I am always looking for South Asian romances to read. It's the representation that I never got growing up, going to predominantly white institutions. Unfortunately, this book was not quite as relatable as I expected it to be. It's difficult for me to find South Asian books I absolutely love because sometimes it feels as though authors are writing their books for a white audience. It was still a good read; it just wasn't exactly what I was looking for. It had the fake dating trope; The wedding took place in India. India is where my family is from, I've been many times in my life, and I still felt disconnected from this story. I wanted to be invested and pulled into the scenes, but the imagery didn't feel encapsulating, more as if someone was just pointing out what was happening without showing the readers where they were or what it felt like. Overall, it was an okay book, I might just have been the wrong audience.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the E-ARC. This was a fast read of fake dating between Harsha (FMC) and Veer (MMC) and discovering more about each other and how even though they are from different worlds maybe they have misconceptions about each other. It shows them grow and encourage each other and facing obstacles together.

This was a quick and great read! A wonderful example of fake dating, Can't Help Faking in Love perfectly paced the relationship growth of Harsha and Veer. Their chemistry was also fantastic.

Can’t Help Faking in Love by Swati Hegde is a delightful fake-dating rom-com full of charm, wit, and slow-burn chemistry. With lovable leads and laugh-out-loud moments, it’s a feel-good love story that’s impossible not to root for.

This book was written by an Indian author and is set in India. Readers will get a taste of Indian culture and customs: the food, clothing, and arranged marriages. Parts of this story will make you laugh. Other parts will make you feel sad. I enjoyed the quotes from well known TV comedies the author included at the beginning of each chapter.

Harsha Godbole arranges a fake dating situation with Veer, her favorite barista. She needs a boyfriend to accompany her to her aunt and uncle’s anniversary party and to her cousin’s wedding. Both Harsha and Veer are struggling. She is trying to live an independent life as a photographer. Veer has dreams to be an actor in Bollywood. Veer believes his acting skills can convince her family, especially her parents, that they are a couple. Both main characters have family issues.

As with most books with the fake dating trope, real feelings start to emerge. Just how good of an actor is Veer?

Both Harsha and Veer learn to follow their heart and instincts when it comes to their relationship and their careers.

“Her family wasn’t necessary who she shared DNA with. It was who stuck around in both the good times and bad, even if they were going through their own battles.”

Swati Hegde's second novel, CHFIL, is a beautiful story with an engaging plot and relatable characters! It was a delight to read Harsha and Veer's stories. It felt like these characters were so alive, as were the secondary characters. There are so many details about the characters, their habits, their likes and dislikes, and it comes off beautifully without feeling overwhelming. It adds so much to the story and keeps you hooked.

The writing is so rich that it was hard to put this book down. I love reading romance books, where I eagerly look forward to the next chapter and the next.

This is definitely in my top romcom books, and I look forward to reading more books by Swati Hegde. Loved it!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

BIG thanks to Random House publishing via NetGalley for this Advanced Readers Copy of Can't Help Faking in Love!!!

Five stars! Swati Hegde's Can't Help Faking in Love is an absolute delight—a truly captivating fake-dating romance that had me hooked from beginning to end. This book is a vibrant, hilarious, and deeply charming read that perfectly blends heartwarming moments with laugh-out-loud humor.

Harsha Godbole, fresh off her studies in America, is determined to build a life free from her wealthy Bollywood mogul family's influence. But when her plans unexpectedly crumble, she finds herself facing the dreaded prospect of appearing as a "single failure" at her cousin's extravagant wedding. In a moment of delightful desperation, she hires her favorite barista, Veer Kannan, to be her fake boyfriend for the weekend.

Veer, juggling his own family's financial pressures, reluctantly agrees to Harsha's outlandish proposal, hoping it might be his ticket to a brighter future. What follows is a whirlwind of comedic misunderstandings, sizzling chemistry, and unexpected genuine connection. The plot moves at a fantastic pace, weaving together anguish, humor, and burgeoning romance against the vibrant backdrop of Bangalore and the pressures of Harsha's family.

I was completely captivated by the dynamic between Harsha and Veer. Their banter is sharp, their individual struggles are relatable, and the fake-dating premise is executed flawlessly. From the moment Harsha introduces Veer as a "district manager" for a coffee consortium, you know you're in for a wild, enjoyable ride. I genuinely couldn't put this book down; I devoured it in one sitting!

Hegde's writing is fantastic, creating a story that feels both fresh and familiar in the best possible way. The characters are wonderfully developed, making it easy to root for their journey. Can't Help Faking in Love is a testament to finding love and courage in the most unexpected places. It's a must-read for any contemporary romance fan looking for a dose of pure joy and captivating chemistry!

This was a fun, light-hearted read with a vibrant setting and an enjoyable fake-dating trope—but overall, it didn’t quite land the emotional depth I was hoping for.

The Bangalore setting was such a refreshing change from the usual US-based romances. The cultural backdrop—from family dynamics to the grand wedding scenes—was rich, vivid, and added so much texture to the story. I also really enjoyed the “getting to know each other” parts of the fake-dating setup; those moments felt sweet and genuine, and the chemistry between Harsha and Veer shone brightest.

That being said, the book didn’t quite stick the landing for me emotionally. Harsha starts off pretty unlikable with her "spoiled-rich-girl" behavior, and while she’s supposed to grow, her development felt inconsistent as the story went on. She pushes for independence but is shocked and hurt when her father respects her wishes and cuts her off financially. It’s hard to root for a character who wants freedom but still expects the perks of dependency.

The central conflict, revolving around money, also didn’t quite work for me. After a heartfelt confession of feelings, it felt off for that to be the breaking point. Veer's reaction in that moment, especially while Harsha is visibly upset, came off as cold and unnecessarily harsh.

The pacing also felt uneven; some moments dragged while others were rushed. The character arcs, especially for Veer, stayed mostly at the surface, and the side characters—while colorful—weren’t as fleshed out as they could have been.

In short: it’s a sweet rom-com with a gorgeous cultural setting and fun moments, but it doesn’t dig quite deep enough to make a lasting emotional impact. Still, if you're a fan of fake dating, opposites attract, and Bollywood drama vibes, it’s a cute escape.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dell for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a cute, fun book. I really enjoyed reading this!

This was such a cute romance!! Such a fun story line with relatable characters and an interesting plot. I loved all the details of an Indian wedding, it was fascinating. Definitely will be recommending to my friends.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley, I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

Thanks to Ballantine and Netgalley for this advance copy.

This was a fun romance! Harsha and Veer are super cute and are clearly mad for each other from the beginning. But perceived class differences get in the way and so an offer to fake date gives these two a chance to spend time together and get to know each other in a way that felt impossible otherwise. I loved how they kept moving forward and that nothing was rushed for the couple. It wasn't a slow burn, but the book was paced well and I would read more from Hegde!

Fake dating. Bollywood drama. Wedding shenanigans. Need I say more?? Can’t Help Faking in Love was such a delightful surprise! This book gave me all the feels! From laugh-out-loud moments to the kind of soft, satisfying swoon that makes your heart squeeze a little.

Harsha is fierce, flawed, and figuring it out. I loved following her journey of self-worth outside of her family’s wealth and expectations. And Veer?? TOTAL sweetheart. Watching their dynamic shift from “this is just a gig” to “wait… feelings??” was everything I wanted. Their chemistry was so charming and natural, and the cultural backdrop made the whole thing feel cinematic and vivid (can someone cast this into a Netflix rom-com already?!).

I flew through this book with a smile on my face and just a tiny tear in my eye at the end. Highly recommend for fans of fake dating, messy families, and sweet love stories with depth.

Full disclosure: I saved this one to read on the plane en route to Mumbai to visit family! :)

Another charming and gorgeous novel by Swati Hegde! I couldn’t put this novel down, and I’m someone who isn’t really into romance. I love the slow-burn, fake dating story, and how wholesome the characters are. Can’t wait for Hegde’s next book!

I really wanted to like this book but am so annoyed at it lol. Although the book is set in India, I'm unsure of who the audience for this book is bc it doesn't seem to be Indians. I like the banter and the writing style but the western lens threw me off:

- use of millions and hundred thousands instead of lakhs and crores
- RSVP and +1s (?????) to weddings (since when do you need +1 / a date to an Indian wedding?)
- a semester at BII apparently costs 5 lakhs (this might actually be true tho -- looking it up)
- the hypocrisy of asking the men she dates to not care about what their parents think but making every decision for her own life based on whether her parents would approve
- too much telling instead of showing: paparazzi following the niece of a Bollywood director? Are they like the Kapoors or Khans or Bachchans? If they are, why not show that through name-dropping them like the other random name-drops (Gucci??)?
- wanting to be independent but routinely using your family's trust fund

The thing that deeply disappointed me tho are the quotes at the beginning of chapters -- what a missed opportunity to highlight some of the iconic Bollywood lines!!! Instead, in a book about Bollywood royalty, we get quotes from American sitcoms :sob:

Overall, a cute read that'd probably be more appreciated by a western audience than the people it's meant to represent.

"Can't Help Faking in Love" was a fun take on the fake dating trope.

Harsha has struggled to feel a sense of belonging within her Bollywood mogul family. Upon returning from America, she is determined to live life on her own terms, with her own lack of money. Veer, is her friendly neighborhood barista with dreams of being in Bollywood.

With her cousin's wedding fast approaching, Harsha does not want her family to see her as a failure and hires Veer to pose as her fake boyfriend.

While the outcome of this trope is always predictable, the journey told by Swati Hegde to get there was a fun read.

Thank you to Dell for selecting me for this ARC.

So first of all what I liked. That cover is stunning! The characters were likable, I enjoyed the fake dating aspect, and I loved the setting.

Now, what didn't quite work for me. I didn't like that money was a factor in them being a part and the pacing was a little slow.

Overall though this was a cute read that I enjoyed for the most part.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

"Can’t Help Faking in Love" by Swati Hegde is a sweet and light romance with two tropes I always enjoy : fake dating and friends to lovers. Set against the vibrant backdrop of a big Indian wedding, the story follows Harsha and Veer as they team up for a mutually beneficial (and slightly ridiculous) arrangement that, of course, turns into something more. The chemistry between the main characters is cute, and I appreciated the cultural details and Bollywood flair. However, the story felt a bit boring, and while it had its charming moments, it didn’t stand out much from other rom-coms I’ve read. A pleasant, feel-good read if you’re in the mood for something light.
Many thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the chance to read this book in advance in exchange for my honest opinion.

I love Swati Hegde’s writing! Harisha was such a great main character and it was so hard to not connect with her. It was such a well done take on a classic trope with some twists along the way!

Thank you @NetGalley and @RandomHousePublishingGroup for the arc. Harsha is so wonderfully developed and knows herself. Veer is the sweetest barista who has a major crush on her, but is also trying to give his brother a better life with college on the horizon. They make a plan for Veer to be her fake boyfriend to a family wedding and Harsha under estimates their chemistry, because it is a short drop to love. So cute.

loved this romance and finding love and remembering love before the one. love the friends and the chemistry between the couple was on fire and loved the banter.