"Can't Help Faking in Love" is a sweet, close door romance that is also a love letter to Bollywood. Full of vibrant colors and the energetic atmosphere of Bangalore, Hegde's latest contemporary romance soars with big emotions, sensuality, great characters, and effectively uses with the faking trope. Harsha may have ties to wealth and big names in the movie industry, but she yearns to be independent and establish herself as a photographer. Meanwhile Veer is an aspiring actor who has put his dreams on hold so he can financially help his younger brother get into business school. The two struck a deal to fake date to alleviate stressors in their lives without realizing that catching real feelings is possible. The push and pull of Harsha's and Veer's romance felt organic and progressed naturally. With a few added musical numbers, this would be a great Bollywood romance on the big screen.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Random House/Berkley for the advanced readers copy of the book.

Book: Can’t Help Faking in Love
Author: Swati Hedge
Rating: 3 Out of 5 Stars

I would like to thank the publisher, Dell, for sending me an ARC. This is my second book by this author. I did like this, but I didn’t like it as much as the other book. This is an Indian romance. I like this aspect. I don’t read a lot of romances centred in another country.

Harsha Godbole has always lived in the shadow of her family's wealth, surrounded by their Bollywood business empire but never feeling their love. After studying in the U.S., she returns to Bangalore ready to start her adult life on her terms—without relying on their fortune. But when everything she’s worked for collapses, Harsha faces the humiliation of showing up at her cousin's lavish wedding as a failure, and worse, as a single one. In a desperate bid to save face, Harsha comes up with a bold plan: hire Veer Kannan, her favourite barista, as her fake boyfriend for the weekend. Veer, who gave up his dream of becoming a Bollywood star to support his family, is struggling to make ends meet. When his brother's financial aid falls through, he needs a large sum of money fast. Harsha’s offer seems like a lifeline—and possibly his ticket into the industry he's always dreamed of. What begins as a business arrangement quickly turns into something far more complicated as Harsha and Veer navigate the complexities of love, family expectations, and their dreams. Together, they embark on a heartwarming journey, discovering that the greatest risk of all is the leap of faith into the unexpected—and that sometimes, love shows up when you least expect it.

This one offers a lighthearted, entertaining romp through the world of fake relationships and unexpected romance. The story revolves around Harsha Godbole, a woman raised in the lap of luxury but starved for love, and Veer Kannan, a humble barista who has sacrificed his dreams for his family. When Harsha faces the prospect of attending her cousin’s extravagant wedding as a failure, she hires Veer to be her fake boyfriend for the weekend, hoping to save face and maintain her family’s expectations.

One of the most refreshing aspects of this book is how Hedge weaves in the nuances of Indian family life and cultural values without letting it overshadow the romance. Harsha Godbole, a woman raised in privilege, faces not just personal struggles but the intense pressures of a family rooted in old traditions. Her journey is rooted in the universal themes of love, acceptance, and the quest for independence—but what makes it special is the lens through which these themes are explored in the Indian context.

The setting, with its colourful weddings, family gatherings, and societal expectations, creates a vibrant backdrop for the story. The cousin’s grand wedding, a key event in the plot, feels like a living, breathing character in itself—full of Indian customs, rituals, and the drama that often surrounds big family celebrations. Harsha’s dilemma of showing up at the wedding as a ‘failure’ is something many Indian readers will relate to, especially when considering the cultural pressures to present a polished, successful image to the extended family and community.


The premise of a fake relationship turning into something real is a popular one, and Hedge does a good job setting up the classic opposites-attract dynamic. Harsha is the privileged, guarded heiress who’s always felt unseen, while Veer is the selfless, grounded man with a quiet ambition of his own. The chemistry between them is palpable, and watching their relationship evolve from a business transaction to an emotional connection is the book's strongest point.

However, while the story is sweet in parts, it doesn't quite hit the emotional highs it aims for. The pacing can feel uneven at times, with some moments dragging and others rushing too quickly. There’s also a bit of predictability in the narrative, as the tension between Harsha and Veer’s growing feelings and the looming obstacles in their relationship often feel familiar.
The character development is decent but not extraordinary. Harsha’s journey from someone relying on her family’s wealth to learning to stand on her own feels a bit too simplified, and Veer’s struggle to break free from his responsibilities is explored only on a surface level. The secondary characters, while adding some flavour, don’t feel as fleshed out as they could be, leaving some emotional beats to feel less impactful.
Still, this book has its moments of heart. It’s an enjoyable read for fans of rom-coms who like a bit of Bollywood flair mixed with a predictable, feel-good romance. The book doesn’t break new ground, but it provides a cosy escape into the world of fake relationships, family drama, and personal growth.
Overall, this is a fun and heartwarming read, but ultimately lacks the depth and emotional resonance to elevate it beyond a typical rom-com.

This book comes out on February 11, 2025.

This was so good! I loved the Indian influences throughout the book and the fake dating aspect was done so well. I was happy that although there was a small moment where the mc’s were on edge, it wasn’t a third act breakup.

Swati Hegde has done it again!!! This was such a fun and sweet romance. I love a fake dating plot, and this one was really well done. 10/10 would recommend to all the Desi romance lovers!

This story gave me huge The Wedding Date vibes, which is one of my go-to romcoms. This was a very cute story!

I loved the immersion of Indian culture, especially Bollywood and the expectations Indian parents have for their children. I appreciated both Harsha’s and Veer’s struggles as they tried to live up to these expectations while forging their own paths.

I wish the side characters had been more fully developed - at times I struggled to emphasize with Harsha because her strife with her parents and Neha (especially) did not seem as well defined as Veer’s. Overall, this was a heartwarming and fun story. It was easy to root for Harsha and Veer alike, and I would recommend this story to anyone who loves the fake dating romance trope.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dell Romance for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book. it was so cute and Swati is an author I'd read anytime. The characters, the setting, the fake dating was my favorite and I could not put this down.

A sweet fake dating romcom that will make you laugh.

A very sweet book. It was a little difficult for me to get through the first bit, but once I was through I enjoyed it all the way until the end! The characters make you want to be their friends and rally with them until the end.

Most of the Indian authors I read have given a more Americanized perspective, so I really enjoyed feeling like I was immersed in a new culture with this romance set in India. The premise was light and fun, and the romance was very sweet to read. Despite the fake dating of it all, the story felt authentic and novel.

3.5 stars

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I'll start by saying that I haven't seen any Bollywood films so maybe what I felt was confusing character development was actually an homage to those films. However, I felt that Veer was immature and passive. He gave up acting quickly, he was supposed to be a great, thoughtful fake boyfriend but he never seemed to give a thought to how anything he did would make Harsha feel (like cutting off contact for days), and he was so upset at seeing his father (who'd walked out on the family 12 years earlier) in the airport unexpectedly that he almost passed out but, after a couple of days, he decided that one sighting and making a phone call and hanging up has given him closure. Huh? Harsha's thoughts and actions made more sense but still felt inconsistent and confusing at times. This book had its moments but overall was more frustrating for me than enjoyable.

There were a LOT of subplots, which sometimes made the story feel jerky, and rendered some of the characters a bit two dimensional. On the other hand, I don't know which of the threads I would have cut. I really liked Veer and Harsha both having to overcome assumptions about one another, and find a way to communicate. I liked the subplot about getting representation for gays out there into India television, and I was fascinated by the glimpses of Bollywood and Indian TV, so like Hollywood and yet different. I think my biggest disappointment was Veer's and his father's relationship getting scanted. On the other hand, the arc of the romance was wonderful.

Harsha Godbole and Veer Kannan come from very different backgrounds. Harsha was raised by an affluent family with Bollywood connections while Veer’s mom raised him and his brother, Arjun, alone after their father left and filed for divorce. Harsha prides herself on being self-sufficient (while having access to her family’s wealth) as a freelance photographer. Veer works hard as a coffee barista to help support his family and put Arjun through school. Veer’s employer happens to be Harsha’s favorite coffee chain, and the two meet and become friendly. After Harsha’s most recent breakup, she’s left with a conundrum: her entire family is expecting her to show up, date in hand, for her cousin’s wedding! When said cousin happens to stumble on Harsha and Veer randomly out at the same bar one night, she decides the two are a couple, which propels the plot forward as the two agree to fake date to help Harsha save face and help Veer financially. What could possibly go wrong?

Can’t Help Faking in Love is a fast-paced story set in India in the cities of Bangalore and Mumbai. It features fake dating, arranged cuddling sessions, exchange of money for dates, one bed, betrayal of trust and a happy ever after. Characters drink but not to excess. Intimate moments are closed door but spicy enough in description before and after to be sweet and memorable.

This is my first experience with Indian romance and I’m hoping there’s more to explore in this genre because Hegde hit it out of the park for me. There’s so many things happening in this book. It’s packed with culture and a love of home while also subtly steamy. The writing is quick-witted (I tore through this book in 3 days) and would be a perfect escape for other readers as well. While the book also hits on complex themes of wealth gaps and arranged marriages, it does so in a clever way and I thoroughly believed the budding romance arcs. I wanted to slap Harsha’s parents while I also wanted an invitation to Veer’s mom’s house for dinner! I look forward to more from Swati Hegde.


Thank you to author Swati Hegde, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballentine | Dell for the ARC of Can’t Help Faking in Love, scheduled for publication February 11, 2025, in exchange for my honest review.

Set in India this is a beautiful and romantic love story. As the title suggests it is a fake relationship novel, my favorite trope. It centers around Harsha’s cousin’s wedding. Harsha hires Veer to be her Plus One. Her father is a wealthy businessman, her mother a socialite and they are somewhat estranged. Keeping up appearances is important. She doesn’t want to look like a loser in the romance department.

Veer is dreamy; a most charming and romantic man. He is a barista and an aspiring actor who needs the fake relationship money to pay for his brother’s college tuition. From the first he cherishes Harsha and tells her he admires her. He creates lovely experiences for her on their ‘dates.” Largely through those dates we get glimpses of busy Bangalore as well as the amazing Bangalore and Mumbai scenery. It is so rich with Indian culture but is still accessible to Western audiences.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

With "Wedding Date" vibes (circa 1995), the two cities of Bangalore and Mumbai provide the backdrop for this contemporary romantic novel. Descriptions of the cities transport the reader.

Veer's motivation to participate in Harsha's scheme stems from a devotion to his immediate family while Harsha's seems initially superficial. The reader, however, learns from Harsha's multiple encounters with her parents why she acted that way. Three stars rather than four as all the secondary characters (Veer's brother, mother and his friends) are superficially drawn. Only Harsha's bff's character receives definitive characteristics.


This ARC was provided by the publisher, Random House Publishing House via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a cute read! Harsha and Veer had the best chemistry since page 1! The writing style is straightforward and filled with dialogue that brings the characters to life, making the book easy to read. The story shifts between Harsha and Veer's perspectives, allowing readers to understand their thoughts and challenges. This romance shines with its chemistry. The witty exchanges and gradual development of feelings make the story engaging and heartwarming

In this fake dating trope, Swati narrates how Harsha and Veer go from being friendly faces at a local coffee shop to being in a fake relationship. In this feel-good romance, we see Veer break his walls and open his heart to Harsha and we see Harsha release herself from the expectations of her parents and choose her path to find herself. Swati sets the story in Bangalore and introduces themes of acceptance, forgiveness, love, and friendship. Veer and Harsha are both ambitious and dedicated people for different reasons, but their love blossoms as they let go of old weights and chase after everything that life has to offer. My favorite thing about this book is how relatable the characters were and how easy things were between Harsha and Veer. 10/10 for me

Can't Help Faking in Love is an enchanting story about fake dating and fake feelings that turn in to the real thing. Harsha and Veer have palpable chemistry from their first on-page interaction as barista and customer. Their banter, sweet smiles and shy glances turn into "practice" holding hands, hugs, and forehead kisses as their fake dating takes off. The tension between the two continues to grow as they get closer and are able to lean on each other and let their walls down. I was internally screaming for them to "kiss already", and when they did it was everything!
I loved the side characters that were supportive of Veer and Harsha. Veer, his mom and brother, have good relationships with each other, even if in the beginning they lean on Veer a little too much. But the way they show up for each other, even in small ways like short phone calls or food left on the doorstep, is pure love. Harsha's family is a little intense and they make nice for appearances, but she has a wonderful Auntie who gives her some sage advice as well as unwavering support. Harsha and Veer also have some close friends who have become their found family, and if there's any way to get me to truly love a story, found family is it.
This was a truly enjoyable and immersive read and I'm looking forward to more South Asian representation in romance novels!

~Thank you to Random House Publishing, Dell, Swati Hedge and NetGalley for this complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own~

Got an ARC of this, thanks to @netgalley and @randomhouse! It was really lovely. I enjoyed the different sit-com quotes the started each chapter; that was a fun touch! I also enjoyed the two main characters, Veer and Harsha! They fake date their way into love, but I enjoyed the ride.

After her boyfriend dumps her, Harsha is in need of a date to her cousin’s wedding. She asks Veer, a barista at the coffee shop she frequents, to be her date. In need of some cash to fund his brother’s tuition, Veer agrees to be Harsha’s fake boyfriend—a role he’s fit to play as he’s an aspiring actor.

This was a cute, easy read. I really liked both Harsha and Veer as characters and thought that they complemented each other so well.

There were a few too many subplots that were introduced throughout the book that I felt took us away from the love story. While most of the subplots were resolved, I felt that a few weren’t by the time we made it to the end.

Thank you to Random House, Swati Hegde, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a cute read! Harsha and Veer had the best chemistry since page 1! I loved it and will read from swati more.

this was honestly such a banger. I love Harsha and Veer's relationship. Their fake dating was super fun and I loved the writing Hedge performs