Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book and read it in one day. I loved the storyline and the characters. I was pulling for them! I would definitely recommend this book.

“…family wasn’t necessarily who you shared dna with. It was who stuck around , in both good times and bad, even when they were going through their own battles.”
Harsha isnt going to let her family’s super serious standards get in the way if her living the life she wants for herself so she leaves the comfort and security of all they offer and strikes out on her own. She’s doing alright until a major family event comes up and her parents expect her to come back home for it, and when her cousin assumes that the server in Harsha’s favorite coffee shop is her boyfriend, Harsha goes along with it. Now she has to convince him to go along with it too in order to keep the peace in her family and not have them set her up with an arranged marriage.
Meanwhile, Veer, the barista mentioned above, has his only family issues. His brother is going to an illustrious business school when his scholarships drop and Veer has to come up with the money to keep him in school. So when Harsha asks him to go along with being her boyfriend, he agrees as long as she pays so he can pay for his brothers education.
Their chemistry was off the charts and their complex family dynamics and Indian culture added so much to the story. It was a quick read because I devoured it, but I also wanted to slow down and savor it. And it should totally come with a warning in the beginning that it will leave you with a big goofy grin on your face at the end, because it totally did! I also loved that each chapter started with a quote from famous love scenes, especially the last chapter which was one from my fav show, the office.
All in all, this is my fav read of the year so far.
Thanks to Dell Books and NetGalley for this eArc (that had its release day yesterday!) in exchange for my review.

Ooohhhh the fake dating turns to actual feelings gets me everytime! Loved this, and felt the jealous cousins, prying family, and unworthy feelings so much.

I think Swati did an amazing job showing how ingrained and intense families can be. I love that his mom works through her own issues to be there for her kids.

Her character arc was so good. I love that she rose above her family. And I love that he was thinking to use her family but came to his senses and didn't! :)

Can’t Help Faking In Love is a fake dating desi romance between struggling photographer Harsha Godbole and aspiring actor/current barista Veer Kannan. Harsha is a trust fund baby to Bollywood moguls; after leaving her family and her home in Mumbai for college in Berkley, California, she has returned to India— but to a new to her city, in hopes of making Bangalore home as well as thrive as a photographer without the need of her parents’ money and expectations that come tied with it. Veer Kannan’s favorite people in the world are his younger brother and their divorced mother, both of whom he has taken upon himself to help provide for— even if it means setting aside his dreams of becoming a Bollywood star in the meantime. Harsha uses her trust fund money to hire Veer to act as her fake boyfriend, and Veer hopes that this will be a stepping stone towards his Bollywood dreams, and along the way, they find that their chemistry is undeniable.

Veer Kannan gave me butterflies. Veer treated Harsha with the utmost care and attentiveness. Despite his reservations, Veer was built to love— his mother, his brother, his barista besties, and most definitely Harsha. Despite the present shadow of his father’s absence, Veer is surrounded by an outpouring of love, and reading him fall for Harsha felt like cracked pieces becoming whole again and healing.

Harsha grew up luckier than most in regards to money; her relationship with her parents and her cousin Neha on the other hand have nearly always been fraught. Her journey in finding family and home in Veer and coming to terms with what else family means to her— how there was no perfectly tied up resolution with her parents, how she and Neha are only in the beginning steps of moving towards getting along after a lifetime of competing, how she has the unshakeable love from Pinky Auntie— I loved that not every single one of these threads had an ideal ending and is really just the beginning for a better relationship, for that feels so realistic, true to life.

In addition to the romance, another aspect of this book that I loved was the friendship between Harsha and Sasha. Having a long distance best friendship can be hard, but there is still such beauty found in plutonic soul mates; while those exact words are never used within this book, their type of friendship and the surety of their bond is the kind that warms my heart as it reflects the same types of friends that I, myself, have been lucky enough to find and keep. Sasha is probably my favorite character from this book iIt’s okay, Veer, you’re a very close second) for all that she reminded me of my own irl friendships.

I really enjoyed reading this desi romance, and I look forward to reading even more from Swati Hedge! Thank you, Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell, for the ARC!

This was an entertaining, well-written book. It was fun, steamy and kept me reading. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others.

“You’re beautiful, Harsha, but that’s not all you are. You’re passionate, you’re kind, you’re brave. And you never stop being those things. How could I ever look away from you? I’m always so in awe of you.” 💜

a special thank you to Net Galley, Random House Publishing Group & Dell Romance for allowing me access to an Advanced Reader’s Copy of Can’t Help Faking in Love by Swati Hegde!! it’s an absolute privilege to receive an ARC & i’m so honored to be able to share a honest review in exchange.

🎥 publication date: february 11th, 2025
review: ★ ★ ★ ★ (02/08/25)
an absolutely adorable fast-paced storyline with a great fake dating love story with a slow-burn & closed doors!

the fawning over each other was TOO CUTE, i love having dual perspectives! and the commentary felt modern & casual, making the book feel like a faster read.

i enjoyed reading the quotes for each chapter, i love a good sitcom & quotes from some of my favorites, brooklyn 99 & abbott elementary! also, as a south-indian foodie, i loved the food references!!

the subtle references to inclusivity, like queer characters & multiracial couples, were a perfect addition to the book!

i loved reading about Harsha recognizing her own privilege, especially with it being something i am working on as well! it can, sometimes, be easy to forget how fortune you are.

found family is one of my absolute favorite tropes so i LOVED reading “It was who stuck around, in both the good times and bad, even if they were going through their own battles.”

although, at times, character personality and values felt inconsistent… but that might be because they were changing throughout the story!

This is exactly what I want from a fake dating romance novel!

I loved Veer and Harsha so much. Their chemistry was electric, the tension was phenomenal, and the vibes were everything I wanted. This is a closed door romance, and I didn't even miss the spice because everything about this was exactly what I wanted.

This book really tugged at my heartstrings. All of the side characters and familial relationships were so good that I just found myself completely immersed in this story from the very beginning.

Harsha came from a very wealthy family but has been on the outs with them because she is determined to make it on her own as a photographer rather than entering into a marriage with a wealthy bachelor of her family's choosing. Veer and his family have always struggled and he needs to come up with a large sum of money in a short time to try and pay for his little brother's tuition. Harsha needs a fake boyfriend to bring to her family's wedding, and who better than the attractive barista who works at her local coffee shop and is in need of some money.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy!

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I read Swati Hegde’s first novel and saw potential. This reached that potential I saw. I was so invested in Harsha and Veer, I squealed, swooned, and teared up. There was also a perfect amount of humor.

Harsha is living in Bangalore, working as a freelance photographer, much to the chagrin of her rich, snobby, and distant parents. When she runs into her recently engaged cousin right after her break-up, she pretends to be dating Veer, her favorite barista. Veer is having his own problems and Harsha’s account that her father pulled from her trust fund can solve those problems. Full of delightful tropes and wonderful characters, Can’t Help Faking in Love is a fantastic rom-com.

Thank you to Net Galley, Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine, and Dell for the DRC. All opinions are my own.

The fake dating trope has never been my favorite, but I do love when people take a familiar trope and try a unique take on it. And Hegde certainly made the trope and this book their own. Loved it.

This book is an absolute gem! It seamlessly blends humor, romance, and family dynamics into a captivating fake-dating story that feels fresh and deeply heartfelt. Harsha and Veer are both wonderfully complex characters. Harsha, fiercely independent yet yearning for acceptance, and Veer, charming and selfless, with dreams that refuse to fade. Their chemistry is electric, making every interaction between them a joy to read.

I would have liked some more steam to this novel, but that’s a matter of personal preference. I would also have liked to have seen a little more depth to the story. With its witty dialogue, heartfelt moments, and a setting that sparkles like a Bollywood film, this book is a must-read for anyone who loves a feel-good romance.

I received an ARC from NetGalley. This is my honest review.

Harsha and Veer had chemistry that jumped off the shelves. It was undeniable to them and to the reader. I really enjoyed the Bollywood background which was just delightfully described. Fake dating isn’t always my favorite trope, but I thought it was really well done here. The slow burn was pitch perfect. I was really invested with the family dynamics and the interpersonal stories that they both presented and shared with each other.

Thank you #Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Can’t Help Faking in Love by Swati Hedge 4⭐️

🍓 Fake Dating
🍓 Slow Burn
🍓 Only One Bed
🍓 Family Expectations
🍓 “Intimacy” Practice

Harsha just got broken up with by what was supposed to be the perfect man. Now she has to figure out what she’s going to do for a plus one to her upcoming family events. Luckily, Veer is in the right place at the right time. Will this arrangement work out for them both or end in utter disaster?

This was a cute, lighthearted read! I really enjoyed watching Harsha and Veer develop feelings for each other. The romance was sweet and the yearning was SO GOOD! Veer is a sweetheart and totally down to earth. Even when they’re fake dating he’s so good to Harsha and his family. If you’re looking for a fun, quick read I highly recommend Can’t Help Faking in Love!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy. This is my honest review.

Can’t Help Faking in Love comes out 2/11!!

This was really cute! I always love a fake dating scheme!

Harsha was so sweet and lovely and I enjoyed seeing her blazing her own path in life, even if it wasn’t what her parents wanted for her. Her confidence in herself was one of my favorite things! And Veer was such a caring person. I loved how down to earth he is and how he supported Harsha in such sweet ways.

Thank you so much to Dell Romance and Netgalley for an early copy of this book!

This one was a fun read. I enjoyed the banter between Harsha and Veer. The way they learned to communicate and trust one another was really sweet to watch.

I do think it felt like something was off, which is what made me not rate it higher. It was an enjoyable read but it wasn't one of my favorites. I was not a fan of the family drama as it felt minor and it should have made more of an impact.

This was not a bad book by any means, just not one of my favorites.

Thank you to Ballantine and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Be prepared for a wild, hilarious ride!

Harsha Godbole has moved out from under her wealthy parent’s influence and is trying to make it on her own doing what she wants to—photography.
Harsha spent time studying in the United States but has moved back to Bangalore.
Her self centered, difficult parents (Wow!), Bollywood magnauts, want her to marry someone as rich as they are, preferably an arranged marriage like her cousin Neha.
When Harsha runs into her mean girl cousin who’s just become engaged to a successful, uptight neurosurgeon Dr. Rohan Jha, Neha decides Harsha’s companion must be her latest crush. He’s not! He’s the barista from Harsha’s favorite coffee haunt. Somehow in the confusion of the moment Harsha presents Veer Kennan as a district manager for the Suntag Coffee consortium.
Next thing we know Harsh’s paying Veer to be her fake boyfriend. Apart from the impeding craziness of it all, Veer’s been beside himself trying to work out how to pay his brother’s university fees. So against his better judgement it’s game on.
So as you can imagine the plot runs fast with anguish, humor and romance all twisted up against the backgrounds of our two main characters.
The plot, and subsequently my interest, never flagged. I read this in one fell swoop! I loved it!

A Random House ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
This was a sweet, fun and quick read! I read it in less than a day. I enjoyed the quotes to start each chapter and I thought the fake dating trope was done well. I enjoyed my time with this one!

Thank you to Ballantine Books for providing this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

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This was a nice story to read and I believe the first romance book I’ve read set in India. I enjoyed learning about different aspects of Indian culture and felt the descriptions made it easy to envision the settings and scenes in my head. While I wasn’t the biggest fan of Harsha throughout the book, I do believe in the relationship between her and Veer and don’t regret reading this story — especially any scene that included Harsha’s aunt. Everyone deserves to have a supportive and caring aunt like Harsha does.

I’m such a fan of desi romances. The families, the drama, the love stories. This one had Bollywood ties and who doesn’t love that ( boring people that’s who).

I love fake dating and this started with the two of them already knowing each other and being attracted. Her soon to be married cousin sees them together and Harsha lies about Veer being her bf and it’s all fun from there.

It’s always so disappointing when parents are unsupportive cause you aren’t following a certain career and treat you poorly. But luckily Harsha has an aunt who is her ally and the family events aren’t completely awful.

Loved her career development. It’s hard to make it on your own without family support when it’s available. That support had too many strings attached. Veer was a struggling actor working as a barista. I liked how he made contacts, it wasn’t what you’d expect knowing her uncle worked in the industry.

They had great chemistry and I always appreciate a one bed situation!

Do you love books about Indian weddings with a Bollywood feel? This is def the book for you. Meet Harsha. She’s a photographer who is trying to make it on her own without the help of her family who has ties to the Bollywood industry. Then meet Veer. He’s a barista at Harshas favorite coffee shop and an aspiring actor. When they are seen together at a club by Harshas cousin, the cousin (Neha) assumes they are dating and gossips to the family about the relationship and demands she come to the wedding. Harshas offers Veer a paid contract to fake date her for the wedding festivities, and Veer readily agrees. This was such a sweet book. I love the Indian culture that is woven throughout every page. The main and the secondary characters are very memorable and overall the book was super fun and a great read!

I requested to read and review this book for free from Dell an Imprint of Random House. This book I struggled at first to get into because I thought it would be your typical love story. It is a love story in some ways but also it's a story about loving yourself for who you are and who you want to be. How your family is who you want it to be whether that is family or people who you love like family. Harsha came from a wealthy family. But does that include being loved or is love conditional in her world? Veer saw what he thought was what love was like. But is possible he got it wrong. What love is for one person the same for someone else? Or can love be whatever you needed it to be? This book can be read anywhere and by a mature audience only.