A thoroughly enjoyable enemies to lovers type story. Though it bears similarities to The Hating Game, Smith makes the story her own so you can’t help falling in love with Tate and Emmie. The relationship these two build feels so solid even after a fairly short amount of time. Great book when you need a feel good read to make you smile and your heart melt.

DNF at 24%. I don't think I've ever DNF'd a Netgalley book before but this was too much.

The enemies-to-lovers trope is one I usually enjoy because the characters have to work hard for that happily ever after and usually overcome strong personal biases. There's usually some underlying spark or undercurrent to frosty interactions, chemistry and attraction pulling the characters toward someone they are resisting.

In Faker, the two characters are openly hostile and completely unprofessional toward each other from page 1. There's no redeeming quality about either that would compel the reader to keep going. but I did because it was a debut and I thought despite a rough start perhaps they would slowly thaw and warm up to the other.

Nope. There's a scene that takes them straight from hate to kissing and that's when I knew I had to throw in the towel. To me, this was not a slow burn but a complete 180 misdirect that made me lose interest in the story and the characters.

Other reviewers are saying it gets better, that the banter and warmth slowly emerges if you read past where I stopped. Just because this isn't my cup of tea doesn't mean it won't be something other readers will enjoy. I'm giving this book two stars because others might enjoy it, but I won't be recommending to library patrons, which greatly disappoints me as I'm trying to get folks to read more romance and especially romance with diverse characters.

This was a fun quick read with two great main characters. Even though it starts as an enemies to lovers story there is minimal angst and they are honest and compassionate with eachother. For sure recommend this book.

The premise sounded fun, but this title ultimately fell short for me. I enjoyed the first third of the novel; I liked Emmie a lot and I appreciated that Smith took on workplace harassment and misogyny. However, once the love triangle then Emmie/Tate relationship began to form, the plot became predictable and boring. The enemies-to-lovers relationship happened instantaneously and I felt that it did not have enough time to develop. It was as if all the reasons the two quarreled with one other was brushed off with a "Actually, I've been obsessed with you all this time" and that was that. I also thought it was very weird and problematic that Tate kisses another Asian woman thinking it was Emmie and it's brushed off pretty quickly. What? I was also disappointed that it is Tate, not Emmie, who gets a harasser at the workplace fired. Sure, he was looking out for her, but it just seemed like Tate was suddenly doing everything for Emmie and, frequently, without really including her in the discussion.

However, I have never encountered the phrase "milky glow" to describe someone and that gave me a good laugh.

Read this if you need a reminder of how to become less guarded with people but also set boundaries, with a lot of romance thrown in!

"Faker" is a love story between Emmie and her once-hated coworker, Tate. Generally, this is my favorite trope but it fell flat with me in "Faker." The switch from enemies to lovers happens so fast and there is seemingly no problem with the way they treated each other before that point. Aside from that, the characters are cute and I did chuckle a few times to myself.

This was so fun!!! I love Tate so much. He was just a really interesting lead that you don't often see in books. Emmie was a great counter to Tate, as well! I love the slow burn, close proximity, enemies to lovers part of it. I just really had a wonderful time reading this! I look forward to more books by Sarah Smith.

This was a cute fun read keeping in line with the current trend of contemporary romance. The cover and title are eye catching and I would definitely read this author again.

I really liked this book. It is very well written, and I liked the fact that the H/H wasn't your normal extrovert/ type A personalities. This is a great book for all us introverts out there. It highlights just how hard it is for us to open up to other people and be in crowded situations. I love the sparks between Tate and Emmie. They may have seemed to move fast but it was believable in the context of the story. That this is Sarah Smith's debut book is amazing, if she continues on like this she will have an awesome career.

I loved Faker! Emmie was such a sweet character, and I adored her from the beginning. She has to put on a complete facade while working in a male-dominated field, and sadly, has to work with the insufferable Tate.

The plot reminded me of Sally Thorne's The Hating Game (hate-romance work place plot), but it was still a unique voice from Sarah Smith. Tate completely grew on me, and I can't wait to read what Sarah Smith comes out with next!

A quick, enjoyable read for those that enjoy a good rom-com romance. The banter is enjoyable between the characters as their relationship progresses.

A satisfying debut novel from Sarah Smith. Faker started out with many similarities to one of my all time favorite books, The Hating Game. It was appearing to be too in step with that book, but as I continued reading I began to become thoroughly engaged with Emmie and Tate. Their relationship evolved slowly through shared experiences, lighthearted and deep conversations, and proximity….just like all good relationships, real or fictional.

Looking forward to more from Sarah Smith

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

Faker is a quick, fun workplace romance. After reading the description, I instantly thought of The Hating Game, which I loved, so I gave it a try. No, it wasn’t as good as The Hating Game, but I did enjoy Faker, especially since it is a debut novel. Emmie and Tate are co-workers that do not like each other. In my opinion, the beginning of their relationship didn’t really capture love-hate. The witty banter wasn’t really there. Once their relationship starts to develop more, I did think their chemistry became more apparent. Through Emmie’s experience being employed at a mostly all-male work place environment, important topics like workplace sexual harassment are discussed. This added a level of depth to a typical contemporary, romance novel. Faker is definitely worth reading if you’re in the mood for something easy going to read.

‘Faker’ surprised me much, in a good way, more so considering it’s Sarah Smith’s debut book with the enemies-to-lovers trope that I always dig.

Still, I couldn’t help but look at the many shades of Sally Thorne’s ‘The Hating Game’ colouring Emmie’s and Tate’s circumstances and relationship from the start: a love-hate relationship in the office underlaid with more conflicted and complicated emotions that both seem to harbour for each other, a holding pattern of sniping, arguments and clenched jaws (and lip-trembling, withheld tears) up until the point where something changes the dynamics of it, the slow-burn that follows the turnaround.

Written wholly in Emmie’s POV, the whole narrative is more introspective, more centred about her emotions and her changing perceptions—and her interpretations of Tate’s overreactions that the reader sees as something else other than hate and dislike. It all ends up quite endearing and buoyant in some ways, though the slow, slow burn and the multiple cock-blocking scenes made me impatient at parts.

In essence, apart from the exteriors that both Emmie and Tate wear, much of ‘Faker’ reads like the honeymoon phase of a relationship: the effusive optimism about falling in love (more so as Emmie turns into a stalwart fan of Tate), the thrill of seeing someone with fresh eyes, the yearning for constant physical closeness and all. It’s bubbly, and oddly heart-twinging in some bits, and past the last page, I find myself hoping that Emmie and Tate actually do last.

A fast and enjoyable read, but it was way too similar to The Hating Game for my comfort. The intense romantic and loving feelings by both characters seemed off to me, too. Something just didn't click for me.

Tate Rasmussen is SO DREAMY! I loved this book especially for the feminist ways of Emmie being the only girl in a job surrounded by burly men. My only gripe is what happened near the end.