Harsha Godbole's boyfriend has dumped right before her cousin's wedding. All she wants is to prove to her wealthy family that she can be successful in life without their money or connections. That's why she moved to Bangalore, rather than near them in Mumbai. Her career as a professional photographer isn't going great and she was hoping that showing up with a successful boyfriend would at least prove to her family that she was doing fine on her own. At least her favorite coffee shop hasn't let her down and the barista there knows exactly how she likes her coffee, making it perfect every time.
Veer, the barista at Sunstag coffee likes making Harsha smile. He's got a tad bit of a crush on her, but he know she'd never date someone like him. He has bigger problems anyway. His brother's scholarship to a top university has fallen through and now he needs to figure out how they're going to pay the tuition.
When Veer is mistaken for Harsha's boyfriend, she decides to offer him a deal. She'll pay him to pretend to be her boyfriend and win over her family.
Veer, desperate for the money, agrees.

This was a cute little story. Harsha, thankfully, doesn't come off as a spoiled rich girl, in fact, I actually felt bad for her. All she wanted was supportive parents. Veer was a total green flag, he was sweet and understanding, I actually wish he'd had some slight flaws.

While the first half of the book built up Veer and Harsha's relationship, the second half felt a bit rushed to me. There were so many things that were either unresolved or casually pushed aside like they weren't a big deal. It left me feeling a bit unsatisfied. They weren't part of the main plot, but would have added a lot more depth the if given more space in the story.

Overall, this was a nice, quick read and a cute little love story.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Bollywood + fake dating - I'm SOLD! This was absolutely adorable. The MCs had great chemistry and the thoughtful actions between them made me swoon over and over. Absolutely loved it!

Harsha needs a date to show off at two family functions. She is a photographer whose boyfriend just broke up with her to have an arranged marriage. Veer needs money to pay his brother’s tuition at business school. He is a barista who dreams of being an actor. When her cousin thinks that Veer is her boyfriend, she decides to pay him to pretend to be him. It was only supposed to be for six weeks.

I enjoyed the flow of this book. It was a very good fake dating story. They seemed to fall for each other naturally. The discovery of their deceit was right on time and not forced. And their happily ever after made sense. I liked this book a lot.

Can't Help Faking in Love was such a quick, fun, and fast-paced read! Harsha and Veer start fake dating when Harsha, freshly broken up with, needs a date for her cousin’s wedding. Veer, the cute barista, is also juggling taking care of his little brother and mother after being abandoned by his father as a teenager. He needs to make a lot of money, really fast, to pay his little brother's tuition.

The best part of this book is the yearning! It takes so long for these two to finally kiss, but the build-up is full of tender, intense moments. Their relationship feels incredibly wholesome and loving by the time they cross the boundaries of their fake dating arrangement.

I also really enjoyed the side characters. The friendships and family dynamics were touching, especially the evolving relationship between Harsha and her cousin. Their strained connection plays a significant role in the plot, and their resolution at the end was satisfying—though I wished we’d seen more of their interaction.

The writing style did leave me feeling like something was missing at times, but overall, this book was a lovely, enjoyable read that’s perfect for when you need something quick and fun.

This novel offers a lighthearted and entertaining take on the popular fake-dating trope, set against the vibrant backdrop of Indian family life and cultural expectations. Harsha Godbole, a privileged but emotionally neglected heiress, hires Veer Kannan, a hardworking barista and aspiring Bollywood actor, to pose as her boyfriend at her cousin’s extravagant wedding. What begins as a business deal soon evolves into something far more complicated as both navigate love, family, and their dreams.

One of the book’s strengths is its depiction of Indian family dynamics. The pressures of societal expectations, especially around success and appearances, are relatable and woven seamlessly into the story without overshadowing the romance. The grand wedding setting is richly described, full of colourful customs, rituals, and drama that bring the narrative to life. Harsha’s struggle to save face at the wedding as a “failure” will resonate with many readers familiar with the cultural importance of maintaining a polished image.

The romance between Harsha and Veer is sweet and satisfying, with the opposites-attract dynamic working well. Harsha’s guarded nature contrasts with Veer’s grounded personality, and their growing connection—moving from a transactional relationship to genuine care—is the highlight of the story. The chemistry between them feels natural and engaging, even if some of the emotional beats feel a bit predictable.

However, the book doesn’t quite deliver on its full potential. The pacing is uneven, with some parts dragging while others feel rushed. Harsha’s journey toward independence and Veer’s struggles with family responsibilities are only explored at surface level, and secondary characters lack depth, leaving some emotional moments feeling underwhelming.

Despite its shortcomings, this is an enjoyable rom-com with moments of heart and humour. While it doesn’t break new ground, it’s a cosy and charming read for fans of fake-dating romances, Bollywood-inspired settings, and feel-good love stories. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

Wow oh wow did this book come out of left field in the best way!!! Swati’s writing is so captivating & with this being the second book of hers I’ve read, I’m even more inclined to see more from her!

This was a beautiful story of two humans just trying to figure it all out - and if that’s not relatable I’m not sure what is! Thank you to Swati and her team for the ARC - everyone should pick this up!

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing for an eARC. A cute fake dating romance. Takes place India and enjoyed the cultural aspects of the story.

I liiked that the premise for this was a bit more unique than other fake dating books. It felt more organic and like it could actually happen. It gave the book a more readable factor that I really liked. And no third act break-up!!!!!

This was ultimately a quick, cute romance. The quotes opening each chapter were fun.
Fake dating is not my favorite trope in this genre.

This novel read more YA than adult.

Thank you, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell

A fake dating romance, the story of Harsha and Veer in Bangalore. I liked th the setting and how it was told from both points of view.

The chemistry between the 2 MC's is so palpable. It's what made this book so good. Harsha needs a date for her cousin's wedding to prove to her family she can make it on her own. Veer needs to pay for his brother's business school loan. They both flirt with each other constantly at the coffee counter. Ensue loads of family drama, with a Bollywood wedding as the backdrop and we have such a romantic story to tell.

My favorite part was that Harsha and Veer's story wasn't so over the top. Their love story was caught in the little moments they shared, in the train rides, in text messages, in late night conversations, because that's how real memories are made. I also really enjoyed the friend group.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review as always, all words are my own.

I enjoyed reading Can't Help Faking in Love by Swati Hegde. You will fall in love with all the characters. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely. Happy Reading!

I love the fake dating trope and I read it A LOT. This book is everything I love about it at its very best. I loved Harsha and Veer and that they each had their own storylines going on separately while also being absolutely swoon-worthy together with the sweetest chemistry. I also love that it was set in India. Would love to see this made into a movie one day!

Can't Help Faking in Love is the delightful romance of Harsha and Veer who have an attraction but are bound together as Harsha pays Veer to be her fake boyfriend. Of course complexities abound and the author makes these characters appealing enough that you want to go travel with them.

I especially appreciated Harsha's growth as it relates to her relationship with her parents as she sees what real parental love includes. The Indian Family background is one that also appeals.

This was a fun read that I enjoyed returning to each day. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of Can't Help Faking in Love in exchange for an honest review. This book is available now.

Veer meets Harsha at the coffee shop he works at, he is immediately drawn to her but isn't going to be doing anything about it. Until one day she comes in and he is mistaken for her boyfriend. Now she is willing to pay him to pretend to be her fake boyfriend to get her family off her back and go to some events with her. He doesn't do long term, and he needs money to help pay for his brother's college, so this seems like a win/win.
Harsha thinks this situation with Veer is going to help her, but of course she starts falling for him and he starts falling for her and things get complicated. I love a good fake dating scenario where they both catch feels and the pining is real.
There was lots of family drama and lots of longing and tension, which I didn't mind, but the ending was a little odd for me, but it quickly righted itself.
Thanks to Dell, Netgalley and Swati Hedge for an early copy.

What a great fake date to love story. Harsha was always heading to her favorite coffee shop and while there she would work on editing her pictures she had previously taken. She wanted to be a photographer so bad and yet her wealthy parents wanted more for her. They were not supportive at all. Veer was a barista at this coffee shop and he wanted to get into acting. So when Harsha’s nose up in the air cousin was getting married she knew she had to have a serious boyfriend. Hence the fake dating with Veer. Who wouldn’t want a guy like Veer so attentive, attractive and certainly a family guy. I loved how Harsha’s aunt filled in the void from her mother. This writer absolutely did a great job describing the clothing the scenery I felt like I was right there.

I received this ARC from Netgalley, I am leaving this review voluntarily.

First and foremost as always thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book. Okay, fake dating is ALWAYS my jam! You can never go wrong with the trope and this one did not let me down! This was an incredibly good read! The story was beautifully written and the characters were flushed out really well! Definitely worth the read!

What a sweet romance this was! I absolutely loved the chemistry and banter between our two main characters, Harsha and Veer. The fake dating trope is usually not my jam but I really enjoyed the message Swati Hegde's second novel puts forth through it all - it is difficult enough to find yourself while navigating what life throws at you as a twenty-something year old, let's not make it more difficult by maintaining unhealthy relationships with family members but allow those fulfilling relationships with supportive friends and chosen family to become our main focus.

With that said, I do wish the unhealthy relationships Harsha touches on with her parents had a bit more context behind them as it is such a common struggle within the South Asian community and I think it would've been nice to normalize this a bit. Even so, I truly enjoyed this and would definitely recommend it if you're looking for a fun romance that will have you laughing and aw-ing at the same time.

I loved reading her previous title Match Me If You Can.
So I was thrilled for the opportunity to start Can't Help Faking in Love by Swati Hegde.
A delightful and humorous romantic comedy that blends wit and charm.
A fun and entertaining romance! I always love representation of other cultures.

While this was a well written romcom, I wish I had vibed with it just a little more. The chemistry between Harsha and Veer was cute but I kept wishing for a little more. I really enjoyed the setting of the book.

Thanks to the Publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.