adam. With his background he shares his knowledge of how to navigate through these hard times and to accept that there is no magical cure. Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove press for this free advanced copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Such a cute read! I breezed through this and loved the characters and the banter. A simple and very enjoyable romance!

This was so cute! If you're into contemporary romances, I would definitely give this one a go. I believe this is the author's debut--and this is my first novel I've read by her--and I GREATLY enjoyed it! (And I definitely agree that The American Roommate / Fifty First Dates comp is accurate).

Basically, the story begins with Elle coming back to her childhood home to find Adam Wheeler in her bed. He's been the live in nurse to help take care of Elle's grandmother, who is dealing with an Alzheimer's diagnosis. The issue is that her grandmother, Love, is convinced that Elle and Adam are in love--thus begins our forced proximity, fake dating situation (which I'm a sucker for every time).

I can say, if you are wary of sick loved ones within a book, this one might not be for you, HOWEVER, it was handled very well, and while there are heartbreaking/touching moments, the book does keep the lighthearted feel and there were uplifting/funny scenes, too.

Highly recommend!

Oh man, this book. Reading it I was thinking that it's a good story but it could be better written. The main characters seemed a bit flimsy. The FMC was likeable enough but also hiding, from herself and, in turn, the reader. The MMC also was a slow rollout to understand him. They were both a bit unfinished feeling. Perhaps this was intentional?

But, I found myself crying. I related to being the caregiver. I took care of my mom for years as she died a millimeter at a time. I saw my grandfather profoundly affected by dementia. This feeling of helplessness, anger, and love was so clear and so true and so resonant. I appreciated that depth in this otherwise light book. I didn't think I would recommend this book but it snuck up on me. A good read if you want to read about grief with a HEA on the side. 3.5 stars. Thanks to Net Galley and Alcove Press for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

⭐⭐⭐⭐/🌶️ Fake It Like You Mean It by Megan Murphy is about a podcaster named Elle who decides to move from Chicago back to her hometown with her grandmother, Lovie, to help take care of her as her Alzheimer's progresses. When she arrives at Lovie's home, she stumbles into her old room, but it turns out to be occupied... Enter Nurse Adam. Adam is Lovie's sexy live-in nurse while they are waiting for insurance to approve a long term care facility, who is not too thrilled about getting kicked out of the bed he's been staying in. He also looks strikingly like Elle's grandfather, Bobby. With the confusion around who Adam and Elle are to Lovie, they are forced to pretend for her sake to avoid shattering everything she thinks is real, but can they even get along well enough to pretend?

✨ Fake dating, forced proximity, only one bed, strangers to... Something more?

This book is heartbreaking and tragic, focusing on what it's like to watch a parental figure age and lose her own memories... But it's well balanced with Elle's own fond childhood memories, and the new ones she creates while caring for Lovie. It's funny and beautiful and even a little spicy.. Definitely worth the read!

Elle (a podcaster) moves back to her childhood home to take care of her grandmother who has Alzheimer. But when she get's there, there is also a very hot nurse taking care of her.

At first I didn't really like Elle's behavior towards Adam because she was acting like it was a competition who knew Lovie (grandmother) better. Thankfully that changed very soon and there was a lot of tension between them. They even start to fake date.

It was nice to read and learn a bit about the Alzheimer disease and what it does to the loved ones. Adam was really supportive and understanding towards Elle. I was scared that the book would have a heartbreaking ending but I am glad it didn't.

This book was funny, wholesome, spicy and also a sad a certain parts. I actually cried at a certain chapter and I was teary eyed a lot of times. I loved it very much and recommend it to all the romance lovers!

Tropes:
- Podcaster x Nurse
- Forced proximity
- 3rd act breakup
- Alzheimer disease
- Fake dating

"I only want whatever you're ready to give, even if it's nothing at all."

Great read! Had some of my favourite tropes- enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, hilarious banter, It also touches on a very difficult subject and the effects that both love and loss have on us.