I adored this book. I couldn’t put it down, I read it in one sitting. The characters, the plot, the ending! 10/10 recommend

Gagnon's Love You, Mean It is a cute romance involving fake engagement, family affairs, and opposites attracting.

I was excited to find that the plot wasn't completely predictable from the beginning. The characters are likable enough, though it doesn't really delve to deep into them as characters. It is a quick read that is sure to keep most rom-com readers interested and satisfied by the end.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this work in exchange for my honest review.

This was really a cute story and one that I enjoyed reading. The fake dating trope is so overdone but I didn't feel that with this at all!

Love You, Mean It
⭐️⭐️⭐️.25
Author: Jilly Gagnon

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Random House Publishing and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: Ellie Greco wishes she weren’t stuck in Milborough. For a few brief, shining years, she escaped her hometown to pursue her dream career—designing beautiful, elaborate costumes for theater—until her father's death five years ago called her home to run the family's decades-old deli. Yes, she loves the place, but she’d always thought she was meant for more exciting things than stocking the right tinned fish. But when Ellie hears that a local landlord is planning to rent to Mangia, the glitzy gourmet food department store, Greco's Deli's very existence is suddenly in jeopardy.

She tries to plead her case to Theo Taylor, scion of the property management firm about to put her out of business, but their meeting goes from bad (it’s not her fault he’s infuriating) to worse (no one expects the ceiling to literally fall in).

With Theo out cold, Ellie panics and claims to be his fiancée… and almost passes out herself when amnesia means Theo seems to actually believe her. Soon, the effects of the head injury wear off, but Theo proposes that their “engagement” stick around. If they manage to convince enough people they might both get what they an end to the Mangia deal. Ellie doesn’t trust him (after all, if Theo Taylor wants it, how can it be good for her?) but seeing no other option, reluctantly agrees.

And miraculously, the fake engagement seems to be working—even Ted, Theo’s shrewd, cold father seems convinced—that is until Sam, Theo’s ex-fiancee, reappears on the scene. Not only does she see through their ruse, she proposes an arrangement of her own, forcing Ellie to decide between blossoming friendship, her family legacy, and the burgeoning romance she frankly never asked for.

My Thoughts: Ellie left the small town for a few years and lived her dream, designing theatre costumes. When her father died, she came back to run the family business, a deli. However, when Ellie finds out that her landlord may be renting out to a fancy gourmet deli, it will put her out of business and will put an end to her family’s legacy. Ellie is meeting with the landlord/property manger, Theo, about renting to the fancy deli. The ceiling literally falls on top of Theo, knocking him out cold. Ellie then panics and says Theo is her fiancee. He then has amnesia from being knocked out, so he actually believes her. After he regains his memory, he wants to keep the engagement ruse up for a little while to benefit them both until they can end the Magig deal. Two problems arise, his cold father and then Theo’s ex-finance, Sam, shows up out of the blue. The ex-finance proposes her own deal, one that makes Ellie have to decide what is her priority, the beautiful friendship with Sam, the romance that she did not realize she was missing, or the end of her family’s legacy. It seems this year, I have read more than usual of the faking dating / Sleeping in Seattle type of books. Faking dating is one of my favorite tropes for a romance novel. This follows the tropes of fake dating and enemies to lovers.

I really wanted to like Ellie’s character, but I had a hard time connecting. Ellie could not make a solid decision on anything, she was too wavering; she was negative, she was very judgmental, and could not believe anyone would like her; she also had a tendency to compartmentalize her feelings and deny herself what is right in front of her. Sam, while initially you want to dislike her for disrupting what Ellie and Theo had going, grew on me and I connected with her. Having said that, the characters were well developed with depth, witty banter, sometimes over the top angst, definite chemistry, and were intriguing. The author’s writing style was complex, creative, funny, had appropriate tension, and was engaging.

While I love the premise, I felt like the plot execution fell a little short. This was my first read by Gagnon. While I did not love the storyline, I would give other books by this author a try. I felt like the ending was rushed and abrupt. This book had romance, friendships, self-worth, standing in your truth, business rivals, angst, drama (sometimes unnecessarily), and of course, business arrangements. I would recommend to other readers as it was a fun story overall.

Love You, Mean It by Jilly Gagnon is the super cute romcom story of Ellie Greco and her plight to save her family's business, Greco's Deli. Unfortunately for Ellie, a wealthy, local family has decided to bring an upscale, ritzy deli department store to town, something that is sure to put Greco's out of business. The story begins with Ellie going to meet with Theo Taylor, the son of the aforementioned wealthy family to plead her case. The meeting turns out to be an actual disaster with a ceiling collapsing and a touch of amnesia on the side. From here there are misunderstandings that take place kicking off a whole new round of chaos. The story held my attention from beginning to end and was quite enjoyable.

Even though this was a cute and enjoyable read, I think I would have enjoyed it more as a Hallmark movie. For me, rom coms in book form need to have a little more meat to them, whereas a movie can get away with being a bit more fluffy and cheesy. I struggled with the main character, Ellie, and how so many of her personality traits were painful to watch, without much growth by the end. Overall it was an enjoyable read but one that I won't remember.

This is a fun, predictable romcom of a fake engagement leading to interesting consequences. Ellie & Theo have known each other a long time. Theo even dated Ellie’s cousin Bella in high school. Now they’re all grown up and are scheming together. They decide a fake engagement can help both of them solve the problem of a large chain store moving to their small town. Theo’s dad is all for turning an old building into said store but Ted has other ideas. Ellie doesn’t want the store to come as it would run her family deli out of business. Theo says his dad can’t let it happen if she’s about to become family. Hence the “engagement.” This leads to some very interesting interactions between them and family. Highly recommend this one if you’re looking for a comfortable and enjoyable read.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for advanced copy, and I give my review freely

This was cute and started off well. I actually liked the While You Were Sleeping vibes, although it seems like I've read a few of these lately, and it's starting to get old.

It had a lot of potential with fake dating and enemies to lovers tropes but ultimately just fell flat. I just wasn't very interested, and Ellie was frustrating.

Overall, it was a quick read that had some nice moments but just wasn't for me.

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

This tale was not deep, but that's not the reason why I read books like this. To me, it's acts as fluff reading that gives my brain a break. Theo and Ellie aren't the most likable of characters at the beginning, she taking offense at the littlest thing and him being an entitled rich white man despite not wanting to be like his awful father. But no one is perfect and I do like how their relationship changes over time, although I thought the big blow-up was unnecessarily dramatic. Still, I liked that the ones closest to her were the ones who pointed out to her without feeling judgy just how much she had missed about herself. I could see the genuine care from her best friend/cousin, even while pointing out where she had messed up. Despite some of these issues, the writing was solid, and I enjoyed some of the side characters. Overall, this was an enjoyable read and would consider another story by this author.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was cute and started out really strong. I loved the little bit of amnesia and how Theo played with it a little bit. I also thought Theo and Ellie had great chemistry, but then the story just stalled out. I love a reverse grump, but Ellie was over the top and she showed very little growth by the end. I also loved Sam and I didn’t like how dishonest Ellie was with her. This had the potential to be great, but ended up falling flat.

Thank you to Random House - Dell for a gifted copy. My thoughts are my own.

This cute romantic comedy arrived just in time for summer reading season. This would be a great one to pick up for a beach trip or pool day. It has While You Were Sleeping vibes, with a hint of You've Got Mail, and centers on Ellie's work to save her family's small business and her budding enemies-to-lovers relationship with the mean property manager Theo. Usually the grumpy-sunshine trope does not work for me, but in this book it fit with the cute plot. I found Ellie a little wishy-washy and annoying - she needed a dose of Kathleen Kelly.

This was cute. I will caution any readers - eat before you read! I suggest pizza or any Italian. The MC worked in her deli and enjoys her favorite pizza several times, and the writing makes it sound drool-worthy. I'd shop at her deli for sure. I did enjoy it though the main character frustrated me towards the end. What I thought was going to be the fake-engagement trope turned into something different. And while I applaud the effort to switch it up, the SPOILER Ex-GF asking for help and the MC offering to do it was just too much. Were we ever supposed to believe that was a good idea, that it was going to happen? I know romance is predictable, it's one of the reasons it works, but the point of that plotline was missing and it felt unnecessary. Because of that, I got really annoyed at the MC while the love-interest was clearly being genuine. In fact, they arrive at the same conclusion mid-way through, they both have feelings for each other! But the MC decides to help the ex the next day anyway? I suppose I'm supposed to feel better when she "learns her lesson" and realizes she's flawed and tries to better herself, but I was lost by then. I do like Jilly Gagnon and will read her other works, but her romance is not for me.

Love you, Mean it is a playful rom com.. Ellie Greco returns home after her father passes away to run the family’s deli business. Theo Taylor from the property managment firm is about to put her out of business. She tries to plead her case to Theo but their meeting goes from bad to worse. Theo is knocked out cold waking up with amnesia. Ellie claims they are engaged to get into the hospital to see Theo, but he quickly recovers, however they decide to keep going with the ruse. When complications arise, Ellie must choose between friendship, family legacy and unexpected romance.

The story kept me engaged although I did find it somewhat predictable.

Love You, Mean It - Jilly Gagnon

As far as romcom tropes go, this sits somewhere between While You Were Sleeping and You’ve Got Mail- as a lover of both, I was all in!

Ellie’s family owns a local favorite Italian deli while Theo’s family owns a property management firm that plans to bring a big name gourmet market to town. Ellie secures a meeting with Theo to try to persuade him to stop the deal, but during their meeting a bizarre construction accident occurs. Without thinking, Ellie tells paramedics she is Theo’s fiancé and things spiral from there when he wakes up concussed and with no memory of the past several years of his life.

This was really cute- the characters had great banter and although the plot was absurd, I really liked it.

A sweet story of doing whatever is needed to get what you want in business, while also finding yourself and what you didn’t know you wanted in the first place. Some vibes of a cross between ‘You’ve Got Mail’ and ‘While you were Sleeping’ but with its own twists and flavor. This one is a light read that you’ll enjoy all the way through.

Love You Mean, It is a fluffy, trope-filled romcom that's perfect for fans of While You Were Sleeping and fake dating. Although the ceiling-falling-overtop-someone's-head meet cute only results in temporary, instead of prolonged, amnesia, the fake engagement plotline carries all the way through to the end as Ellie and Theo decide to team up to crash the Mangia superstore deal that threatens to alter the city of Milborough forever.

Whereas Ellie's desperate to save her family's decades-old deli from going out of business, Theo wants to undermine his father at the project management firm and do something different, using the space in a way that preserves its architectural integrity and vibes with the town. What better way to do that than to fake a serious romance so they can both get what they want?

Naturally, things get complicated fast.

Not only does Sam, Theo's ex-fiancé, arrive on the scene and see through their charade immediately, proposing a little arrangement of her own to muddle matters, but the "strictly business" wall Ellie and Theo have erected between them falls apart at the seams as lines blur, kisses happen, and feelings that were not supposed to be there spiral out of control.

In the end, Ellie faces a major quandary. She must decide between her family legacy, a new friendship, and a blossoming romance she never imagined for herself.

All in all, this was cute and lighthearted despite Ellie's (relatively grating) tendency toward self-sabotage. That was easily tolerated, though, because this was the trope-y escape I wanted and needed. This would also make for a lovely beach read!

3.5 stars

The reviews were great but this story didnt do anything for me. It was a struggle to finish. Maybe i am too old for this genre.

Guys- this was so stinking cute and I loveddddddd these two characters. They were funny, there was sparks there, and Theos protectiveness made my heart melt!

Recommend- highly!!!

This was a scrumptious enemies-to-co-conspirators-to lovers. Plenty of undeniable chemistry, sassy banter, feeeeeelings, ew! And the perfect amount of steaminess.

WHAT I LOVED MOST:
Ellie was a bad@ss. She went after what she wanted and kept her eye on the prize, regardless of all the little hiccups, and changes along the way. The dinner scene was perfect. I fell in love with her then, right along with Theo.

Elile’s family and their commitment to their legacy in the deli, and to each other. Everyone needs a Bella. And and ferocious Mimi.

The chemistry with Theo and Ellie. She’s a firecracker, and he is witty, but a bit “prim.” But in the best moments, he let’s go and says the most smoldery things.


FAVORITE QUOTES:
“Noted. And for the record? I’m happy to wear a studded leather choker occasionally. Just to spice things up.”

“Mimi laid into someone at the dinner table every other week, but it would never have occurred to anyone to stop showing up. Or even to hold on to the anger past the end of whatever tiff happened over the tiramisu. That was just family . . . right?”

“How could he understand that there could be something deeply fulfilling in weaving yourself into a larger story, creating something not just for yourself, like all my cleverly constructed blouses, but for the people and places that were your whole heart?”


Thank you Jilly Gagnon and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review. I just purchased the paperback for an inevitable book snuggle and re-read.

Dell eARC
I am so glad I decided to read this until I got to see Jilly in St. Louis because it always adds more depth to my reading experience after hearing about the author's decisions. What I loved about Ellie was her saltiness. I am a sarcastic, sassy woman at times, and it's so fun to see a character like her here. I fell for Theo almost instantly. They played off of each other so well. I am also a sucker for fake dating, and it's done so well here. I loved how they worked together towards a common goal, even as they started falling for each other. It was just such a fun time from beginning to end and I can't wait to read more from her.