I love office romance, fake dating tropes. This one was a miss for me. With this being a novella I realize that we’re just getting the bare bones of the story. Unless I missed it somewhere there were no physical descriptions of the characters other than he was handsome and she was beautiful. At the end of the book he mentions her blond hair and dark eyes but up until then there was no way to envision the characters. Thank you to NetGalley for this free advanced copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily

I felt that the book was too short with no real attraction shown in the beginning to go from hate to love. I think the latter end of the book is good, the ending made sense and worked well with the plot line. I just felt that they needed an extra chapter or 2 to make the story more believable

Fake It ‘Til You Feel It by Fortuna Lux is the kind of office romance that keeps you hooked from the first page. It’s got humor, tension, and just the right amount of heart, all wrapped up in a slow-burn dynamic that feels irresistible. At the center of it all is Nathan Clarke—arrogant, magnetic, and completely impossible. When his employee (who has zero interest in mixing business with pleasure) agrees to pretend to be his girlfriend for a high-stakes retreat, the lines between fake and real start to blur. What begins as a strategic arrangement quickly turns into something neither of them saw coming. The banter is sharp, the chemistry is undeniable, and beneath all the playful tension, there’s an exploration of trust, vulnerability, and what it really means to open up to someone. If you love workplace romances with wit, charm, and a dash of drama, this one’s definitely worth a read.

This book was fast paced, entertaining but a little unrealistic. I would’ve liked to know more about the main characters prior to the boss asking her to take a trip with him. The author does a very good job at setting different scenes and giving multiple perspectives. I believe it was a bit unrealistic for Dana to get the company handed over to her at the end. It makes you question why the boss was working so hard to secure a contract. Why did he want to step down? What else would he have done/ what were his other interests ? Overall it was a good story line but I feel like more could’ve been added.

The fake dating trope gets me every time. And just the right amount of spice!

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

This was a cute little novella, strong story it definitely left me feeling like I could of had more of the story.

Fake It Til You Feel It by Fortuna Lux is a short, steamy, office romance novella. The story takes place over three days where a boss and his assistant need to pretend they’re dating to win over a business deal.

Nathan Clarke is an insufferable boss, but that doesn’t stop Dana from being overly attracted to him. When Nathan is trying to close the deal with a conservative business partner, he requires Dana to play the part of a devoted and loving girlfriend over a three-day weekend getaway on a yacht. Nathan believes it’s his chance to finally be able to get a bit closer to his attractive assistant and see if maybe the feeling is mutual. But maybe that pushes them too close to something more..

While the story starts off as a fake relationship, it quickly develops into blossoming tension. novella goes through the blurred lines of professional to personal. It’s a quick, steamy romance that’s enjoyable with strong chemistry between the main characters. Since it’s a short read and the timeline is three days, it doesn’t dive deep into any conflicts or character growth. Its purpose is to entertain, and it does just that. Would recommend to any spicy romance fans looking for a quick time killer.

Such a fun, fast-paced read! I’m always a sucker for a good fake dating trope + throw in a workplace romance and I’m sold. The chemistry was there, and I loved the setup, but since this was a novella, I found myself craving a bit more. I would have loved to see more backstory on the FMC/MMC or even a few extra workplace interactions before the trip to build up the tension. Still, a super cute and enjoyable read!

This is a fun, easy read that is full of spice! The fake dating trope with secret feelings always makes for a good romance. If you like grumpy x sunshine, office romances, one bed, and tension then this novella is for you!

Thank you for the opportunity to read as an ARC!

I love a dual POV and I’m a total sucker for the fake dating trope—especially when it comes with a dash of forbidden romance (hello, boss!) and the classic “only one bed” moment. Despite being a shorter read, this book pulls off a satisfying slow burn, with well-developed characters and a plot that keeps you hooked. It’s well written, fun, and delivers a perfectly gift-wrapped ending. A great pick for romance lovers!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! This is a very fun and spicy quick read. I think the characters are really strong and would love to see more from them! I do think we as readers could benefit from some more context by seeing a little more of their independent behaviors. This definitely scratches the itch for a steamy little short!

Fake It 'Til You Feel It is a sweet, lighthearted take on the fake dating trope with some genuinely charming moments. Fortuna Lux has a warm writing style that makes the story easy to sink into, and there’s a lot to enjoy in the banter and emotional layers between the main characters.

The chemistry between the leads is solid, and there are a few standout scenes that tug at the heartstrings. The premise has a lot of potential, and the emotional growth woven into the romance is a nice touch.

That said, the story sometimes felt a bit predictable, and a few plot points could’ve used more depth or tension to really make them pop. The pacing dragged a little in parts, and while the characters are likable, they didn’t always fully leap off the page.

Still, this is a pleasant read for romance fans looking for something cozy and familiar. It may not have wowed me from start to finish, but it had heart—and for that alone, it’s worth the read.

3.5⭐
this had everything i expected for a short story, even though at times i wish it had been more fleshed out and a tiny bit less confusing😅

some scenes could have been cut out and others lengthened, but overall i was glad the background made their relationship not feel insta lovey 👌🏼

the spice was there, the tension was there but i don't know what to make of that ending 😅 it was unexpected at best 😂 also, I don't think i ever understood... was the yatch moving or docked because colour me confused 😂

thank you so much to netgalley and the author for allowing me to read this novel!☺️

This was such a spicy, workplace romance, fake dating novella! Also my first Fortuna Lux read, what a great introduction.

Nathan and Dana are the perfect pairing. I absolutely loved their banter and Nathan’s acts of service. It was not the happily ever after I predicted but it also fit the story so well. If you’re looking for something short and sweet (and plenty spicy) this should be your next read.

Thank you NetGalley and BDA Publishing for this novella in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this novella! Short, sweet and spicy! I do wish it was a little longer to allow us to know the characters better and for the chemistry to really blossom! I still couldn’t put it down and finished it in one sitting!

Let's start with what I loved:

😍 This author definitely knows how to write great sex scenes. The fact that they were pages long and had me giggling was awesome.

Now, let's move on to what I didn't like:

🥲 I felt that I was missing parts of the story. I would have loved to see more in-office interactions so we could better understand the power dynamics between the characters.

🥲 The book needs some editing, as there are parts where they are in the street and in the hatch simultaneously, which throws the reader off.

🥲 The fake dating exists just for the sake of having a plot device; there’s no real reason for them to be fake dating.

🥲 Overall, there is no real plot.

Now, the thing that frustrated me the most:

💢 These characters are unnecessarily immature, especially since one is the CEO and the other is the CEO's right hand. Come on!

Short, sweet and straight to the point.

Great quick story to take a break between reads.

I like that it was established at the beginning of the book that they know each other for quite awhile so the story as it progresses is feasible and believable.

As expected with this type of story it was predictable but I'll still read it and enjoy it.

Four star read for me.

Thank you NetGalley and BDA Publishing LLC for this arc read.

This was a really cute short novella. It basically had every trope I love: fake dating, forced proximity, and one bed.
I liked the chemistry between the two characters but the tension seemed unrealistic in some spots- maybe just due to the fact that the book was so short.
The spicy scenes were written really well. "I want them to see who you belong too" was my favvvv.

I did find a grammar mistake on page 64. Last paragrpah. The sentence says "making it impossible to anything but take it."


Thank you for allowing me to recieve an arc copy!

( I left a review on Amazon, just waiting for it to be approved.)

This was a fun fake dating novella with all the other good tropes! It took me less than an hour to read and it was the perfect read for my evening. It's difficult making novellas good since they're not that long but this was exactly what I needed to get out of a reading slump!

"This stopped being an act the moment I kissed you for the first time. Maybe even before that."

Fake It 'Til You Feel It by Fortuna Lux is a fake-dating novella. I thought the book was cute, but I wish it was longer! We didn't really get to feel the chemistry between the pair. Overall, this is a cute and easy read.

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