The premise for this novel is two people, pretending to be in a relationship. Fake dating. Enemies to lovers.

It's all a bit predictable, isn't it?

I feel like I've read so many books with the basic elements of this plot.

Maybe this author's next book will be more unique.

Thank you for the ARC.

Elle's grandmother requires more care and Elle leaves home to make sure that Lovie gets the attention she needs at home while they wait for a better situation. Adam is Lovie's live-in nurse with a chip on his shoulder and not a lot of time on his hands. Lovie's Alzheimer’s means she doesn't recognize either of them but she's convinced they're romantically involved. Hoping Lovie forgets, Adam and Elle agree to pretend to be in love so that Lovie won't have a meltdown, sure that she'll forget the next day.
Sometimes I think the reason why a couple in a romance fake dates doesn't really make all that much sense and is just an author's way of using the trope because it's popular. But I LOVE when an author provides a reason that I could absolutely see play out in real time. That's what Megan did here. It's so well done and believable, exploring the emotions and hardships of an ill family member alongside a fun romance with banter and angst.
I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook! Alex Picard isn't a favorite narrator, but the story was strong and I devoured it. Elle and Adam are lovable characters, both in their moments of bad humor and in the good.
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and Netgalley for the alc. All thoughts are my own.

This is a heartfelt and charming story that will pull at your heartstrings while effortlessly blending laugh-out-loud moments, slow-burn romance, and deeply emotional themes. With a setup full of classic rom-com tropes—fake dating, enemies to lovers, and forced proximity—it feels familiar in the best way, but still manages to carve out something unique and tender.
The story follows Elle, who returns to her childhood home to care for her beloved grandmother, Lovie, whose Alzheimer’s is worsening. She’s shocked to find Adam, a gruff live-in nurse, already living there—and even more shocked when Lovie mistakes them for a couple. What starts as a reluctant partnership evolves into a fake relationship for Lovie’s sake, but the lines between what's fake and what's real blur quickly.
The dynamic between Elle and Adam is electric—full of witty banter, tension, and slow-building trust. The emotional stakes are high, and the portrayal of Alzheimer’s is both respectful and heart-wrenching. Lovie’s presence is the soul of the story, and her moments of clarity will tug at your heartstrings.
I listened to this as an audiobook and the single narrator does a solid job bringing the characters to life. The emotional beats land well, and the humor carries through with good timing and nuance.
This is more than just a romantic comedy—it’s a story about memory, caregiving, and finding love when you least expect it.
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and Dreamscape Media and am voluntarily leaving my review.

A+ book from a Kentucky girl! I had the chance to meet Megan while she was on her tour for this one and was able to tell her how much I enjoyed this book. It delved into serious topics without being too heavy for a romance book. I now own it in every format!

It was overall cute and very sweet, also emotional due to Lovie’s condition. Elle kinda frustrated me a bit and I wasn’t very connected to the characters or the plot. It was overall enjoyable but didn’t feel “exciting”

A sizzling slow-burn with fake dating, sharp banter, and chemistry that absolutely does not fake it. Murphy serves up enemies-to-lovers realness with a witty heroine, a brooding dreamboat, and enough romantic tension to fog up your Kindle screen.

It’s flirty, funny, and delightfully chaotic—in the best way. Think: one bed, one fake relationship, and a hundred reasons to fall hard. Fans of The Hating Game and Set It Up will devour this in one sitting.

Fake It Like You Mean It by Megan Murphy is an engaging, heartwarming rom-com that strikes a perfect balance between humor, romance, and emotional depth. The story follows Elle, who returns to her childhood home to care for her grandmother Lovie, whose Alzheimer’s is rapidly progressing. Much to Elle’s surprise, she finds Adam, the live-in nurse, already in her bed. From the very beginning, the chemistry between Elle and Adam is palpable, but their forced proximity to each other brings both tension and undeniable attraction.

What starts as a fake dating scenario—where Elle and Adam play along with Lovie’s delusion that they’re madly in love—becomes more complicated as their feelings for each other begin to blur the lines between fiction and reality. The dynamic between the two is both amusing and filled with underlying emotional tension, making for a captivating journey as they navigate their complicated relationship.

Murphy cleverly blends elements of enemies to lovers and fake dating tropes, with a unique twist that makes it stand out from the typical romance genre. The heart of the story lies not only in the romance but also in the poignant portrayal of caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s. As Elle and Adam’s fake relationship becomes increasingly real, the story also explores the deeper themes of memory, love, and vulnerability.

Fake It Like You Mean It is a perfect choice for fans of heartwarming romances with a good dose of humor. Megan Murphy has created a delightful debut novel that is as touching as it is funny, with lovable characters and a storyline that will leave readers both laughing and tearing up. Whether you're a fan of fake dating, enemies to lovers, or emotional storytelling, this audiobook is sure to satisfy.

Megan Murphy… the emotional rollercoaster you sent me on… 😮‍💨 solid 3.75 ⭐️ rounded to 4. Such a good debut novel!
Elle and Adam… I had so much fun reading these two lol. I’m a big fan of banter and man did they deliver.

This book is slow burn and fake dating gold. I also really appreciated the authors representation of Alzheimer’s/dementia and how truly heartbreaking the lucid and the non lucid days are. Lovie’s character made me see so much of my own family members that it actually made it a bit hard to read at times. She truly stole the show! 😂

Thank you to NetGalley, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts are my own and are in no way influenced by early access to this title. I actually finished this book a few weeks ago but apparently was so focused on recovering mentally from certain parts of this book I never posted my drafted review. My apologies!

This book is a standout romance that brings together Elle and Adam in an unexpectedly deep and emotional journey. Their story starts with a fake dating scheme meant only to comfort Elle's grandmother Lovie, who is suffering from Alzheimer's, but quickly evolves into something much more real and heartfelt. What I truly loved about this book is how Elle and Adam, despite their initial friction and personal baggage, grow and transform through their shared commitment to caring for Lovie. Their chemistry is palpable, driven by a unique blend of tension and tender moments that make their eventual connection all the more satisfying. This book isn't just a romance; it's a journey of healing, rediscovery, and learning to love deeply. Perfect for anyone who loves a romance that's both entertaining and emotionally rich.

3.75 stars

I love the Alzheimer’s rep in the book. It felt very genuine from my experiences, and I really appreciated how it highlighted those changes in their personality and behaviors and how those changes impact their caregivers and family members.

I liked our two main characters, but I felt like a lot of that romance just came from the fact that they happen to be together at the house. I feel like the book was more forced proximity than fake dating since the fake dating part was so minimal. If it wasn’t in the name, I don’t even think I would’ve thought about this being a fake dating book. I wanted them to be together, but I was not dying for them to be together. I think if that part of the book was stronger, I would’ve given this at least four stars.

Do you ever think that you understand something, but then you get smacked in the face with how much you don’t actually know? That’s what this book did for me. I understood the theoretics of someone you love having Alzheimer’s, but Elle’s experiences with Lovie just about broke me in half with all of the emotions it caused. I can’t imagine having to handle something like that on your own which made Elle’s interactions with Adam even more precious. This story was perfectly told with the balance of Elle’s relationships with both Lovie and Adam!

I went through alllll the emotions with this one. Did I laugh out loud? Yup. Did I sob while listening on my way to work? Sure did. Did I make a swoony noise when there was only one bed? Uh-huh. (Seriously why does that trope have such a hold on me?) The characters were likeable and the banter was strong. The relationships between Elle and Adam felt authentic and realistic - it is a bit of a slow burn with individual character growth. Murphy did a great job dealing with heavy issues and bringing awareness to an awful disease.

I enjoyed this romance even more than I expected to! I liked how Murphy portrayed the impact of a family member with Alzheimers both on a short term as well as long term basis. The characters were well developed, and I enjoyed how their love story unfolded. This one had moments that made me more emotional than a typical romance, and you may need to have some tissues ready. This was my first book by Murphy, but I will definitely check out more from her in the future!

What a funny, smart, laugh out loud poignant listen. Elle is trying to live her life and take care of her adored grandmother, Lovie. With Lovie’s memory in further decline, Elle packs up and heads back home to find a BIG surprise in the form of a complete and total stranger in her bed. Adam is Lovie’s live in caregiver and Elle is not amused. The fireworks between them fly, but not the hearts and flowers way. He is a giant pain in her behind and yet…..
When Lovie believes they are a real couple they go along with a fake romance thinking she’ll forget the next day. Let the games begin! Also, the way they addressed Lovie’s alzheimers with love, grace and the reality of caring for a loved one with it was honest. Kudos for that. The narration was terrific. So glad I got the opportunity to listen to this. I really needed a sweet love story and to laugh out loud! I loved the ending!

Fake It Like You Mean It is Megan Murphy’s debut novel. Elle Monroe has left corporate life and has herself well established in her very popular podcast Elle on the L. Elle’s podcast is comprised of interviews she does riding the Chicago L, learning about folks and their lives, hearing their stories. While the people Elle encounters are kept somewhat anonymous, their stories tend to be universal and reflect many people’s own experiences.

Elle has her own story of being orphaned very young and raised by loving grandparents in Elkhart, IN, a couple of hours away from Chicago. Soon after her Grandpa Bobby passed away a couple of years ago her Grandma Lovie was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Lovie, always pragmatic, took control and made arrangements with a specialized home healthcare company to assist and monitor her progression, which has quickly begun a rapid decline, necessitating Elle putting Chicago on hold and coming home to the bungalow where she grew up.

Experiencing train delays, Elle doesn’t arrive home until quite late, entering the house quietly so as not to disturb Lovie, slipping into her dark room, quickly changing and, exhausted, falling in bed hitting a lump that quickly reacts to her presence. This sets up a startling introduction between Elle and her grandmother’s main caregiver, registered nurse Adam Wheeler.

After a shocking meeting the relationship between Elle and Adam is testy. Lovie has become quite nasty with Elle, but when she becomes convinced that Adam is a young Bobby and Elle is a young Lovie, things begin to change all the way around.

This is such a heartfelt story of love, loss, and new beginnings. With a well drawn cast of characters and a tale too many may re-enacting life, Ms. Murphy’s first fiction venture is spot on. I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it!

Loved everything about this one! Such a heartfelt, emotional story.

With Elle’s grandmothers rapidly progressing Alzheimer’s, she is forced to temporarily move back in until they can secure a spot for Lovie at a longterm care facility. Having been raised by her grandmother, Elle is having a hard time coping with Lovie’s temperament and memory loss. To make things even worse, Elle has to share the little space left with her grandmothers pain in the ass nurse, Adam. When Lovie sees the two of them together, she mistakenly believes them to be madly in love. Thinking she’ll forget in the morning, they agree to fake it for the day to appease her. Only problem is, when Lovie wakes up… she remembers.

This book is the quintessential forced-proximity, loathe to love romance. I am SHOCKED that this is a debut novel. I can’t wait to see what Megan does next!

Content warning: If you are particularly sensitive to reading about the heart wrenching progression of Alzheimer’s, this one is very emotional and real. The emotions are raw and I felt every one of them like I was in the scene.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Alcove Press for the ALC!

4.75⭐️ I love it when a book has depth with the romance. Makes it that much sweeter. Adam is broody and devoted. Elle is extroverted and spunky. Both trying to take care of Lovie, Elle’s grandmother suffering from mid/late stage Alzheimer’s. Tropes include: slow burn, forced proximity, and fake dating. Loved Alex Picard’s narration. Really felt the emotional struggle of Elle loosing the grandmother she knew.

Synopsis:
Elle’s grandmother Lovie has always taken care of her, as long as she can remember. But remembering is just the problem. With Lovie’s Alzheimer’s progressing fast, it’s Elle’s turn to step up. Leaving Chicago behind, the last thing she expects when she walks through the door of her childhood home is Adam Wheeler—in her bed. Live-in nurse and pain in the ass, Adam is here to do his job. Eat, sleep, nurse, repeat.
Thrown together to care for Lovie, tensions rise and lines are drawn, but there’s a bigger problem: in her Alzheimer’s riddled mind, Lovie’s convinced that Elle and Adam are madly in love. Certain she’ll forget by morning, Elle and Adam play along. The only snag? She doesn’t forget.
Lovie is the only person who thinks this fake dating scheme is real…so why is Elle fantasizing about Adam when he’s not around? And why is it getting harder to pretend?

Thank you to @netgalley @megmurphywrites and @dreamscape_media for the advanced listener copy. #netgalley #fakeitlikeyoumeanit #meganmurphy #alcreview

Thank you to the author, publisher, narrator and Net Galley for providing a free e-audio version of this title in exchange for my review.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. But the romance just really felt forced. There was so much going on - Elle's podcasts, her memories of growing up, of her grandma; Adam's life in general; plus the Alzheimer's topic - it was too much. I guess I would have liked the romance to just come much later in the book.

3 stars.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ALC.

The narrator was great!

I have mixed feelings about this book. It was not what I was expecting. I was expecting a romantic comedy but I don’t consider this one. There were definitely parts that had me laughing out loud, but Lovie’s disease, perhaps realistic (I don’t know because fortunately I have not had anyone in my family with Alzheimer’s), really brought down the mood. The awareness is important, but for a “comedy”, this was too real and too much of a harsh reality for a romantic comedy.
Some parts were cringy-funny where I didn’t know if I should laugh or have 3rd-hand embarrassment.

It dragged at times. I am all for a slow burn, but the story needs to keep moving along and it felt very flat (like no build up) many times. Also, the dynamic between Adam and Elle was a bit unrealistic. I love a good forbidden romance or boss/employee romance, but given Adam’s employment, it seemed to cross the bounds into unethical.

I did not like Elle. She was a brat. And why did she not like Adam? Because he was in her bed? I really didn’t understand the enemies to lovers trope here. I did enjoy the tone of her narrative voice though.

Although this book is not something I’d listen to again, I will definitely check out books from the author in the future.

Elle goes home to take care of Lovie, her grandmother with Alzheimer’s, and discovers a man in her childhood bed. Adam, an in-home care nurse, has moved in to take care of Lovie. I had a hard time understanding Elle’s initial reaction to Adam. She had a strong animosity toward him although he was very kind. I disliked Elle’s character so much, I almost gave up on the book. However, I’m really glad I continued. Elle learned and grew and it was truly a heartfelt and lovely story. I also enjoyed the narrator and her different voices.